35443216230_71ed3485af_z, Thanumalayan Temple, Suchindram, Kanyakumari
35443216230_71ed3485af_z, Thanumalayan Temple, Suchindram, Kanyakumari

Thanumalayan Temple, Suchindram, Kanyakumari

Date built:–
Deity:Thanumalayan
Architectural style:Dravidian architecture
Major festivals–
Locale:Suchindram
District::Kanyakumari
Address:Thanumalayan TempleSuchindram – 629 704,Kanyakumari District
Phone+91 4652 241270
 Thanumalayan Temple, also called as Sthanumalayan Temple is an Hindu Temple dedicated to Hindu Trinity located in Suchindram in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu. Thanumalayan Temple is of importance to both Shaivite and Vaishnavite sects of Hinduism, as the name Sthanumalayan denotes Trimurtis; “Sthanu” means Siva; “Mal” means Vishnu; and the “Ayan” means Brahma. This temple is unique in the whole of India in that it is dedicated to three different deities represented by one image in the sanctum. This Kshetram is also called Gnanaranya.

One of the unique aspects of Thanumalayan Temple is the presence of many gods from the Hindu pantheon and the different sects like Vaishnavism including Rama and Krishna to more localized Tamil traditional worship of Amman/Devi and Kandan or Muruga. The temple is rich in sculpture and architecture and a visitor to this temple is amply rewarded with the sight of such exquisite art of hundreds of years old. The town along with Kanyakumari was part of Travancore. It became part of Tamil Nadu in 1956. Non-Hindus are permitted inside the temple but photography is prohibited.

Temple Opening Time

  • Morning 4.30 am to 11.30 am.
  • Evening 5.00 pm to 8.30 pm.

Pooja Timings

  • Abisheka Pooja for Moola lingam – 04.15 AM
  • Abisheka Pooja for Thanumalayan deity – 04.45 AM
  • Daily festival Pooja – 05.30 AM
  • Tharai Abisheka Pooja – 06.30 AM
  • Mistanga Pooja – 07.00 AM
  • Uchikala Pooja, Deepa Aradhanai – 11.00 AM
  • Deepa Aradhanai, Ahala Pooja & Arthajama Pooja – 06.30 PM

Festivals

There are two important festivals, one in Margazhi (December/January) and the other in Chittirai (April/May). During the Margazhi festival, on the 9th day the deities are taken out in procession around the streets on three festival cars. The 10-day Car Festival celebrated in this temple during between December and January every year attracts crowds of thousands of people. Another festival known as Theppam is celebrated during between April and May every year.

See also  Periya Anjaneyar Temple, Ambur, Vellore

Prayers

Prathana Sthalam for marriage, children, longevity and prosperity needs.
Worship of Lord Anjaneya of this temple for physical and mental health.

Architecture

Legend / Local stories

Suchindram:

As per legend, Indra got relieved of a curse here. The term “Suchi” in Suchindrum is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit meaning that stands for “purify”. The place purified Indra from his curse. Hence it got the name Suchindrum. Accordingly, Lord Indra is supposed to visit the temple for performing “Ardhajama Pooja”, or worship, at midnight every day.

Story of Anusuya, wife of Sage Athri:

Anusuya, the wife of Athri Maharishi was famous for her chastity and her devotion to her husband – an embodiment of a Hindu wife. She could perform miracles by sprinkling the ‘Paatha Theertham’ (water with which she washed her husband’s feet) to bring rain to a parched earth or to transform objects to her desire. When the three Devis, – Goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswathy and Parvathy (Adishakti) heard through Sage Naradha the powers of this earthly woman they wanted to test her chastity. They approached their husbands, Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to test Anusuya’s devotion to her husband. The three Moorthys transformed into three old mendicants and went to the hermitage where Anusuya was living and sought alms from her. When Anusuya was about to serve them food they told her that they had taken a vow whereby they could not accept alms from a person wearing clothes. As it was a sin to refuse alms to mendicants she prayed to her Lord and sprinkled a little ‘Paatha Theertham’ on the three old beggars. They were all immediately transformed into babies and throwing off her clothes she offered them food.

The Goddesses learning what had happened pleaded with Anusuya to grant them ‘Mangalya Bhiksha’ (gift of married life) and to give them back their husbands. Anusuya showed them the three babies. The Devis ran to the cradle and picked one baby each. Anusuya then prayed to her Lord to restore them back to their original form. Lord Sri Vishnu was in Lakshmi’s embrace, Siva in Parvathy’s lap and Saraswathy with Brahma. They accepted that Anusuya’s fame as the chaste woman on earth was justified. Thus, the Trimurthy came to be represented by the Lingam at Suchindram; the bottom represents Brahma, the middle represents Vishnu and the top Shiva.

See also  Aadhi Kesava Perumal Temple, Kadukkaloor, Kanchipuram

Indra got relieved of his curse here:

There is another lore associated with this temple. Once Indra was infatuated with Ahalya, the wife of Rishi Gautama. One night he came to the hermitage where Gautama was living and made a sound like a cock indicating the approach of dawn. Rishi Gautama thinking that dawn was imminent awoke from his sleep and went to the river for his ablutions prior to commencing his prayers. Realizing that it was too dark for dawn and too early for morning to break he returned to his hut. In the meantime, Lord Indra took the physical appearance of Rishi Gautama, approached Ahalya and satisfied his desire.

Rishi Gautama returning from the river was enraged when he saw his wife in another man´s embrace and cursed the man’s entire body be covered with ‘yoni’ (the female organ) and his wife Ahalya to become a statue of stone. Lord Indra to get rid of this curse went to Gnanaranya and prayed to the three Moorthys to rid him of this curse. When he was rid of his curse and transformed into his original form he built a temple and installed the Lingam to represent the three Moorthy – Thanu – Maal – Ayan, and the name of the place came to be known as Suchi-Indran (the place where Indran was purified).

Narada foiled Lord Shiva plan to marry Devi Kanyakumari:

Narada Lord Siva started from this place to wed Kanyakumari Amman, but returned when he heard the cockcrow made by sage Narada. Thus, successfully foiling the plan, the Goddess Kumari resides here as a virgin, unable to marry Lord Shiva.

See also  Muthukumaraswamy Temple, Perumbedu, Thiruvallur

Agnipariksha:

Another story of note about Suchindram Temple is the age-old practice of Agnipariksha that was practiced here up until the 1860’s, when it was forbidden by the government. This ritual could only be engaged if the king gave his consent, and then it was done on a designated date. The ritual involves Kaimukkal, or ‘dipping of the hand’, in which any Namboothiri, or a high caste Brahmin who was under threat of excommunication due to immoral behavior, had to prove his innocence. A small silver ox statue was placed in a copper vessel of boiling ghee. The accused Brahmin had to reach in and pull the figure out of the ghee. A complex ritual followed in which the hand was bandaged, and the Brahmin taken to the home of a senior man, who watched over him. On the third day his hand was unwrapped. If the fingers were black and burned, the Brahmin was excommunicated, and pushed to the fringe of society. If his honor was vindicated, and the hand was normal, he was returned to his post, given gifts from the king, and all due respects were given to him by the temple community. One can only imagine the level of integrity required of Brahmins who faced such a method of oversight.

Photo Gallery

How to Reach:

Thanumalayan Temple is located at about 8 Kms from Nagercoil, 14 Kms from Kanyakumari, 9 Kms from Kottaram, 16 Kms from Boothapandi, 21 Kms from Thuckalay, 19 Kms from Eraniel, 29 Kms from Colachel, 18 Kms from Aralvaimozhi, 14 Kms from Thovalai, 87 Kms from Tirunelveli and 80 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram.

By Road:

The Temple is located at about 300 meters from Suchindram Bus Stop. Suchindram is well connected to Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, Thirunelveli, Thiruvananthapuram and other nearby places by Bus.

By Train:

Nagercoil Railway Station is the nearest Railway Station, located at about 4 Kms from the Temple.

By Air:

Nearest Airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, located at about 80 Kms from Thanumalayan Temple.

Contact Details

Thanumalayan Temple
Suchindram – 629 704,
Kanyakumari District
Phone: +91 4652 241270
Email: suchindrum@tnhrce.org

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