Suchindram is an important pilgrim town in Kanyakumari district in the Tamil Nadu State, Bharat famous for Thanumalayan Temple. Suchindram temple is dedicated to three different deities represented by one image in the sanctum sanctorum and is called Sthanumalayam (Sthanu-Shiva; Maal-Vishnu and Ayam-Brahma) mandir. It is one of the few temples in the country where the Trinity, ‘Brahma, Vishnu and Ishvara’, are worshipped in one place.
The linga is in three parts wherein the top represents “Sthanu” name of Siva, the middle “Mal” name of Vishnu, and the base “Aya” name of Brahma. Apart from the Trinity, Vigneswari (a feminine form of Vinayaka), Goddess Aram Valartha Nayaki (Aram means Dharma, Valartha means developing or growing and Aram Valartha Nayaki means Dharma Samvardhini), Indra Vinayaka, Kala Bhairava and Sakshi Ganapathy are also worshipped here.
By the side of the inner sanctum, there is the main Deity of Vishnu, made of eight metals. To the right as one enters the temple are Sita-Rama Deities while on the left is the shrine of Ganesha. Across from them is an 18 feet Hanuman vigraha carved of a single granite block.
In front of the Ganesh shrine is the Navagraha Mandapa which has carvings of the nine planets and the signs of zodiac on the ceiling. There are also around 30 shrines ofKailasanatha, Nataka Sala, Vadakkedam, Kailasa Mahadeva, Pancha Pandavas, Guru Dakshinamurthy, Muruga, Garuda, and many more. Nandi (bull), here, is made of mortar and lime measuring 13 feet (4.0 m) height, 21 feet (6.4 m) length and is one of the biggest Nandis in India.
Suchindram is known by the name Gnanaranya in Puranas. Suchindram is one among the 108 Abhimana Kshetrams in Vaishnavite traditions (108 Abhimana Kshetras are apart from the 108 Divya desams the Vaishnaya tradition is famously known for). It is also one of the 108 Shiva Temples revered by the Kerala Hindu culture. This temple is also one of the 51 Shakti peeths of Maa Durga. Shakti is worshiped as Narayani in this temple. It is said that out of the 51 parts of Sati, the ‘Upper Teeth’ of Sati fell to this place. This temple attracts both Vaishnavites and Shaivites in large numbers.
Legend
According to legend, Bhagawan Indra was relieved from the curse given by Maharishi Gautam by visiting this place and offering prayers at midnight known as Ardhajama Puja. The term “Suchi” in Sanskrit means “purify” and since Indra got purified at this place, the name Suchindram.
According to another temple legend, one day, the Holy Trinity, Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu arrived at this place and decided to test Devi Anusuya, who is the wife of saint Atri. As Sage Atri was not there, they went to Anusuya, a chaste woman, in the guise of three sages, and asked for food. However, when offered food, they refused, stating that they have vowed to take offerings only from people who are not clothed. By sprinkling holy water on the trinity who are in the guise of three sages, Anasuya turned them into infants; Shiva became Durvasa, Vishnu became Dattatreya and Brahma as Chandra. Then she fed all the three babies, as requested. On observing this, Goddess Parvati, Goddess Lakshmi, and Goddess Saraswati came down and requested Anasuya to return their husbands to their original form. Anasuya complied and restored the three Gods to their original form. When they were about to leave, Anusuya requested the Trimurthis to remain there. Hence, they manifested as Swayambhu Lingas, under the Amaltas tree, known as Sthala Vriksham.
Architecture
The temple has two gateway towers and at the entrance 7 layers of tower is visible from a distance as it rises majestically for 134 feet. The tower is carved with sculptures and statues from Hindu Scriptures. To the right is a vast temple tank. At the entrance to the Suchindram temple are two large dwarapalakas (doorkeepers), and on two nearby pillars are two huge yalis. A yali is a lion with an elephant trunk.
The entrance is about 24 feet high with a beautifully carved door. There is a single corridor running along the outer wall of the temple with many shrines and mandapams throughout the inner area. In the ‘Alankara mandapam’ adjacent to the Northern corridor there are four large pillars each formed by a group of smaller pillars all carved from a single stone. Two of these large pillars have 33 smaller pillars and the other two 25 each. These four pillars (18 feet tall) are the famous musical pillars. These pillars produce a different musical note when tapped (Mridangam, Sitar, Tambura and Jalatarang). Next to the ‘Alankara mandapam’ the gigantic vigraha of Hanuman is located, which is 18 feet high and depicts Hanuman’s ‘visuvaroopam’.
There are Oonjal (swing) mantap as well as Chitra Sabha where many mythological paintings are on display. The Chitra Sabha (dancing hall) contains 1035 intricately carved pillars. Some depict various Tandavas (dances) of Bhagawan Shiva, famous Cosmic dancer. The Navaratri Mandapam built during the 16th century has a typical wooden structure like Kerala temples. There are also various scenes from Ramayan and Mahabharath depicted in various pillars in the temple. The temple complex extends to two acres.
History
Inscriptions dating back to the 9th century are found in this temple. The present masonry structure was built during the Chola dynasty in the 9th century, while later expansions are attributed to Thirumalai Nayak (1584 AD -1659 AD) and the Travancore Maharajas. Thirumalai Nayak and the Travancore Maharajas, under whose administration the temple remained till Kanyakumari’s merger with Tamil Nadu in 1956, have made many endowments for its upkeep. It is interesting to note that during the reign of Ayilyam Thirunaal Rama Varma Maharajah (1832–1880) of Travancore, a lottery scheme was introduced in 1875 A.D., to raise funds for rebuilding a portion of the temple and a sum of over Rs. 40,000 was realised. The current temple was renovated in the 17th century.
Festivals
There are two important festivals, one in the tamil month of Markazhi (December/January) and the other in the tamil month of Chiththirai (April/May). During the Markazhi festival, on the 9th day the deities are taken out in procession around the streets on three festival cars.
People worship the 18 feet Hanuman vigraha by Applying butter which is said to remove diseases and planetary doshas particularly when done on Amavasya days and Moola Nakshatra day. Vaishnavite scholar and poet Namazhwar (8th century CE) in his work Tiruvoimozhi (An ancient Tamil text consisting of 1102 verses which were sung by the poet-saint Nammalvar as an expression of his devotion to Vishnu) mentioned that one must visit this temple, before one reaches the old age.
How to reach Suchindrum Thanumalayan Temple
By Air
The nearest airport is Trivandrum (80 KMs), from where tourists can take a taxi to Kanyakumari.
By Road
Suchindram Temple is 11 km from Kanyakumari and 7 km from Nagercoil. It can be reached via road and buses ply regularly to Suchindram from Kanyakumari, and also from Tirunelveli and Trivandrum.
By Rail:
The nearest railways stations are Nagercoil [3.2 kms], Kanyakumari [11.5 kms] and Valliyur [13 kms].
