The
temple at Kanyakumari
or the Virgin Maiden
stands proudly at
the Cape Comorin.
It is one of the
most famous temples
in India and it
is believed that
pilgrims should
visit both Benares
and the cape to
complete their pilgrimages.
Mythology has it
that the deity Kanyakumari
was born out of
Siva’s Shakti
in order to tackle
the demons Bana
and Muka. Along
with Kanyakumari
another divinity
was born and is
situated in Kalighat
as Mother Kali.
The famous festival
there is the ambu
cherthal which is
marked to celebrate
the creation of
these divinities
by lord Siva. Another
version of the origin
of the Kanyakumari
temple is that there
was a maiden in
heaven by the name
of  Puspakasi
who was a great
devotee of Lord
Siva who was sent
to earth by Siva
to kill Bana and
Asura. Bana and
Asura had received
a boon that they
could be killed
only by a virgin
and hence Puspakasi
was able to kill
them and restore
peace on Earth.
When Pushpakasi
started doing penance
to go back to heaven
after her accomplishment,
Parasurama installed
her image along
with a Vinayaka
as he believed that
she alone can safeguard
the land. And thus
the Kanyakumari
Amman or the temple
was formed. The
processional deity
here is called Thyagasundari
and Holy mother,
who appears in the
state of being ready
for marriage is
called Syamasundari.
This temple at Cape
Comorin can be reached
by road from railway
stations of Tirunelveli
and Trivandrum.
There are a lot
of government and
private hotels there
along with a Government
Traveler’s
Bungalow and Devasthanam
Choultries.
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