This
is a famous place
for pilgrimage.
It is believed that
the place where
the present Suchindram
is situated used
to be a dense forest
called jnanaranya.
Jnanaranya is famous
for its legendary
story of Atri Mahirshi
and his chaste wife
Ahalya. It is believed
that Anasuya through
her chasteness had
caused the Trinity
and their consorts
to pay a visit here
for testing her
chasteness. The
trinity had appeared
in the form of children
before her. Even
the consorts of
the Trinity had
accepted defeat
in front of Anasuya.
The trinity were
born as three  sons
namely, Chandra,
Dattatreya and Durvasa
to Atri Mahirshi
and Anasuya. The
Suchindram temple
means the purification
of Indra. It is
believed that Indra
was purified of
his sins for his
misbehavior towards
Ahalya. The purification
happened by thrusting
his hands into the
boiling ghee. Ahalya
was also purified
here. Thus this
place is also known
as sodhana Teertha.
Tanumalayan Koil
is another name
attributed to Suchindram.
The Mazhgazhi Utsava,
the chaitra utsava
and the Avani utsava
are the three major
utsavas conducted
here. This temple
is known for its
architectural and
sculptural beauty.
There are three
lingams placed namely
Brahma, Vishnu and
Mahesara and also
an image of anasuya
turning the trinity
into babies. The
Gopurams and the
mandapas are huge
and very beautifully
decorated with sculptures
and paintings. It
is also believed
that goddess Uma
married Siva in
Sucheendram. There
are numerous idols
of vinayaka here.
There is also a
huge idol of hanuman
here. The temple
is full of paintings
and carvings depicting
mythological legends.
Sucheendram is in
the kanyakumari
district. Kanyakumari
can be accessed
by rail or road
from the major cities
in the south.
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