Thanumalayan Temple (Sthanumalayan Temple) , Suchindrum

Location:

Distance from Kanyakumari: 13 km

Distance from Tirunelveli: 70 km

Distance from Madurai: 240 Km

Distance from Nagarcoil: 7 km

Place: Susindram

District: Kanyakumari

Presiding Deity: Sthanumalayan

Special feature: All three Murthis in one form

Gopuram : 7 Tiers

sthala vriksha: Kondrai  It is approximately 2,500 years old

Pushkarani: Prapancha Thirtham

Beauty of the temple: Hanuman statue

The presiding deity Sthanumalayan combines the three Murthys viz. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Legends:

Sage Athiri and his wife Anusuya were leading a holy life in Susindram performing penance. During his absence, the three Murthys Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva visited Anusuya asking for food. When Anusuya began feeding them that they could not accept her hospitality as she was wearing clothes. Anusuya prayed to her husband and spilled on them the water with which her husband’s feet were washed and the Gods became children. She breast fed them, put them in a cradle and made them sleep. The consorts of the Murthys, Saraswathi, Mahalakshmi and Parvathi came in search of their husbands and begged Anusuya to return them in their true forms. Anusuya obliged. The temple was built in memory of this incident installing the three Murthys in one form.

 Suchindrum is the place where king of heavens Devraj Indra attained ‘Suchi’ i.e., purification. According to Sthalapurana  Indra taken over by the beauty of Ahalya had cast amorous glances towards her. Ahalya was the wife of sage Gowthama . A fierce Gowthama then cursed Indra. Humiliated Indra sought immediate redemption to the curse. He came to ‘Gnana Aranya’ (as the place was called then) and started worshipping Lord Shiva.  Mahadev pleased with Indra’s devotion relieved him of his curse and granted his wish that this place would henceforth be called as Suchindrum.

It is also said that lord Shiva proceeded from this place to Kanyakumari for marrying Parashakti appearing in the form of a Kumari before the clever Narada foiled their marriage plans.

About the Temple:

The temple complex :


*Kontai Adi Temple

*Nandeeswar

*Chitra sabai

*Vasantha Mandapam

*Kailasanathar Temple

*Pancha Pandavar temple

*Subramania Swamy temple

*Alankara Mandapam (with musical pillars)

*Sthanumalaya Swami Sanctum Sanctorum

*Chenbagaraman Mandapam

*Anjaneya Swamy Statue


The construction of this temple began in the fifth century by the Pandya Maharaja - maran Chadayan. there after the Chola Rajas, Vijayanagar chieftians, Nayaks of Madurai and continued to the present set up by the Maharaja of Travancore, Chithirathirunal in the 20th century, as it is seen today. the gopura 134 feet high, the main entrance door of 24 feet high of granite, Mandapa with granite pillars of 18 feet height, granite idol of Nandi having 13 ft height.

Sri Sthanumalaya, the Trinity of God (Siva, Vishnu and Brahma) is the presiding deity at Suchindrum. The Lingam here is in three parts. The top represents "Sthanu" lord Siva, the middle "Mal" is the name for Vishnu, and lastly the base "Ayan" signifies Brahma. It is perhaps the only temple of its kind in whole world.


Alankara Mandapam -musical pillars

Alankara Mandapam on the northern side of the corridor there are four large pillars that are formed by a group of cylinders carved out of stone. Two of these pillars are made of 33 cylinders and the other two are made of 25 cylinders. These are the famous 'musical pillars', real marvels of the art and technical superiority of the workmen of those days. These stone pillars produce perfect musical notes when tapped on them.

Anjaneya statue:
The Anjaneya statue stands at 22 feet .It is of great historical interest that this statue was buried in the temple, fearing an attack by Tippu Sultan and was, subsequently, forgotten.The statue was re-installed in all it glory when Sri M.K. Neelakanta Iyer, the then Secretary of the Devaswom Board,an extremely pious and honourable aristocrat under the Maharaja of Travancore tripped and fell while circumambulating the temple. The Namboothiris were summoned and after a detailed study of Prasnam, it was found that the Hanuman statue was buried there.

Parihara stalam

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

Festivals:


*Markazhi (December/January)
*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.

Uncover Unknown Facts

*There rare female form of Vinayaka  here is known as Vigneshwari, or Vallabha Ganeshaani.
*Enormous 22 foot tall figure of Hanuman, which is carved from a single block of granite.
*The upper portion of the Lingam in the sanctum sanctorum represents Shiva, the middle portion Vishnu and the lower portion Brahma.