VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Thanumalayan Temple, Suchindram, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.

Friday, 7 February 2020

Thanumalayan Temple, Suchindram, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.

24^th to 26^th January 2020.

The visit to this temple was a part of the Nanjil Nadu Heritage Walk organized by Yaaooyaakay and Celebrate Kanchi in association with Tamil Nadu Tourism and Development Department, Kanyakumari, scheduled on 24^th to 26^th January 2020. During this Heritage walk we covered Hindu Temples, Jain monuments, the oldest Christian Church, Old Forts, an overhead water channel, and of course Natural Bonsai Garden too.

The first visit on 24^th January was to the Thanumalayan Temple at Suchindram. Thanumalayan may be split as Thanu+ Mal+Ayan, which signifies the Combination of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma combined together in this temple, to bless us.

Moolavar : Sri Thanumalayan.

Consort : Sri Aramvalartha Nayaki.

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with a 7-tier Rajagopuram and a Mandapam. Stucco images of Shiva & Parvati as Rishabaroodar, Vishnu on Garuda, and Saraswati on Anna vahana are on the top of the entrance mandapam. The Rajagopuram has stucco images of Hindu Deities, both Shiva & Vishnu, Celestial Gods, Mythological story images like Asuras and Devas Churning Milk ocean, etc,. Many deities like Lord Shiva (for example Maha Sada Siva Murthy), Kali, and Subramaniyar have multiple heads and hands. It is interesting to note that Kazhuvetra stucco images are also in between Maha Sada Siva Murthy and Kali. The Rajagopuram was built with stone up to the base and the superstructure was built with stucco. Some of the important sculptures on the Rajagopuram base are Gangalar, Trivikrama, Uma Maheswarar, Dakshinamurthy, Chandrasekar, Ashtadikpalakas, etc,. Natarajar is in one of the niches of the Rajagopuram.

The temple complex consists of Shiva and Vishnu Temples with Separate Dwajasthambams. A Stucco Rishabam, Dwajasthambam, and balipeedam are in Front of Shiva’s Temple. Sannadhis for Dakshinamurthy, Vinayagar, Vinayaki/Ganeshini, 18 feet Anjaneyar, Sri Konraiyadi Sthanumalayan Adhi Moolavar, Neelakanda Vinayagar, Kailasanathar temple like sannadhi (Built on boulders with Sanctum, and artha mandapam), Cheravathal Sastha, Rama & Sita, Krishna, Jayantheeswara Mahadevan, Durgai Amman, Rameswara Mahadevar, Subramanian sannadhi with beautiful Dwarapalakas, Kalabhairava, Vallabha Vinayagar, Balasubramaniar sitting on Peacock vahana, Indra Vinayagar and Ambal Aram Valartha Nayaki.

The mandapams, Oonjal mandapam, Shenbagaraman mandapam, Kulasekhara Mandapam, Vasantha mandapam and Chitra mandapam are in the temple complex. The Pillars of the mandapas have beautiful sculptures like Manmadhan, Rathi, warriors, Lord Shiva, Arjuna, Bhishma/Karna (somebody says Karna), etc,. The famous musical pillars are in the Kulasekhara mandapam.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the inscriptions, this place was called “Thonnanagar Thiruchiveenthiram” and Lord Shiva was called Mahadevar. It is believed that the temple was built before the 9^th Century CE by the Ay Kings ( a small kingdom of present Kerala – who ruled the Kanyakumari region). Totally 124 inscriptions are recorded and the 9^th century early Pandya King Maransadaiyavarman’s inscription is the oldest one. This inscription records the gift of Brahmadeyam to the Brahmins.

The 10^th Century Parantaka-I (907 – 955 CE), period inscription speaks about a merchant of Kalakudi Nattu Karaventha Puram who gave a donation to this temple. Rajaraja-I's (985 – 1014 CE) official had donated Goats “Sava moova Peradus சாவா மூவா பேராடுகள் (the quantity will not decrease or increase) – Goats 50 nos towards burning a perpetual lamp. Chozha Pandiya, Kulothunga-I period inscriptions record the gift to this temple.

In 1410CE, Sri Udaya Marthanda Varma built the Alangara mandapam with musical pillars.

The 19th-century inscription mentions that A Devadasi played the musical pillars and staged dance and dramas.

The Veerapandian (946-966 CE ) who assumed the title as “Chozhan thalaikonda“, donated Lamps, lands etc,. His Tamil inscription speaks about A Brahmadeya land that was mortgaged and the same was informed to Nanjil Nattu Brahamatheyathu Thiruchivintharaththu Mahasabha, by the Vanganur Devan. This was enquired by the Mahasabha. Another Parakrama Pandyan celebrated the Parakrama sandhi festival on his birth star Mrigashirsha day.

The Thiruvithangur King Kulasekara Perumal, 1730CE, excavated a well and a Temple tank.

In 1873 CE the temple was damaged due to heavy rain. The same was rectified from 1881 to 1887 CE. This thirupani /renovation was carried out by the Venattu King Ramavarman. Apart from Kings, individuals like Dobby ( Vannar), Merchants, and Devaradiyars also donated to this temple.

Inscriptions on Kailasanathar temple

LEGENDS

The legend is associated with Indira. Athiri Maharishi with his wife was staying in this forest. When the monsoon failed, Devas, Brahma, and Vishnu suspected Indira might have done it. Since they do not know the reason they directed him to do a Yaga at Kailash leaving his wife Anusuya in the Ashram. Since Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva did not want to complete the Yaga, they sought the help of Naradha to stop this. Naradha came along with Devas and asked them to get what they wanted from Anusuya. Anusuya granted everything through her husband's patha pooja water. So Naradha went to the Consorts of Brahma, Vishnu, and Lord Shiva to fry the iron gram. When the three couldn’t do it, Anusuya had done it. When Narathar praised, Anusuya, the three Devis got jealous. They told this to Trimurti and they too want to test her. They went in the form of aged persons and asked for food with the condition of feeding them in her birth kola. With the help of her husband’s pada theertha, she converted them into Children and fed them. Anusuya took care of the three for some time. When the Three Devis asked Naradha, the whereabouts of their husbands were, he told them what happened. In the meantime, Narada went to Athiri Maharishi’s Yaga place and told Anusuya had three children during his absence. Angered Athiri, stopped the Yaga in the middle, came to the ashram, and realized everything. To his request and three Devi's request, Anusuya converted back Tririmurti to the original form. Trimurthis with their consorts gave darshan in this place.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, Chithirai Theppa thiruvizha, a 9-day festival during Avani, a 10-day festival in Margazhi Thiruvathirai, and 9 days Thirukalyanam utsavam in Masi.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 04.30 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS:

The temple may be contacted on landline number +914652 241 421 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

Suchindram is about 7 km from Nagercoil, 15 km from Kanyakumari, 100 KM from Tirunelveli, and 800 km from Chennai.

The nearest Railway station is Nagercoil.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE