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Shuchi Shakti Peeth (Suchindram)

Thanumalayan temple, Suchindram, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu

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Shuchi Shakti Peeth (Suchindram)
Photo: Ssriram mt, CC BY-SA 4.0

Traditions differ: English Wikipedia calls the peeth the Narayani temple at Suchindram, while Bharatkosh places it inside the Sthanu Shiv temple. Bharatkosh also lists the Shakti and Bhairav of Kanyakumari and Suchindram side by side, so some lists treat the two places together.

About

The Thanumalayan (Sthanumalayan) temple at Suchindram, about 13 km from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, is famous for its single linga in which Shiv (Sthanu), Vishnu (Mal) and Brahma (Ayan) are worshipped together. Within this great temple is the Shuchi Shakti Peeth, where the upper teeth of Devi Sati are believed to have fallen. The Devi is worshipped as Narayani, holding a rosary, and the Bhairav is Sanhar. The temple has two tall gopurams, four musical pillars each cut from a single stone, a huge Nandi, and a Hanuman ji about 22 feet tall carved from one block of granite.

The story

According to the Shakti Peeth tradition, after King Daksha's yagya Shiv ji wandered in grief carrying the body of Devi Sati. Vishnu ji's Sudarshan chakra then divided the body, and wherever a part or an ornament fell, a Shakti Peeth arose. Her upper teeth are believed to have fallen here. Suchindram means the place where Indra became pure. Legend says Indra was freed here from the curse of sage Gautam and regained his purity (shuchi), and devotees believe he still comes every night for the midnight puja. Another story is of Sati Anasuya, wife of sage Atri. Her devotion was so great that Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv came to test her, and by the power of her faith she turned them into little children. At the prayer of the three Devis she gave them back their true forms, and the three gods stayed here as one linga. The story of the Kanyakumari Devi is tied to this place too: Shiv ji set out from Suchindram for his wedding with Kanya Kumari, and when the hour was missed he stayed here as Sthanu, the still one. Devotees believe Devi Narayani is still in tapasya here.

Visiting

October to March is the best time; the Margazhi festival in December–January is crowded and joyful. Suchindram is about 13 km from Kanyakumari on the road towards Thiruvananthapuram. Traditional dress is expected in the temple. Nearby are the Bhagavathy temple and Vivekananda Rock at Kanyakumari, and the town of Nagercoil.

Festivals

  • Margazhi car festival (ten days, December–January)
  • Teppam (float) festival (April–May)
  • Navratri and Mahashivratri

51 Shakti Peeths

Sources