Names & Legend
Suchindram (also written Suchindrum) is one of the great temples of South India. The Goddess here is linked with Bhagavathy Amman, the virgin goddess of nearby Kanyakumari, and devotees say that after every morning puja the Goddess looks more radiant and beautiful.
When Lord Vishnu divided Sati’s body with his Sudarshan Chakra as Lord Shiva carried it in grief, Sati’s upper teeth are believed to have fallen at Suchindram.
Location
Suchindram is in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, near the southern tip of India, between the towns of Nagercoil and Kanyakumari. It is about 11 km from Kanyakumari, so pilgrims can easily visit both Shakti Peeths – Suchindram and Kanyakumari – on the same day.
The Goddess & Bhairava
In the lists of the Shakti Peeths, the Goddess is named Narayani and her Bhairava is Samhara (also called Sankrur). In local tradition, the Lord of Suchindram is the Shiva whom the virgin goddess of Kanyakumari was to marry – the wedding that never took place – which binds the two temples together in legend.
The Legend of Indra’s Purification
The name Suchindram comes from suchi, “purification”, and Indra. According to the scriptures, Indra, the king of the gods, cast an amorous glance at Ahalya, the wife of the sage Gautama, and was cursed by the sage. To free himself from the curse, Indra came here and worshipped Lord Shiva, and was purified. It is believed that Indra still comes every night to perform the midnight puja (ardha-jama puja), so the priest who closes the temple at night does not perform it the next morning.
The Trimurti Temple
The temple is famous for its Trimurti lingam, which represents Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva together; the deity is called Thanumalayan – from Sthanu (Shiva), Mal (Vishnu) and Ayan (Brahma). A legend tells how the three gods came to test the chastity of Anasuya, the wife of the sage Atri, and were turned into infants by her purity, until their consorts prayed for their release.
The temple also has an 18-foot statue of Hanuman, beautifully carved musical pillars that ring with different notes when tapped, and a tall, richly sculpted gopuram.
Festivals, Travel & When to Visit
The Margazhi festival (December–January), with its grand chariot procession, and the Chithirai festival (April–May) are the biggest celebrations, along with Navaratri. The nearest railway stations are Nagercoil (about 7 km) and Kanyakumari, and the nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram. The best time to visit is from October to March. Men are expected to remove their shirts inside the temple.