Suchindram - A hindu pilgrimage center in Tamil Nadu

The tourist on the way to Kanyakumari is always attracted by the charm and grandeur of the lofty Tower at Suchindram with , a small village just four miles from Nagercoil.  The temple is a big and majestic one with a 134 ft.high seven storied Gopuram, and paintings. Suchindram temple is unique that it is dedicated to three different deities represented by one idol in the sanctum and is called Sthanumalayan (Sthanu-Shiva; Maal-Vishnu and Ayan-Brahma) kovil.

Suchindram is about 11 km from Kanyakumari and about 7 km from Nagarkoil. Busses are availabe from Thirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Trivandram. The nearest railway station is Nagarkoil on the Trivandrum - Kanyakumari section of the Southern Railway.

According to a legend, Anasuya, the wife of Aarti Maharishi was famous for her chastity and her devotion to her husband. When the three goddesses, Laxmi, Saraswati and Parvati heard through Sage Naradha the powers of Anasuya they decided to test her chastity. They asked their husbands Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to test Anasuya's devotion to her husband. Lords Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva transformed into three old sanyasi (almsmen) and went to the hermitage where Anasuya was living and asked alms from her. When Anasuya was about to serve them food they told her that they had taken a vow whereby they could not accept alms from a person wearing clothes. As it was a sin to refuse alms to sanyasi she prayed to her Lord and sprinkled a little paatha theertham (water that were used to wash her husbands feet) on the three old beggars. They were all immediately transformed into babies and throwing off her clothes she offered them food.

The goddesses learning what had happened pleaded with Anasuya to give their husbands back. Anasuya showed them the three babies. The goddesses went to the cradle and picked one baby each. Anasuya then prayed to her lord to restore them back to their original form. When they were back to their orginal form, Brahma was in Laxmi's embrace, Siva in Saraswathi's lap and Parvati cuddling Vishnu. Thus three goddesses accepted the chstity of Anasuya. There the three lords came to be represented by the Lingam at Suchindram; the bottom represents Brahma, the middle represents Vishnu and the top Shiva.

The tradition is that Indra, the king of Devas worshipped and still worships every night the Trimurthy of this temple. The chief attraction of this Temple is 18 ft . Hanuman, the embodiment of humility and devotion, depicting his viswarupa dharsain given to Sita at the Asoka forest. The figure is remarkable for its grandeur and massiveness.

There is a Konnai tree ( Cassia Fistula ) which is said to be 2000 years old, in the hollow of this tree three swayambulingas have sprouted, representing the Trinity. The musical pillars, and the numerous sculptures are the special features of this temple. The legends connected with this temple are potrayed in a series of well executed mural paintings in the inner chambers of the gopuram.

There are two important festivals, one in Markazhi (December/January) and the other in 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.