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Temples in Kanyakumari

Temples in Kanyakumari territorial dominion are far-famed all over the world for their glorious architecture. The people of Tamil Nadu are known for their spirituality and devotedness and majority of the population being Hindus in the state, there is no wonder that entire district of Kanyakumari is dotted with temples.

Important Temples in Kanyakumari

Temples in Kanyakumari are not only famous for their magnificent architecture, but a bunch of mythical accounts connected with each temple makes them exceptional! A lot of temples in the district are age-old, constructed by significant rulers of South India.

Some of the most temples in Kanyakumari district include Kumari Amman Temple, Thiruvattar Adikesava Perumal Temple, Thiruvanparisaram (Thirupatisaram) Kuralappa Perumal Temple, Suchindram Sthanumalaya Perumal Temple, Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple, Padmanabhapuram Saraswathi Temple, Kuzhithurai Mahadeva Temple, Kollencode Vattavila Bhadrakali Temple and so on. Let's find out more about the temples in Kanyakumari district along with travel guide and information for tourists.

Kumari Amman Temple

Kanyakumari Kumari Amman Temple is regarded as one of the most significant temples in the district. The Kumari Amman Temple is constructed in dedication of Goddess Kumari Amman, otherwise called Devi Kumari, or Kanya Devi, which stand for virgin Goddess. The main deity of the Kanyakumari Kumari Amman Temple is renowned for its nose ring (mookuthi). It is said that many vessels that carried passengers or freight had sunk near Kanyakumari due to the exceedingly shining glare reflected by the mookuthi of the deity.

Kanyakumari Temple

It is for this very cause that the adjoining temple doorway is continued shut during most times of the year! Legend has it that Goddess Parvathi was a fierce devotee of Lord Shiva and she practiced severe penance (thavam) to convince Lord Shiva to marry her. Notwithstanding, she was fated to kill Banasura - a thousand-armed asura, but she can do it only until she continues of being a virgin. It was therefore that the other divinities stopped the wedding so that the world could be saved from the nicety made by the asura.

Quick Facts:

Main Deity/Moolavar: Devi Kanyakumari
Other Deities: Balasoundary, Indra Vinayagar, Thyaga Soundary

Significance: Kanyakumari Temple is one among the 108 Shakthi Peethas
Other Names of Kumari Amman: Kanya Devi, Bhagavathy" (Durga), Devi, Shree Bhadrakali, Devi Kumari

Consort: Virgin Goddess
Temple Pond/Theertham: Papanasa Theertham
Mount: Dawon (tiger or lion)

Mantra:
Amme Narayanaa!
Devi Narayanaa!
Lakshmi Narayanaa!
Bhadre Narayanaa

Weapon of Kumari Amman: Rosary

Important Fact: Swami Vivekananda, visited Kanyakumari to seek Kumari Amman's blessing during the year 1892

Important Festivals: Car Festival in the Tamil month of Vaikasi, Chitra Pournami, Kalabham festival, Vaisakha festival, Navarathri festival

Temple timings: 06:00 am to 11:00 am and 04:00 pm to 08:00 pm

Thiruvattar Sree Adikesava Perumal Temple

In the famous hymns (pasurams), Nammazhwar (one of the 12 azhwar saints of Tamil Nadu) mentions Thiruvattar as 'Valamikka vattaru'. Mahavishnu is mentioned as Sree Adikesava Perumal and Goddess (Mahalakshmi) as Maragadhavalli Thayaar. Thiruvattar Sree Adikesava Perumal Temple is located just 6 km away from the trade center of Marthandam and 30 km away from the municipality of Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district. The Adikesava Perumal Temple is bordered by Thamirabarani, Kothai and Parali rivers on three sides. Parazhiyar also known as Pahrali River adopts a bend in this location and it is known as vattaru and after the construction of the this temple, the place came to be addressed Thriuvattaru.
Adi Kesava Temple Kanyakumari

The architecture of the Sree Adikesava Perumal Temple is illustrious that it is adopted as the model to build the Thiruvananthapuram Padmanabha Swamy Temple. The deities of Sree Adikesava and Sree Padmanabha are set up in such a manner that they face one another. The moolavar/main deity is lying on a snake couch (pallikonda perumal) and has to be looked at through trinity doorways. It is important to note that Lord Shiva can also be seen inside the Sanctum Sanctorum (Karbagraham) of the Sree Adikesava Perumal Temple.

Quick Facts:

Main Deity/Moolavar: Sree Adikesava Perumal (West Facing Bujanga Sayanam)
Goddess/Thaayar: Maragada Valli Thaayar
Utchavar: Utsavar : Adi Kesavan
Temple Architecture: Dravidian Style

Important Facts: Thiruvattar Sree Adikesava Perumal Temple is one among the 108 Divya desams of Hindu Vaishnavism

Important Festivals: Vaikunta Ekadesi, Tamil month Panguni festival, Avani Thiruvonam, Kalapa festival in Tamil month of Thai

Must See: Single stone hall (Otraikkal Mandapam) built of a single stone 3 ft specific thickness, is a wonder!

Temple Timings: 05:00 am to 12:00 pm and 05:00 pm to 08:00 pm
Temple Location: Sree Adikesava Perumal Koil, Thiruvattaru P.O 629177
Tourist Info: Annadhanam everyday at 12:15 pm

Suchindram Sthanumalayan Temple

Sthanumalayan Temple in Suchindram, popularly known as Thanumalayan Temple is one among the most important temples of Shaivism and Vaishnavism branches of Hinduism, as the term Stanumalaya refers Thirumoorthigal, that is, Stanu means Lord Shiva, Mal means Lord Vishnu and Aya means Lord Brahma. Suchindram Sthanumalayan Temple is world renowned for its architectural brilliance as the seven-storey amazing white temple tower is seeable from a far away distance. Its 40 m frontage is extended with awe-inspiring carvings of Hindu gods.

Thanumalayan Temple Kanyakumari

Also, Suchindram Sthanumalayan Temple features four musical pillars in Alankara Mandapam area and they are made out of a single rock that stands at 5.5 m in altitude. The spacious dancing hall boasts as many as 1,035 pillars with fantastic sculptures on it. The spiritual implication of this religious site initiates from the singular information that the main deity of linga represent Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. The unique representation of the three fundamental deities of Hinduism in one lingam makes this temple a special site!

Quick Facts:

Main Deity/Moolavar: Sthanumalayan

Must See: Musical pillars, dancing hall with 1,035 pillars, 22 feet granite Hanuman statue, 13 feet tall and 21 feet long Nandi statue (bull statue), 134-foot-tall Majestic front gopuram, etc

Temple Location: Thanumalayan Temple, Suchindram, Kanyakumari, Pincode: 629702
Temple Timings: 04:00 am to 12:00 pm and 05:00 pm to 07:00 pm

Important Festivals: Arudhra dharshan, Car festival, Chithirai festival, Theporchavam (float festival)

Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple

Nagercoil temple is dedicated to Nagaraja which simply means Serpent King in English. It is believed that the name for the town Nagercoil/Nagerkovil was actually originated from this Nagaraja Temple. The Nagaraja Temple features various images of serpents and it is considered that the doorkeepers of the sanctum sanctorum are two serpents.
Nagercoil Temple

The temple is a renowned place for devotees who wish to install Naga idols (serpent idols) in the temple complex. Also, it is interesting to know that devotees offer and pour milk and turmeric powder in every serpent statue as an important part of a visit to this temple.

Quick Facts:

Main Deity/Moolavar: Ananda Krishna and Nagarajar
Upadevathas: Vighneshwara, Mahadeva, Devi, Subrahmanya Swami and temple protector
Thala Virutcham/Holy Temple Tree: Odavalli
Temple Pond/Theertham: Naga Theertham

Temple Location: Sri Nagarajaswami temple, Nagercoil - 629001
Temple Contact Numbers: +91-4652-232420, 9443992216
Temple Timings: 04:00 am to 11:30 am and 05:00 pm to 08:30 pm

Highlights: Sri Nagaraja Swami is a swayambumurthi in this temple

Important Festivals: Thai Brahmmotsavam (Jan-Feb), Navarathri festival, Karthigai, etc

Other important temples in Kanyakumari district include:

Thiruvanparisaram (Thirupatisaram) Kuralappa Perumal Temple
Velimala Kumarkovil Subrahmanya Swami Temple
Saraswathi Temple Padmanabhapuram
Mandaikkattu Amman Temple
Ekakshara Ganapathy Temple Kanyakumari
Mahadeva Temple Kuzhithurai
Thiruvidaykkodu Mahadeva Temple

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