Suchindram

Suchiridram is a temple dedicated to brahma, Vishnu and shiva. It is a temple town situated in Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu State of South India. This is the only temple in India consisting of the main diety as Trimurthi (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). 

The name of this temple is Sthanumalya temple, Suchirindram Thanumalya temple. The name stanumalya represents Stanu means shiva, mal means vishnu, ayan means brahma. and the name Suchirindram represents Suchi means clean and Indra mean Lord Indra.

Architecture:  The temple gopuram is 134 feet height with beautiful architecture and one of the tallest gopurams in South India.  This temple is over 1300years old temple. The temple is constructed for a period of 600years in between 8th century AD to 17th century AD. The musical pillars is a special attraction here. There are 4 musical pillars of 18ft height at the Alangara Mandapam each carved out of a single stone. Two pillars  contain 33 smaller pillars and the other two have 25 smaller pillars.  One can hear melodious music from them when tapped.

The main idol Sthanumalya a combination of thrimurthis can be seen at the foot of the Ashwadha tree or Peepal tree, where three lingas sprout one above the other. Top linga is shiva, middle linga is Vishnu and the lower linga is Brahma. 

There is a gigantic white bull called Nandi which is 12 1/2 feet high  and it is made up of lime mortar. This Nandi is one of the biggest Nandi idols in India. The Navagrahas are engraved on the ceiling.

Once Lord Indra came to Goutama ashram as a cock and sounded as cock at midnight. When Gouthama went to Bath he went to Ahalya but Gautama was back realising its not yet the morning. On seeing Indra he cursed him with a bad body and made Ahalya as stone.  The Ahalya will be released from sin when she can see Sri Rama and for Indra when he can worship all the three deities Brahma Vishnu and Shiva. The three were near a Ashwadha tree as Sthanumalya and Indra worshipped there to remove the curse. 

There is a story linked back to puranas. 

Once there lived a Rishi called Athri and his wife Anasuya. They lead a very traditional and humble life praying God and doing their duties. Once there was a drought near the ashram and Athri prayed for the Brahma Vishnu and Shiva for this but no one could not reply. So he decided to do a deep penance ce in Himalayas. His wife Anasuya told that she will safeguard herself until Athri back to home. She did pooja to Athri feet and kept the sacred water (Paadha Theertham) in a pot.

Once Narada came along with Saptharushi to Athri Ashram  and Anasuya made all arrangements and offered food. She sprinkled some water on sand and prepared food. All the sages were astonished with Anasuya.

Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswathi and Parvathi were jealous of Anasuya and want to test her so Brahma, Vishnu and shiva when to Anasuya as Brahmins and asked for food. She prepared all arrangements but they kept one condition  that they will not accept the food from the person who wear clothes. Then she sprinkled the Sacred water on the three Brahmins and made all three of them as small babies and fed them with milk. The three Godesses, Lakshmi, Parvathi and Saraswathi came to know aboit this and pleaded Anasuya to give back theor husbands. Anasuya prayed the lord and all the three babies were back to their original form. Then the thrimurthy appeared there as Stanumalya. 

It is believed that Lord Indra visit this temple during night and offer Ardhajama pooja to Lord Stanumalya. There will be 2 temple priest here one will serve in the evening and another morning. The evening priest does not visit the temple next day morning and the morning priest takes an oath that whatever he sees in the morning when he opens the temple he did not share that to anyone.

There is a big Hanuman idol whoch is 22feet height which is made of a single rock it is placed before srirama idol. it is one of the tallest hanuman idols in India.

The car festival is celebrated here in the month of December and it is the biggest festival celwbrated here. The idols are brought out for procession.

The only temple in India with Thrimurthi as Idol and with great link of Puranas.

Happy Pilgrimage.