Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari is situated in Tamilnadu and at the tip of Southern main land India.  It is a temple town near Stanumalya temple, Suchindram. It was previously known as Cape of Comorin. 

The main Idol in this temple is Devi Kanyakumari established by  sage Parasurama. The temple is 3000 years old temple.

The temple history linked to Puranas. Once the demon Banasura did deep penance and asked boon saying that he cannot be killed by anyone except by a Girl. With that he started harassing all the people, Rishis and Gods. All of them went to Lord Narayana and asked him to kill the demon Banasura. Then he asked all Rishis to perform Yagna. When they performed yagna and with yoga power from that homam a girl came out and she is the form of Shakthi and called her as Chidagni Kunda Sambutha.

The girl started doing penance and is devoted to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva decided to marry the girl. But Sage Narada want to stop the marriage because Demon Banasura can be killed only by a Virgin girl. Lord Shiva was coming from Sthanumalya to Kanyakumari and has to reach before sunrise but Sage Narada sounded as Cock even before sunrise. Thinking that it is already early morning and he cannot reach on time  Lord Shiva returned to Stanumalya again. 

Devi waited for  Lord Shiva and with grief she want to remain as virgin forever. Few years later, Bansura came to know of Devi and visited Kanyakumari to marry her. Devi told him to win her to marry. The started fighting and Banasura brought Mookha demon and to fight with him Devi created Badrakali. Devi killed Banasura in the fight on the day of Vijayadasami ( Last day of Navarathri). Before death he realised her as Shakthi and prayed her to forgive his sins and asked her to keep that place as Bana theertha. Devi accepted it and the place where Banasura was killed she created a pond and during amavasya time people can give Pithru Tharpnam to their ancestors.

Vivekananda Rock:  There is a big rock called Vivekananda Rock. Swami Vivekananda visited this temple and did meditation in this place.

Confluence of three Oceans: This is the only place where there is a confluence of three seas  Indian Ocean in the South, Arabian Sea in the West and Bay of Bengal in the East.  One can see a beautiful of Sunrise and Sunset and during Full Moon days the spectautal moment of Simultaneous Sunrise and Sunset can be seen.

The sea here is considered as sacred and is considered as equal to Ganga in kasi. 

There is a pond named Papavinasam.  Lord Indra had a dip in this pond to remove his curse from Gouthama Maharshi. People first take dip here and later in the sea. There is a temple of lord Ganesha which is established by Lord Indra. So it is called as Indra kantar Vighneshwara.

The abhishekha waters of Stanhmurthy in Suchiridram come and mix in the sea here, so it is called as Sthanutheerthamu.

Main festivals celebrated in this temple are in the fourth month of the Telugu year called Aashada Maasam generally falls in the month of July Chandana (Sandal Wood) Abhishekam is done and Navarathri during Dusheera generally falls during the month of October. 

One of the  51 Shakthipeethas to be visited in South India. 

Happy Pilgrimage.