The Kanyakumari temple, of goddess Kanyakumari devi, is one of the major highlights and tourist attractions for the people visiting Kanyakumari. This age-old temple also known as the Kanya kumari Amman temple, or the Goddess Bhagavati Amman temple, is one of the most famous temples of Tamil Nadu in South India.
This famous temple is located right on the seashore of Kanyakumari and is said to have been built in very ancient times. It has a beautiful architecture like most ancient temples. The statue of the goddess kanyakumari devi is carved in black stone and shown wearing a garland. Of special note is the diamond nose-ring worn by the goddess. It is said that the sparkling brilliance of this nose-ring of Devi Kanyakumari Amman can be seen from the far away sea waters also.
There is mythological legend and story about Kanyakumari that dates back to the times of Gods and Demons, that surrounds the place.
The legendary Story of Kanyakumari goes like this:
Banasur Demon - the immortal
Once upon a time, very long ago there lived a demon by the name of 'Banasur'. Through strict penance and austerities he had achieved the boon of immortality, except that he could only be killed at the hands of a virgin girl. The demon after achieving this boon, became arrogant, and started troubling all the Gods (Devas).
Kanya Kumari emerges from the Yagna fire
The Gods did not know what to do. So they approached Lord Vishnu, for a solution. Lord Vishnu suggested that they worship the goddess Parashakti (Parvati) and do a Yagna. When the Gods did the Yagna, then from the fire emerged a young virgin girl. This girl was 'Kanya Kumari' (Kanya=girl, and Kumari=virgin/unmarried)
Kanyakumari does penance
The little girl grew up doing penance and worshipping Lord Shiva with the desire to marry him. It is said that the place where goddess Kanyakumari stayed, was the Kanyakumari seashore where the Kanyakumari temple is now situated, and that she used to do penance on the rock island located in the sea (where the Vivekanand rock memorial now stands).
When she was marraigeble age, she had several suitors and Lord Shiva also expressed desire to marry her. However sage Narada understood that this would mean that she could not kill the demon. So Narada decided to do something to stall the marraige.
The 3 tough conditions for marraige
The story further says, that sage Narada suggested the Goddess that she should confirm whether the person who had approached her as Lord Shiva was really him, and hence put down some conditions for marraige.
On Narada's suggestion, Kanyakumari devi expressed that all those who wished to marry her, should try and get her 3 things before dawn, 1) A betel leaf without veins, 2) A coconut without eyes and 3) A sugarcane without stump-joints. She was confident that only Lord Shiva could do this, however Narada was not so sure.
Narada's roosting crow trick
Lord Shiva however got all these 3 things before dawn and was about to reach back to Kanyakumari, when Narada played another trick in the form of a crow roosting. Lord Shiva heard the crow's roosting and thought that it was dawn and that he had failed to reach back to Kanyakumari in time. Hence he returned back to his abode Suchindram (where the Suchindram temple) now stands (located about 11km away from kanyakumari)
Kanyakumari Devi kills Demon Banasur
Hearing of Kanyakumari's beauty, the Banasur Demon also wanted to marry her, and when she refused he attacked her to take her by force. It was at this time, that the virgin girl goddess Kanyakumari killed the demon with her Chakra. The place where she killed the demon is known as 'Mahadana Puram' and it is located 4 km to the north of Kanyakumari.
This is the legend and story of Kanyakumari Devi, who is worshipped at the Kanyakumari temple. The Suchindram temple of Lord Shiva located just 11 km away, is also visited by tourists.
It is said that in recent history, Swami Vivekananda visited Kanyakumari in 1892, he prayed in the temple, and then spent 3 days meditating on the rock in the sea (where the Vivekananda memorial now stands)
This ancient temple is a must visit place on any trip to Kanyakumari. The beautiful temple architecture, the black stone carved image of Kanyakumari, the glittering nose ring that she wears, the shrines of her friends and playmates Balasundari and Vijayasundari are all a must see.
The temple is situated right on the Kanyakumari beach, the place of the 'Sangam' where the 3 seas meet each other. It is only a short walk away from the several hotels that are located in the vicinity of the temple.
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This famous temple is located right on the seashore of Kanyakumari and is said to have been built in very ancient times. It has a beautiful architecture like most ancient temples. The statue of the goddess kanyakumari devi is carved in black stone and shown wearing a garland. Of special note is the diamond nose-ring worn by the goddess. It is said that the sparkling brilliance of this nose-ring of Devi Kanyakumari Amman can be seen from the far away sea waters also.
There is mythological legend and story about Kanyakumari that dates back to the times of Gods and Demons, that surrounds the place.
The legendary Story of Kanyakumari goes like this:
Banasur Demon - the immortal
Once upon a time, very long ago there lived a demon by the name of 'Banasur'. Through strict penance and austerities he had achieved the boon of immortality, except that he could only be killed at the hands of a virgin girl. The demon after achieving this boon, became arrogant, and started troubling all the Gods (Devas).
Kanya Kumari emerges from the Yagna fire
The Gods did not know what to do. So they approached Lord Vishnu, for a solution. Lord Vishnu suggested that they worship the goddess Parashakti (Parvati) and do a Yagna. When the Gods did the Yagna, then from the fire emerged a young virgin girl. This girl was 'Kanya Kumari' (Kanya=girl, and Kumari=virgin/unmarried)
Kanyakumari does penance
The little girl grew up doing penance and worshipping Lord Shiva with the desire to marry him. It is said that the place where goddess Kanyakumari stayed, was the Kanyakumari seashore where the Kanyakumari temple is now situated, and that she used to do penance on the rock island located in the sea (where the Vivekanand rock memorial now stands).
When she was marraigeble age, she had several suitors and Lord Shiva also expressed desire to marry her. However sage Narada understood that this would mean that she could not kill the demon. So Narada decided to do something to stall the marraige.
The 3 tough conditions for marraige
The story further says, that sage Narada suggested the Goddess that she should confirm whether the person who had approached her as Lord Shiva was really him, and hence put down some conditions for marraige.
On Narada's suggestion, Kanyakumari devi expressed that all those who wished to marry her, should try and get her 3 things before dawn, 1) A betel leaf without veins, 2) A coconut without eyes and 3) A sugarcane without stump-joints. She was confident that only Lord Shiva could do this, however Narada was not so sure.
Narada's roosting crow trick
Lord Shiva however got all these 3 things before dawn and was about to reach back to Kanyakumari, when Narada played another trick in the form of a crow roosting. Lord Shiva heard the crow's roosting and thought that it was dawn and that he had failed to reach back to Kanyakumari in time. Hence he returned back to his abode Suchindram (where the Suchindram temple) now stands (located about 11km away from kanyakumari)
Kanyakumari Devi kills Demon Banasur
Hearing of Kanyakumari's beauty, the Banasur Demon also wanted to marry her, and when she refused he attacked her to take her by force. It was at this time, that the virgin girl goddess Kanyakumari killed the demon with her Chakra. The place where she killed the demon is known as 'Mahadana Puram' and it is located 4 km to the north of Kanyakumari.
This is the legend and story of Kanyakumari Devi, who is worshipped at the Kanyakumari temple. The Suchindram temple of Lord Shiva located just 11 km away, is also visited by tourists.
It is said that in recent history, Swami Vivekananda visited Kanyakumari in 1892, he prayed in the temple, and then spent 3 days meditating on the rock in the sea (where the Vivekananda memorial now stands)
This ancient temple is a must visit place on any trip to Kanyakumari. The beautiful temple architecture, the black stone carved image of Kanyakumari, the glittering nose ring that she wears, the shrines of her friends and playmates Balasundari and Vijayasundari are all a must see.
The temple is situated right on the Kanyakumari beach, the place of the 'Sangam' where the 3 seas meet each other. It is only a short walk away from the several hotels that are located in the vicinity of the temple.
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