Yaa devi sarva boodeshu kanyaa roopena samsthitha |
Namasthasyei Namasthasyei Namasthasyei namo namaha ||
Namasthasyei Namasthasyei Namasthasyei namo namaha ||
Kanyakumari also known as Cape Comorin
at the confluence of
Arabian sea, Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean at the southern
tip of Indian peninsula is one of the most important ' Devi peetams'.
Devi is incarnated here as Sri Kanyakumari - meaning the
' virgin-girl '. The Devi is in the penance pose here.
Maheswari Dakshayani's burnt buttock fell in this place. Another account says the devi's bust fell here. Hence this place became one of the 51 abodes of Devi. This place is calledSri Kanya Peetham (refer to 'Yoga-agni' in 'Abodes of devi' for background story) Devi kanyakumari was created to destroy the demons 'Bahan' and 'Muhan' who were tormenting the gods and men.
Lord Shiva incarnated in Suchindram - 5 km away was desirous of taking 'Kanya-kumari' as his consort and the wedding process was commenced.
However Sage Narada wanted to stop this wedding as that would divert the devi from her mission of destroying the ' demons '. So he imposed two conditions on Lord shiva for taking Kanyakumari as his consort. The first condition was that he should send as dowry 'coconuts without the eyes' 'Mangoes without its stem' and such other impossible things. The second condition was that Lord Shiva should arrive at the ' wedding hall ' before dawn on the appointed day.
Lord Shiva accepted both the conditions and on the wedding day set forth to go to 'Kanya-kumari' town sending in advance loads and loads of dowry as required. Sage Narada to prevent shiva from reaching the marriage venue took the form of a rooster and much before the sun-rise crowed to announce the dawn. Lord Shiva thinking that he had broken the second condition went back to Suchindram
Devi Kanya-kumari was utterly disappointed when the groom did not arrive on time and went back in anger to her penance after throwing all the dowry sent by Shiva into the sea. The multi-hued sand of differant sizes on the shore are supposed to be the metamorphised grains and other things sent to her as dowry by Lord shiva.
The huge and unique diamond nose-pin of this idol is brilliant in its sparkle visible many miles from the sea. It has been mistaken as light from a light house. Mis-led by this many a ship has floundered on the treacherous rocks near the shore. To avoid these mishaps the door on the side facing the sea is closed for ensuring the safety of the ships.
Kanyakumari is at its glory during Chitra Pournami (full moon day in April) when the sun and moon are face to face on the horizon over the sea. On normal full moon days also one can see the sunset and the moon-rise almost simultaneously. A fine beach with multi hued sands in differant sizes is another interesting sight. With rocks jutting out the sea here is very rough reflecting the angry mood of the Devi
Cape-comorin was under Chera, chola, pandya and the nayak kings who built a number of temples around this place over the centuries.
In recent times Swamy Vivekananada memorial has been built on a twin-rock at the tip of the peninsula dedicated to the greatest monk and philosopher of the 20th century.
A memorial has been raised for the ancient poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar who authored the inimitable "Thirukural" in couplet form over 2000 years ago. The author's breath of vision and all pervading wisdom are reflected in the range of subjects dwelt with in this composition of epic proportions.
Close to the Vivekananda Rock is another rock called Sri-paada-Paarai meaning the rock that has been graced by the feet of the Devi. The temple attracts thousands of devotees from all over the world. This is also a popular tourist spot.
The virgin goddess is the guardian angel eternally protecting the country at its southern tip.
Maheswari Dakshayani's burnt buttock fell in this place. Another account says the devi's bust fell here. Hence this place became one of the 51 abodes of Devi. This place is calledSri Kanya Peetham (refer to 'Yoga-agni' in 'Abodes of devi' for background story) Devi kanyakumari was created to destroy the demons 'Bahan' and 'Muhan' who were tormenting the gods and men.
Lord Shiva incarnated in Suchindram - 5 km away was desirous of taking 'Kanya-kumari' as his consort and the wedding process was commenced.
However Sage Narada wanted to stop this wedding as that would divert the devi from her mission of destroying the ' demons '. So he imposed two conditions on Lord shiva for taking Kanyakumari as his consort. The first condition was that he should send as dowry 'coconuts without the eyes' 'Mangoes without its stem' and such other impossible things. The second condition was that Lord Shiva should arrive at the ' wedding hall ' before dawn on the appointed day.
Lord Shiva accepted both the conditions and on the wedding day set forth to go to 'Kanya-kumari' town sending in advance loads and loads of dowry as required. Sage Narada to prevent shiva from reaching the marriage venue took the form of a rooster and much before the sun-rise crowed to announce the dawn. Lord Shiva thinking that he had broken the second condition went back to Suchindram
Devi Kanya-kumari was utterly disappointed when the groom did not arrive on time and went back in anger to her penance after throwing all the dowry sent by Shiva into the sea. The multi-hued sand of differant sizes on the shore are supposed to be the metamorphised grains and other things sent to her as dowry by Lord shiva.
The huge and unique diamond nose-pin of this idol is brilliant in its sparkle visible many miles from the sea. It has been mistaken as light from a light house. Mis-led by this many a ship has floundered on the treacherous rocks near the shore. To avoid these mishaps the door on the side facing the sea is closed for ensuring the safety of the ships.
Kanyakumari is at its glory during Chitra Pournami (full moon day in April) when the sun and moon are face to face on the horizon over the sea. On normal full moon days also one can see the sunset and the moon-rise almost simultaneously. A fine beach with multi hued sands in differant sizes is another interesting sight. With rocks jutting out the sea here is very rough reflecting the angry mood of the Devi
Cape-comorin was under Chera, chola, pandya and the nayak kings who built a number of temples around this place over the centuries.
In recent times Swamy Vivekananada memorial has been built on a twin-rock at the tip of the peninsula dedicated to the greatest monk and philosopher of the 20th century.
A memorial has been raised for the ancient poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar who authored the inimitable "Thirukural" in couplet form over 2000 years ago. The author's breath of vision and all pervading wisdom are reflected in the range of subjects dwelt with in this composition of epic proportions.
Close to the Vivekananda Rock is another rock called Sri-paada-Paarai meaning the rock that has been graced by the feet of the Devi. The temple attracts thousands of devotees from all over the world. This is also a popular tourist spot.
The virgin goddess is the guardian angel eternally protecting the country at its southern tip.
Om Sakthi
Location:
Kanyakumari is at the tip of Soutern India and is accessible
by road from Tirunelveli or Nagarkoil in Tamil nadu.
Kanyakumari is at the tip of Soutern India and is accessible
by road from Tirunelveli or Nagarkoil in Tamil nadu.
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