சுசீந்திரம் தாணுமாலயன் திருக்கோயில்
The Thanumalayan or Sthanumalayan temple is one of the most popular temples in this area. It is unique as it is one of very few temples where the the triumvirate of the Hindu gods, Brahma (Ayan) the creator of the universe, Vishnu (Mal) the preserver and Siva (Thanu or Sthanu) the destroyer are venerated as principal deities in the same temple enshrining the concept of the eternal cosmic cycle. The lingam in the sanctum sanctorum represents all three gods. There is a separate shrine for Lord Vishnu and a tall 22 feet statue of Hanuman carved out of a single rock, which is one the best examples of its kind anywhere.
It is a large temple with an outer wall enclosing multiple shrines and halls. The layout suggests that it is quite an ancient temple. It is first mentioned in the 8th century and there is inscriptional evidence that it was here in the 9th. The Pandian, Chola and Chera kings have contributed to it. The Nayakkan and later Travancore kings were very fond of this temple and made many contributions. Most of the architecture as it stands today is from the 17th century. The tall and majestic rajagopuram at 134 feet is visible for miles around the countryside. It is white in colour and adorned with a myriad of sculptures. But the best known sculptural works here are the musical columns in the Alankara Mandapam. There are 4 main ones, carved out of a single granite block. There are a number of columns that make a distinct musical note when pounded upon. The technique they used to create these remains a mystery. Impressive.
Situated midway between Kanyakumari and Nagercoil, this is a must visit temple for many reasons. Photography was tough as the temple was busy.
We visited in August 2019. We were based in Kanyakumari
Credits: Google Maps
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