SUCHINDRAM TEMPLE-2

   தானுமாலியன் கோவில் முகப்பு     

          



SUCHINDRAM TEMPLE-2
    SRI.S.V.VARADARAJAN




   It is one of the very famous temples in Tamil Nadu and is located in the ancient 'Nanchil' region. The celestial, Indra got purified of his sins here and hencewas known as 'Gnanaranyam' and later as Suchindram. Even today it is the customary belief in this temple that Indra himself is performing the pooja to the presiding deity 'Thanumalayan'in the midnight daily. It is about 6 k.m from from Nagarkoil on the rote to Kanyakumari on the banks of Pazhair river amidst rich fields and trees. 


      It is understood that major part of the temple was built by the Chera,Chola,Pandiya kings. The 'konrai' tree in this temple is ancient as 2000 years as per popular belief. Therefore the kondrai yadi Nathar seated under this tree is also a very ancient shrine. The mandapams, stone pillars, stone idols, paintings etc. are really of very high artistic value and the temple looks like a cultural centre for various arts. It also shows that our country is famous as storehouse for different cultural works and creations The stone carvings show the intricate dancing forms, and the paintings explain the puranic stories and events. A very wonderful feature here is the set of a few stone pillars standing majesticlly in a mandapam which produces the sapthaswaras i.e. the seven basic notes of carnatic music and this is really a very innovative piece of sculpture. In 1984, the old paintings in the Gopuram depicting the ancient stories were renovated nicely.


To be continued
The Sucindram Temple: A Monograph
  












   















               
            





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