Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Bhagavati	Ambal / Thayar:	–
Deity:	Amman	Historical name:
Vriksham:		Teertham:
Agamam:		Age (years):	More than 2000
Timing:	4.30 to 12.30 & 4 to 8	Parikaram:
Temple group:		–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Kanyakumari	District:	Kanyakumari
Maps from (click):	Current location	Kanyakumari (1 km)	Nagercoil (20 km)
	Tirunelveli (92 km)	Thoothukudi (129 km)

Location

Kanyakumari is located at the southern tip of mainland India, and the etymology of Kanyakumari goes back directly to the Bhagavati at this temple.

Sthala puranam and temple information

This Bhagavati temple is one of the Sakti Peethams. Bhagavati here is considered a guardian deity of the land from the seas (evil forces).

Bana, an asura, obtained a boon that he could be killed only by an adolescent virgin girl, and proceeded to create havoc on earth. Bhagavathi was an adolescent girl who had set her mind on marrying Siva, who had decided he would marry the girl. However, Narada was unhappy about this because, in the event the girl married, Banasura could not be killed. The muhurtam (auspicious time for the wedding) was set for early morning, before sunrise. Siva and his entourage made their way from Suchindram towards Kanyakumari. Narada, realising the importance of Bhagavati remaining unmarried and virgin, made the cock crow earlier than usual on the day of the wedding. Believing that the time for the wedding had passed, Siva and the wedding party returned to Suchindram. When Siva did not turn up, Bhagavathi, in her grief and anger, threw away all the food prepared for the wedding and broke her bangles, and became a sanyasin. Years later, when Bana tried to lure the Devi, the infuriated Goddess killed him. Parasurama and Narada requested her to stay on here till the end of Kaliyuga.

The temple is over 3000 years old, and as blessed by the Amman, bathing here in the sea relieves one of all their sins.

It is believed that a diamond was obtained from the king of cobras and that the glare from the stone misled a mariner to think this to be a light house and wreck his ship. The Eastern Gate of the Temple remains closed to avoid any such accident.

Other information for your visit

This is the only place where three seas join (Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. Devotees and tourists throng here to view the sun rise and sun set in large numbers. There is always a crowd early in the morning to watch the sun rise. So if you want a good spot, please reach the temple area early, select your spot, and stay there no matter what.

Swami Vivekananda had meditated at the nearby rock (known today as Vivekananda Rock), and boat rides are available to visit the rock. A huge 90 feet statue of poet-sage Thiruvalluvar has been erected by the Government on the rock. Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were immersed here and a mandapam has been erected in his memory.

There are some limited accommodation options in Kanyakumari, mostly budget.

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