A visit to Sthanumalayan Temple Suchindram

Today, 2nd August 2019, my wife and I had the good fortune of a peaceful darshan at the Arulmigu Sthanumalayan Temple in Suchindram, known in Tamil as சுசீந்திரம் ஸ்ரீ தாணுமாலையன் சுவாமி திருக்கோவில். Many people also call it the Suchindram Sri Anjaneyar Temple.

I had travelled to Kanyakumari for a conference and reached Tuticorin airport yesterday afternoon. From there, we took a local taxi, which first took us to Tiruchendur Murugan Temple and then dropped us at our hotel in Kanyakumari. This evening, around 5:30 PM, we started from Kanyakumari town and reached the Suchindram temple in about 30 minutes.

The Arulmigu Sthanumalayan Temple in Suchindram is several centuries old. The main deity is a unique representation of the Trimurthi: Siva, Vishnu, and Brahma. The name ‘Sthanumalayan’ is actually a blend of the three names—this is called Trināma Samāsa in Sanskrit. The temple is well known for having one of the tallest Lord Hanuman (Anjaneya) statues, standing at 22 feet. What is remarkable is that this statue has been carved out of a single granite rock. Devotees visit to offer prayers to Sri Hanuman here, as he is believed to answer their wishes quickly.

Besides worship, tourists also come to see the temple’s famous musical pillars. Out of many pillars, each about 18 feet tall, four of them produce the sounds of different musical notes when tapped. These pillars are also carved from single pieces of granite. Hearing them play “SSaregama Padanisa” was a unique experience. To protect the pillars, public access is restricted—you need to speak to the temple authorities and arrange for a guide if you wish to see them up close. There is also a beautiful dancing hall inside, with 1,035 pillars, each with intricate carvings.

If you are visiting Kanyakumari or nearby, do not miss this temple. It is worth a visit both for a divine darshan and to admire the detailed architecture.