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Essay name: Sucindrasthala-mahatmya (critical edition and study)

Author: Anand Dilip Raj
Affiliation: University of Kerala / Department of Sanskrit

The essay studies in English the Sucindrasthala-mahatmya which represents a significant Sthalamahatmya from South India detailing the origins and development of the Trimurti temple at Suchindram in Tamil Nadu. The study reveals its legends, customs, and religious practices.

Chapter 4 - Sucindrasthalamahatmya: a critical study

Page:

25 (of 74)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


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Hearing about this Indra left the heaven. Brahma advises him to go to sucindram and pray the Trimurtis. The author spend somany verses for the description of the story. An elaborated narration of Indra's purification is also given. As the same forms a major part of the text the same description is avoided here. The 23rd chapter of SSM (verse 36 to 62) gives a comprehensive narration of the story of Ahalya which indicates the influence of Rāmāyaṇa on the work. Eventhough the Ahalya got her previous form by ŚrīRāma, Gautama didnot accept her as his wife because of the scandal from public. Then the Devās advised Gautama to do the favour of Ahalya at Sucindram. It is done between the holy tree and the Sivalinga in Śucindram temple. The trimurtis appealed before them and gave Ahalya to Gautama just like the father SSM uses the second phase of Indra myth for the glorification of Sucindram temple. Inscription gives evidence that the story of Indra is connected in 7th A.D.29 This period is important, and related to the development of Saivism, the popular religion, developed the Alvar saints pervades all over South India. Naturally the story of Indra got connection with the Sucindram temple. The author of SSM collected the oral narratives related to the temple and gave a detailed description of them. He uses Skanda purāṇa as his model which states about the erection of Sivalinga by Indra after liberated from his sin. According to SSM Indra constructed the whole temple complex and tank and started the car festival of Sucindram. Even to day it is believed that Indra is performing the Ardhayāmapuja at every night. The Sucindrakaimukku is said to be the influence of the myth of Indra. 148

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