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
27 (of 74)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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to be a monkey. Narada too cursed Parvataka that he will fall on to the Yamaloka. Damayanti had took the stern stand that she will only marry Narada even though he has the form of a monkey. After a hundred years Narada get freed from the curse. Then Parvataka visited Narada and Narada got Parvataka freed from his curse too. In SSM this story has a different version. The poet made the change to glorify the Nattalam or Nakralayam temple situated in Kanyakumari district. The place is also known as Naradakshetra. In SSM the name of the king is Ambarikṣa and he had no children. By the blessings of Parvataka and Narada the king got a daughter. When she was grown, both Parvataka and Narada desired to marry her. The king had conducted the Svayamvara to choose her husband. Parvataka approached lord Viṣṇu and asked him to change the face of Narada in to a monkey. Narada also approached Visṇu and prayed him for the change the face of Parvataka into a donkey. Viṣṇu blessed both of them and he himself participated on the Svayamvara and married the daughter of Ambarikṣa. The sages cursed Viṣṇu that he may have the separation from his wife. Viṣṇu in return had cursed that they won't get a married life and he told that he would experience their curse at the time of his incarnation as Rāma. He advised them to visit the Nattalam temple and pray lord Visṇu and take bath at the titha namely Samkhodaka. Then they will be absolved from their curse. Samkhodoka is said to be the tirtha of the temple of Nattalam. Here the poet uses a puranic story for the glorification of a less popular temple. 150
