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 Known as the Tanumalayan - or Sthanumalayan - temple, Suchindram is a very unique temple in India the deity enshrined in its sanctum sanctorum represents the Hindu Trinity in a single form. The name Tanumalayan is a combination of the names of the Trinity. Tanu - or Sthanu - means Shiva, Mal means Vishnu and Ayan stands for Brahma. The upper portion of the Lingam in the sanctum sanctorum represents Shiva, the middle portion Vishnu and the lower portion Brahma. This kind of a combined representation is very rare and it is said Suchindram is the only temple where the Lord is represented in this form.
Known for its hoary past, extending to over 2500 years into history, its rich sculpture, art and architecture, its musical pillars and many other such unique features, Suchindram is situated between Nagercoil and Kanyakumari, about 11 km. from Kanyakumari and 7 km. from Nagercoil. The nearest Railway Station is Nagercoil on the Chennai - Trivandrum section. There are many and frequent busses plying from Tirunelveli as well as from Trivandrum and Kanyakumari.
Legends
There are two legends associated with the temple of Suchindram. According to one legend, the foremost among sages, Atri lived here with his wife, the very embodiment of purity, Anasuya in Suchindram. Suchindram was known as
Jnanaranya at that time. A forest of Wisdom. Many were the saints and sages who were in deep meditation in the thick forests of Suchindram and attained self-realisation and hence the name
Jnanaranya.
Once it so happened that sage Atri had to leave to the Himalayas and when he left, he, at the request of Anasuya, had left his Padha Thirtha (water with which his feet were washed) with her. Anasuya, known as the most virtuous woman on earth, was visited by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, who assumed the form of sages, at the request of their consorts, to put her purity to test. They were received by Anasuya who played their host and requested them to let her know what they desired. They wanted nothing more than a meal. But they placed the most shocking condition for their having their meal at the hermitage. 'We are under a vow not to take food from anyone who is clad in clothes,' they said. Well, they thought that it was not possible for Anasuya to do so. And if she does so, she violates the most important duty prescribed - of offering food to holy men, or anyone else for that matter, who is hungry. And if she complied with the request, she would have to doff whatever she was wearing.
But Anasuya turned them into babies with the Padha Thirtha of Atri Maharishi that she had with her and by the power of her chastity and thus fulfilled the demand of the sages. The divine babies remained with Anasuya, who mothered them for a long time. And finally the consorts of the Trinity had to appear before her, begging for their restoration, acknowledging her supreme state of purity. The Trinity, then on the desire of sage Atri, were born to him as his three sons - Chandra, Dattatreya and Durvasa. And they also assumed the form of the Lingam that is worshipped now in Suchindram temple.
The other Legend is that it was here that Indra's guilt of violating Ahalya was expiated. The name Suchindram is split as Suchi, meaning pure and Indram referring to Indra. The place where Indra was absolved of his guilt.
The temple
 The temple tower is very tall and imposing, measuring 134 feet. The entrance door is equally breathtaking with intricate carvings on it and measuring 24 feet high. There is a single
prakaram housing about 30 shrines devoted to various deities within the temple complex, the large Lingam in the sanctum, the idol of Vishnu in the adjacent shrine and a large idol of Hanuman at the Eastern end of the Northern corridor represent almost all the deities of the Hindu pantheon. This temple attracts both Vaishnavites and Saivites in large numbers. The temple is replete with fine and intricate carvings, so beautiful that words cannot describe them fully.
There is a large hall, Alankara Mandapam on the northern side of the corridor there are four large pillars that are formed by a group of cylinders carved out of stone. Two of these pillars are made of 33 cylinders and the other two are made of 25 cylinders. These are the famous 'musical pillars', real marvels of the art and technical superiority of the workmen of those days. These stone pillars produce perfect musical notes when tapped on them. However, due to the present condition of the pillars, they are cordoned off now.
There is a huge stone image of Hanuman, measuring 18 feet, carved out of a single stone outside the Alankara
Mandapam.
Festivals:
There are two important festivals, one in Markazhi (December/January) and the other in Chiththirai (April/May). During the Markazhi festival, on the 9th day the deities are taken out in procession around the streets on three festival cars.
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