Sucindrasthala-mahatmya (critical edition and study)
by Anand Dilip Raj | 2002 | 65,969 words
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. It is divided into two parts: Part I includes a study with four chapters di...
Puranic legends: Story of Narada and Parvataka
A quarrel between Narada and Parvataka is a puranic story. Chapter 22 of Sucindrasthalamahatmya describes the story. The poet treats the puranic story in his own manner and relates the story to the Nattalam temple. The story which is treated as in Bhagavatam Saptamaskanda can be summed like this. By the advise of Brahma, Narada and Parvataka had a visit to the court of the king Sanjaya. The king appointed his daughter Damayanti to serve them. She served them very well. But when Parvataka came to know that Damayanti fell in love with Narada, he cursed Narada 149
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 Sucindrasthalamahatmya 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 Sucindrasthalamahatmya the name of the king is Ambariksa 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 Visnu and asked him to change the face of Narada in to a monkey. Narada also approached Visnu and prayed him for the change the face of Parvataka into a donkey. Visnu blessed both of them and he himself participated on the Svayamvara and married the daughter of Ambariksa. The sages cursed Visnu that he may have the separation from his wife. Visnu 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 Rama. He advised them to visit the Nattalam temple and pray lord Visnu 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