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 2 - Summary of the Sucindrasthalamahatmya
16 (of 22)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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weights and Visášu gave them seven diamonds (navaratnas). Lord siva gave them pancakᚣaramantra (Om namah ᚣivÄya) and rudrÄkᚣa and blessed them to live near sucindram by buying and selling things. In the deluge, the waters of seven seas rose all over the world and Ĺucindram was submerged in the water. Sucindranatha in his rage made fire from his jata. That fire swallowed the entire seas. Not knowing the reason for the untimely scarcity of water, Varuáša, the god of ocean, approached the sun god. The sun god told him that this was due to the anger of god of sucindram. On the instruction of the sun god Varuáša and seas, in the form of aged Brahmins went to BilvakÄnana and made a lake there and took bath in it and prayed the Ĺucindranatha for a long time residing there. Siva pleased with their penance appeared before them, and told them that as a compensation to the scarcity of water, he would give his divine tirtha. Chapter XVII Siva told Varuna and his followers that if they went to Kanyakumary and reach the staášutirtha made by viĹvakarma they would be given the holy tirta of him. If they returned to Ĺucindram from Kanyakumari on Ardra day and prayed there, desires of them would be fulfilled. Saying this Siva disappeared. Varuáša and his followers did so and because of the blessings of Siva all the oceans were filled fully with water. Because of this Sucindram got the name of Saptarášavapuram Parvati, in order to get Siva as her husband performed penance for a long time as a maiden assuming the name "puspahasa". Once Siva appeared before her and asked what her desire was. Parvati expressed her desire as to get Siva as her husband. Siva told her to do penance holding wedding 64
