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
17 (of 22)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
chain in her hand near the southern sea. Devi performed penance for a long time. On account of this the place got the name Kanyakumari. In the beginning of Kaliyuga, sage Agastya leveled the entire earth with his feet. As his feet did not touch Sucindram, he felt wonder and prayed Staṇunatha. Siva appeared before him and asked the sage what his desire was. The sage told Siva that he should permit him to install a Sivalinga in his name. Immediately after the disappearance of Siva Agastya consecrated a sivalinga and dug a pond attached to the temple. The city came to be known after his name Agastisvaram The siddhas daily worshipped the god there after crossing the mountain pūrṇaśaila with out any obstacle in their way to the place due to the beneficence of lord Siva. Chapter XVIII On the direction of Siva the Siddhas took the holy medicine and lived on pūrṇaśaila performing worship on lord Siva. Because of this that mountain is known as Siddhabhūdharam. When war between Rama and Ravana was going on, the monkies fainted by arrows. In order to get relief from the efficacy, Hanuman took in his Land the auṣadhaśaila with plenty of herbs. He then flew to Lanka by air. Siddhas prayed to Varuna to get the herbs of that mountain to them. Varuṇa then created a very heavy rain. Hanuman drenched in rain and shook his body, the herbs fell on pūrṇaśaila from his hand. So this mountain got the name auṣadhadhidhara. Once a Sūdra by name Vakra performed penance on Siva and got liberation. So this mountain was also known as Vakraśikhara. 65
