Devi Kanyakumari Temple (Bhagavathy Amman Temple),
Kanyakumari – Poojas & Worship Practices
For
thousands of years, this southern-most tip of the sub-continent has been one of
India's main pilgrimage sites, as bathing in Kanya Kumari's waters is said to
absolve one of all sins. The tradition here is to take a holy dip at the
bathing Ghat at the confluence of the three seas. There are about 25 Theerthams
on the shores. The puja’s in this Kumari Amman Temple are carried out according
to the Tanthrasamuchayam like the temples in Kerala. Even though the temple is
situated in Tamilnadu, the Kanyakumari Kumari Amman Temple is considered as a
Kerala temple since it was once part of the erstwhile Travancore kingdom.
Like
most of the Bhagavathy temples in Kerala the shine is opened in the Western
door. The eastern door in opened only in certain days of a year on the new moon
days in the months of Thai, Aadi (Karkidaka) July, during Navaratri and in the month of Karthikai. The priests are
still chosen from Kerala Brahmin families and they still adhere to the Kerala
type of five pujas per day. For the purpose of rites and rituals in the temple
the Bhagavathy is imagined as (Sankalpam) as Balambikai, the kid goddess. The
goddess is considered as Devi Katyayani, one of the Nava Durga here. She is
also considered as Bhadrakali Bhagavathy by devotees while worshipping her.
New Red
Sarees, and Ghee wick lamps are offered to the goddess by devotees.
Reciting Lalita Sahasranama while approaching & circumambulating the
temple is considered auspicious. The location Kanyakumari, i.e. southern
tip of India has been held sacred by Hindus' as it is the confluence of three
seas. Pitru Tarpan and taking bath in the sea is done in the Kanyakumari
beach as it the convergence of many important theertha. There are a total of 11
Theerthams associated with the temple in the ocean surrounding Kanyakumari.