Adhisaya Sastha Temple, Suchindrum, Kanyakumari
Adhisaya
Sastha Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappan near Nagercoil Town
in Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu. Presiding Deity is called as Adhisaya
Sastha. Sthala Vriksham is Vilwa Tree. Theertham is Yaga Gunda Theertham.
Legends
Anjanam Thadavia Kandan:
In days
of yore, the devotees of the place worshipped Sastha as their family
deity. They made a small idol of Sastha, built a small temple and
installed the idol. Later, a person with impaired vision was lying in the
temple and was worshipping the Lord seeing him with the eye of the
mind. He felt as if somebody was sitting by applying Kajal in his
eyes. He regained his vision. Based on this event, the Lord is also
known as Anjanam (Kajal) Thadavia (applying) Kandan. Kandan is the short form
of Manikandan, another name of Sastha.
Yaga Gunda Theertham:
Yaga
Gunda Theertham has special significance in the temple. Maharshi Athri
stayed in his hermitage here with his wife Anusuya. With a view to show
her chastity to her Rishi husband, the three Lords – Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva
– visited the hermitage in the guise of ascetics. When invited for lunch,
the three said that they will accept her hospitality only if she serves them
nude. Anusuya had no hesitation. She immediately took the water from the plate
with which she performed the pada puja for her husband (washing the feet of the
husband), spilled on the ascetics. The ascetic became simply infants. Stunned
by her instant action, the Lords appeared before Anusuya with their respective
consorts. As Maharshi Athri had his Ashram here, the place was first known as
Asramam and later Asraamam. The spring created by Maharshi Athri is
outside the temple, known as Yaga Gunda Theertha.
The
Temple
Presiding
Deity is called as Adhisaya Sastha. Lord Sastha graces in the temple in quite a
different form against the traditional style, keeping his right leg bent and
the left toe pressed on the ground. He holds a club in his right hand wearing a
necklace and the sacred thread. His curling hair is beautifully dressed. This
is a form of Sastha exclusively in this temple only and nowhere in India. There
are elephant and horse vahans in front the shrine.
Yaga
Gunda Theertham has special significance in the temple. The spring created
by Maharshi Athri is outside the temple, known as Yaga Gunda Theertha. Vilwa
the sacred tree of the temple, 3 in numbers has its bunches with three, five
and nine leaves. The famous Sthanumalayan temple in Suseendram is very near to
this temple within a walkable distance. Madan Thambiran, Bhoodathar,
Eenan, Vanniar and other deities are in the corridor.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple remains open from 7.00 a.m. to a.m. and from 6.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.
Festivals
Following
Panguni Uthiram in March-April on the 7th and 8th day a festival is celebrated
for Sastha when he comes in procession on Horse vahanam.
Prayers
Those
suffering from vision problems are advised to pray in the temple. Devotees
perform abishek to the Lord and offer Vastras.
Contact
Adhisaya
Sastha Temple,
Suchindrum,
Kanyakumari District
Mobile: +91 94434 94473 / 94430 02731
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 8 Kms from Nagercoil, 14 Kms from Kanyakumari, 9 Kms
from Kottaram, 16 Kms from Boothapandi, 21 Kms from Thuckalay, 19 Kms from Eraniel,
29 Kms from Colachel, 18 Kms from Aralvaimozhi, 14 Kms from Thovalai, 87 Kms
from Tirunelveli and 80 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. The Temple is located at
about 500 meters from Suchindram Bus Stop.
Suchindram
is well connected to Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, Thirunelveli, Thiruvananthapuram
and other nearby places by Bus. Nagercoil Railway Station is the nearest
Railway Station, located at about 4 Kms from the Temple. Nearest Airport is Thiruvananthapuram
International Airport, located at about 80 Kms from this Temple.