Kanyakumari Temple

Kanyakumari Temple

Tourists who come to Kanyakumari make it a point to visit this 3000 year old temple. After all, there are probably very few temples that can match the extraordinary location of the Kumari Amman Temple - it stands at the confluence of three majestic oceans, namely the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. From historical records, it seems that the temple which is also known as Bhagwati Temple, was built by the Pandya Rulers and later expanded by the Nayaks. The entrance to the temple is through the northern gate and a stone wall surrounds the temple. The Kumari Amman Temple is dedicated to Parvati in the form of Devi Kanya, the Virgin Goddess who did penance to obtain the hand of Lord Shiva. When the marriage failed to take place because of the machinations of the Sage Narada, the Goddess in her disappointment vowed to remain a virgin for the rest of her life. The Virgin Goddess stands as a charming young girl doing her penance while holding a rosary in her right hand. A sparkling jewel adorns her nose. It is believed that this nose ring, set with sparkling rubies, is so bright that it is visible even from the sea at night.