Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

There are two stories about this kshetra, One is about Indra (King of Gods) and second one is about Lord Dattatreya. Once Indra deva was infactuated with Ahalya, wife of Gauthama rishi. One night he took the form of a cock and came to the hermitage of Gauthama and gave the clarion call to think that Gauthama was late for his bath. Gauthama arose and hurried to the river. Indra in the disguise of Gauthama, entered the hermitage and molested Ahalya. Gauthama muni saw the river yet sleeping and returned to the hermitage and find Ahalya and Indra there. He cursed Indra that his body should be covered with a thousand female genital organs and Ahalya to become a stone. Greatly afflicted by his disgrace and Indra went to Gnaanaranya and performed penance for a long time. Atlast, the grace of Lord Shiva purified him thoroughly. Indra built the shrine and the Trimurthis were represented in one linga with the name Sthaanumaalaya. The legend is that, Indra is still doing pooja in the temple at midnight hours every night. As Indra was purified at this Gnaanaranya, it’s name was changed to SUCHI+INDRA = SUCHINDRA and the village is SUCHINDRUM.

Second story goes like this : The great sage Atri and his devoted wife Anasuya had their hermitage at this Gnaanaranya (now it is Suchindrum). Trimoorthis asking for alms When she was about to serve them food, they told her that they had taken a vow not to eat fod served by a person who wore any dress. So, she prayed to her Lord and sprinkled the paadatheertha on the Brahmins. Immediately the old Brahmins were transformed into three suckling babies. She then undressed and fed them. She put them in a cradle and made them sleep. The long absence of the Gods instilled fear in the minds of the three Devis, and they approached Anasuya for Mangalya bhiksha. Then Anasuya sprinkled the paadatheertha on the babies and the three Gods appeared in their resplendent glory by the side of their partners. These thrimoorthis combined together and gave a birth to Atri and Anasuya in the form of Lord Dattatreya.