Suchindram temple is unique in India in that it is dedicated to three separate deities depicted by a single image in the sanctum and is called kovil Sthanumalayan (Sthanu-Shiva; Maal-Vishnu and Ayan-Brahma). The temple is rich in architecture and sculpture and a visitor to this temple is amply rewarded with the sight of such beautiful hundred-year - old art.
history / story of suchindram
There are a lot of legends to this temple. Anasuya, Atri Maharishi 's wife was renowned for her chastity and devotion to her husband-an embodiment of a Hindu wife. By sprinkling the 'paatha theertham' (water with which she washed her husband's feet) she could perform miracles to bring rain to a parched earth or transform objects to her desire.
When the three Devis,-Goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswathy and Parvathy learned about the powers of this earthly woman through Sage Naradha they decided to test her chastity. To measure Anasuya's loyalty to her husband, they approached their husbands Lords Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The three Moorthys turned themselves into three ancient mendicants, and went to the hermitage where Anasuya lived and sought her alms.When Anasuya was about to serve them food they told her they had made a promise by not taking alms from a person wearing clothes. She prayed to her Lord as it was a sin to deny alms to mendicants, and sprinkled a little 'paatha theertham' on the three old beggars. They were all suddenly turned into babies, and she gave them food to throw away her clothing.
Learning what had happened, the Goddesses pleaded with Anasuya to grant them 'maankalya biksha' (gift of married life) and to give their husbands back. Anasuya showed the three babys to them. The Devis ran to the cradle and every picked one infant. Afterwards Anasuya prayed to her Lord to restore them to their original form. Lo hey and behold! Lord Sri Vishnu was in the embrace of Lakshmi, Siva in Parvathy 's lap and Saraswathy with Brahma. They acknowledged the popularity of Anasuya as being justified as the most chaste woman on earth. Thus the Thrimoorthy came to be represented at Suchindram by the Lingam; the bottom stands for Brahma, the middle stands for Vishnu and the top Shiva.
This temple is associated with yet another lore. Once Indra had been infatuated with Rishi Gautama 's wife Ahalya. One night Gautama came to the hermitage where he stayed and crowed like a cock signaling the dawn approach. Thinking that dawn was imminent, Rishi Gautama awoke from his sleep and went to the river for his ablutions before starting his prayers. Realizing it was too dark for dawn and too early to leave in the morning, he returned to his home. When Lord Indra took on Rishi Gautama's physical presence, confronted Ahalya, and fulfilled his wish.Rishi Gautama who was returning from the river was angry when he saw his wife in the embrace of another man and cursed the whole body of the man to be covered with 'yoni' (the female organ) and his wife Ahalya to become a stone statue. Lord Indra went to Gnanaranya to get rid of this curse, and prayed to the Three Moorthys to get rid of the curse. When he was rid of his curse and transformed into his original form he constructed a temple and installed the Lingam to represent the three Moorthy-Thanu-Maal-Ayan, and the place name came to be known as Suchi-Indran (the place where Indran was purified).