KANYAKUMARI

THE MANDIR

The sacred shrine of Kumari Parvathi is situated at the exact place of the merging of three seas, and so it is washed by their holy waters.  It has two prakaras and two entrances.  The main entrance, facing the North is adorned with a modest tower.  The other gate facing the East is always closed, but opens on special occasions, for bathing the idol during festival seasons.  This has an odd story. 

It is recorded that the unexceptional brilliance of the gem, set in the nose screw adorning the idol was drawing many a ship in the nights, like the shaft of light of modern light- house towards the shore leading to disastrous consequence of their dashing against the rocks and smashing into pieces.  To safeguard the interests of the ill-fated mariners, the eastern gate was closed long back.  There is a belief that the English sailors entering through the East gate stole the jeweled nose- ring of the virgin goddess.  It has a story. 

According to it the nose-ring was a Nagamani extracted from a cobra; it dazzled brilliant as that of the shaft of light coming from a light-house.  The sailors mistook the temple to be light-house and sailed in that direction.  Alas! they were ship-wrecked off the present Vivekananda Rock Many died, but a few survivors-vultures as they were plucked out the sparkling nose-ring and vanished into pitch darkness.

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