Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.1995

c7.1995

2) Purāṇic stories about Kanyākumārī. There are several stories regarding the origin and renown of Kanyākumārī in the Purāṇas. The most important ones are given below.
(1) Absolver of sins. The wife of a brahmin named Apañcika living in Kāśī became unchaste and to wash away her sin she came to Kanyākumārī walking all the way and did penance there, daily bathing in its waters. She attained Salvation and it is believed that a bath in its waters would absolve anybody of all his sins. (Maṇimekhalā).
(2) Cakra tīrtha of Kanyākumārī. Puṇyakāśī, daughter of Mayāsura, once went to Kailāsa and worshipped Śiva. After three yugas Śiva appeared before her and asked her what she wanted. She replied that she wanted to be merged in Śiva always. Śiva then said ‘Three hundred and sixtyfive days would make a year. Four lakhs and thirtythree years would make a Kali Yuga. Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali are four Yugas and when two thousand such Yugas are over Brahmā finishes a day. Such thirty days make one month and twelve months, a year for Brahmā. When such hundred years of Brahmā are over the great deluge comes. Such ten deluges make a nāzhikā (twentyfour minutes) of Viṣṇu. Counting thus when you pass ten Viṣṇu deluges Śiva passes a second. Then is the time for the fulfilment of your desire. Till that time you sit in meditation on the shores of the south seas. Your hermitage would be known as Kanyākṣetra or Tapaḥ Sthala. During your stay there you must kill all the wicked people like Bāṇāsura and give relief to the people. I will also come and stay with you there then.” Puṇyakāśī after prostrating before Śiva went to the south seas. Taking a Japamālā (necklace for prayer) in her hands she assumed the name Kanyākumārī, and started her penance. After conquering all the three worlds demon Bāṇa was having a wicked rule over his people when he saw Kanyākumārī and asked her to be his wife. He approached her with his wicked servants Durmukha and Durdarśana. But Kanyākumārī flatly refused and in the battle that ensued, Bāṇāsura fell dead by the Cakrāyudha (Discus) of Devī and at that spot is the Cakratīrtha. (Skanda Purāṇa).
(3) The phantom child which escaped from the hands of Kaṃsa at the time of the birth of Śrī Kṛṣṇa was that divine lady, Kanyākumārī. (Padma Purāṇa).
3) The Geographical view. It is said that there was an extension of the present continent to the south and that expansive land called Lamūria was later submerged in waters. There is a description of such an extended land in some of the old literature like Cilappadikāram.” Kanyākumārī which was called ‘Kumāri-ambāḍi’ also was the first setu; Dhanuṣkoṭi the middle setu; and Koṭikkara, last setu. (Setu Purāṇa)