Kanyakumari is located at the southernmost point of peninsular India. It is the meeting point of three great water bodies: the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Besides its importance as a pilgrim centre, it is well known for its beautiful views of sunrise, sunset and moonrise over the waters.
From the Sthalapurana of Kanyakumari and the inscriptions found on the premises, we learn that the temple was famous during the period of the later Cholas, and that it was actually built before the ancient Thanjavur temple.