Located in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, at the confluence of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean, the 3000-year-old Kumari Amman temple, also known as Bhagavathi Amman temple, dedicated to Devi Kanya Kumari, the virgin Goddess, is one of the 108 Shakti Peethas, the revered pilgrimage sites dedicated to various forms of Adi Shakti, the supreme goddess of Hinduism, signifying the divine feminine energy, according to Srimad Devi Bhagavata Purana, a holy Hindu text. Apart from its importance as a holy pilgrimage, and known for the idol of the goddess as a young maiden and her legendary bright diamond nose ring, the temple offers hypnotic visual splendour, due to its position by the expansive oceans. Nevertheless, history says, the present temple was built during the rule of the Pandya dynasty, and is now overseen and managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Tamil Nadu Government.

The name Kanyakumari is made up of two words comprising Kanya, which stands for a young girl, and Kumari, meaning a virgin maiden. Located around 90 km from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, Kanyakumari is a cape at the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula, known as Cape Comorin during British rule. According to legend, Sage Parasurama, an avatar of Vishnu, created the coastal land from Gokarna to Kanyakumari by throwing his axe, and founded the ancient temple of the goddess Kanyakumari to defeat the demon Banasura, who empowered by a boon from Brahma that his death could only be caused by an adolescent virgin girl, brought misery to the gods and the sages. During that time, in response to the united prayers and pleas of the gods, Goddess Parasakthi transformed herself into a Kumari, a virgin girl, to vanquish the demon. However, charmed by her beauty, Lord Shiva fell in love with her, and started to arrange for their celestial wedding, which made Devarshi Narada concerned, as he was aware that Banasura could only be killed if the Goddess remained unmarried. He, therefore, attempted to cancel the wedding through various means, all of which proved to be futile.

Finally, Narada devised a cunning plan, and during the journey of Lord Shiva from Suchindram to Kanyakumari for the scheduled wedding, Sage Narada transformed into a rooster and crowed to falsely signal the arrival of dawn. Misled by the signal, Lord Shiva returned, believing the auspicious time for the wedding had elapsed, while the Goddess awaited him in vain, and ultimately chose to remain unmarried. Later, when the infatuated demon Banasura attempted to forcibly marry her before the onset of a battle, she defeated him in the battle and killed him with her sharpened disc. However, as before his death, Banasura prayed for compassion and to absolve him of his sins, the Goddess granted him forgiveness and blessed the waters of the holy confluence, and hence, bathing in the waters is believed to wash away sins and cleanse the soul.

Reflecting a harmonious blend of Dravidian and Keralite influence, and surrounded by a tall stone wall, the Kumari Amman Temple exudes a sense of grandeur and mythological spirit, as well as historical significance. Embellished with detailed sculptures and vibrant hues, the main entrance to the temple complex, located on the northern side, is marked by a stunning gopuram, while the eastern gate, facing the ocean, remains closed on most of the days, only opening for special occasions, during the new moon days in the Tamil months of Thai, Aadi, Vrischikam, and Edavam, as well as during the Navaratri festival, generally celebrated in the month of Kanni, when the Devi is taken for a ceremonial ritual bath.

Apart from the main temple, the complex of the temple contains several other shrines dedicated to deities such as Lord Surya, Lord Ganesha, Lord Ayyappa Swamy, along with the shrines to Balasundari and Vijaya Sundari, friends and playmates of the Goddess Kanya Kumari in her youthful form. The complex also features. The Navarathri Mandapam, a hall supported by four pillars, each producing the sounds of a particular musical instrument like Veena, Mridangam, flute, and Jalatarang, respectively, dedicated hall used for musical and artistic performances dedicated to Goddess Kanya Kumari, particularly during festivals, enhancing the spiritual atmosphere of the temple. In addition, a well inside the complex, known as Moola Ganga Theertham, provides water for the abhishekam of the presiding deity.

The main temple, oriented towards the east, houses the idol of the presiding deity, Devi Kanya Kumari, the goddess of virginity and penance, depicted as a beautiful young girl in a standing position, dressed in vibrant silk attire, and holding an Akshamala, a garland made of Rudraksh beads, in her right hand. The idol is adorned with a sparkling nose-ring, with its origins traced back to a King Cobra, according to myth. Legend says, the dazzling reflection of the nose-ring was so intense that once a sailor mistook it for a lighthouse, leading to his ship crashing against the rocks, and since then, the eastern door of the temple always kept closed, except five times a year for the celebration of special events.