An asura born to Kashyapa and Danu as per Mahabharata Bhishmaparva Chapter 65.

A holy place. Staying here earns one an entry into devaloka as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 25.

A holy place. A visit can earn one entry into Prajapati Manu’s loka as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 84.

A holy place. Spending three nights here earns one an entry into swargaloka as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 83.

The Mahabharata mentions Kanyakumari as the southern end and Gokarna as the northern end of Kerala. In addition, the Vanaparva has a few mentions of Kanyakumari. According to the Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 25, bathing here makes one illustrious. As per Mahabharata Aranyaparva Chapter 85, during the writing of the epic, Kanyakumari was part of the Pandya kingdom and Gokarna was surrounded by the sea. It was also believed that bathing at Kanyakumari would rid one of all sins.

There are many stories about Kanyakumari. A few are given below. The wife of Apanjika, a brahmin in Kashi was able to rid herself of a curse for infidelity after she walked to Kanyakumari and bathed there. Maya’s daughter Punyakashi once conducted 3 yajnas to appease Shiva, who then asked her what boon she desired. She said she wanted to be merged with Shiva forever. Shiva answered that a year was amde of 365 days, the Kaliyuga would last 400033 years. Also, 2000 Kritatretadwaparakali chaturyugas made up one day for Brahma. 30 such days would make a month and 12 such months a year. A hundred years of Brahma ends in a pralaya. Ten pralayas make up one lifetime for Vishnu. Ten of Vishnu’s lifetimes make up one second for Shiva. And that would be the time for the final destruction. He blessed that until that time she should meditate at the shores of the ocean in the south and that place would be known as Kanyakshetra. In the meantime, she would also kill Banasura and other asuras. Punyakashi thus set out for the ocean shore and with a garland in hand, she began meditating. When Banasura conquered the three worlds and began his evil rule, he wished to marry Punyakashi. He went to see her but first sent two messengers Durmukha, Durdarshana. She refused, and in the battle that ensued, Bana was killed. This is the spot where Chakratheertha is located in Kanyakumari as per Skandapurana.

According to Padmapurana, Kanyakumari was the child born as maya during the time of Krishna’s avatar.

It is believed that the coastline used to extend much beyond the current Kanyakumari as many earlier works mention it. As per the Sethupurana, Kanyakumari was the Adisetu, Dhanushkoti Madhyasetu and Kodikkara was the Andyasetu.

There are also historical mentions of Kanyakumari as a spiritual destination.

An ancient city on the banks of the Ganga. It is the same as modern day Kanauj. Vishwamitra was the son of the king of this place – Gadhi.

Brahma had a son named Kusha. He had four sons with Vaidarbhi – Kushamba, Kushanabha, Asurtharajas, Vasu. Kusha asked them all to rule as per Kshatriya dharma. Each of them built a city for themselves. Kushamba’s city was named Kaushambi, Kushanabha’s Mahodayapura, Asurtharajas’ Dharmaranya and Vasu’s Girivraja. Of these, Mahodayapura later came to be known as Kanyakubja as per Ramayana Balakanda Sarga 2.

Kushanabha and an apsara named Ghritachi had a 100 daughters. Once, in their youth, when they were roaming around in the gardens, Vayu became infatuated with them. But they didn’t encourage him, so he cursed them and made them hunchbacked. (kubja) Thus the place came to be known as Kanyakubja. When they returned to the palace, the king asked them what had happened and they narrated the entire story. During that time, a sage named Chooli used to meditate in the forest nearby. Somada, a gandharvi and the daughter of Urmila used to worship him and they had a son named Brahmadatta. He married all the 100 maidens and they transformed to their earlier selves as soon as he touched them. Kushanabha then conducted a putrakameshti yajna for a son. Brahma appeared, and thus Gadhi was born to him. Gadhi later became the father of one son and one daughter. The son was Vishwamitra and the daughter Satyavati. Satyavati later married Richika and Vishwamitra began ruling Kanyakubja as per Ramayana Balakanda Sargas 32-35.

There was amssive lake in Kanyakubja. There Vishnu revealed maya to Narada. See Narada for details.

As per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 87 verse 17, Vishwamitra and Indra consumed Soma here.

A region in ancient India as per Mahabharata Bhishmaparva Chapter 9.

Another name for Kama. Kama was born from Brahma’s mind. As soon as he was born, he asked ‘Kam Darpa’, and thus the name as per Kathasaritasagara Lavanakalambaka Taranga 6.

An attendant of Skanda as per Mahabharata Shalyaparva Chapter 46.