Sivananda - Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu - Jan. 19th, 2007

There is speculation that the Dravidians were part of early Indus civilization and that they came south to the area around 1500 BC. The 3 dynasties controlling the region were the Cholas, Pandyas and Chevas during the classical period of Tamil literature.
Later, it has been almost totally dominated by the British when the region became Madras Presidency. India's independence was won in 1947, and in 1956 the Madras Presidency was replaced by Tamil Nadu, an autonomous state. Tamil Nadu occupies the south-eastern part of India.
Today, after doing 2 hrs. of yoga and having a great brunch at the Sivananda center, I travelled to Kanyakumari, the "furthest south" city in India, also called Cape Comorin. It's is the land's end of the Indian subcontinent, where the Bay of Bengal meets the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea.
This city is dedicated to the goddess Devi Kanya, an incarnation of Pavarti, that is why this town is a pilgrimage place of great spiritual significance for the Hindus. They say that Devi conquered demons and secured freedom for the world.
I took a walk by the fishermen neighborhood and it was a 'fabella type' barrio, very poor and dirty, but the catholic church they built in this neighborhood is very ostentuous, a beautiful pastel color building. Inside, few fishermen wives in saries were seating in the floor praying, since the whole central and front areas of the temple didn't have benches to seat.
In the street, I run into some of the girls from the Sivananda center who tok the tour today, and were returning back this evening. They told me that I was very brave for travelling alone.