Madhurai Meenakshi Amman; South Indian Temple.
The Sri Meenakshi Sundareswara temple and Madurai City originated together. The structures that are standing today date mostly from the twelfth to the eighteenth century. They occupy a vast space,258-m by 241m. There are the two main shrines,no less than twelve Gopuras,a pool and innumerable Mandapas. At every turn there is superb sculpture,magnificent architecture.

Madurai Meenakshi temple

Madurai or "the city of nectar" is the oldest and second largest city of Tamil Nadu. This city is located on Vaigai River and was the capital of Pandyan rulers. The Pandyan king,Kulasekhara had built a gorgeous temple around which he created a lotus shaped city. It has been a center of learning and pilgrimage,for centuries. Legend has it that the divine nectar falling from Lord Shiva's locks gave the city its name - 'Madhurapuri',now known as "Madurai".

Sri Meenakshi Temple Madurai

The Meenakshi temple complex is one of the largest and certainly one of the most ancient. According to legend Madurai is the actual site where the wedding between Shiva and Meenakshi took place. The gigantic temple complex,the statues exploring the entire range of human emotions,everything here is larger than life. The soaring and exquisitely carved towers enclose the temple dedicated to Meenakashi. The south gateway contains the twin temples of Shiva and Meenakshi and is about nine storeys high.

godess menakshi

Meenakshi Devi:

Meenakshi Devi is another name for the Goddess. As a mark of respect, Meenakshi's full title is Sri Meenakshi Devi Amman ("The Auspicious Fish-Eyed Goddess-Mother"). Like a fish, Meenakshi Devi's eyes are always open, watching over her devotees. Her eyes are fabled to bring life to the unborn.

Roof top Gopuram

Though written Meenakshi, the word is pronounced meen (fish) aakshi (eyes).

The stotram Meenakshi Pancha Ratnam (five jewels of Meenakshi) is an incantation to her.

An intime pray

The legend of Meenakshi:

Long ago Indra killed a demon, even though the demon did not harm anyone. This act brought a curse upon Indra that forced him to continue wandering until he was redeemed from his sin. After much wandering Indra was freed from his suffering through the power of a Shivalingam in a forest, and so he built a small temple at that site.

As we approach the main temple

It so happened that at that time in South India there was a Pandyan king called Malayadhwaja Pandyan ruling a small city by the name Manavur, which was quite near to this Shivalinga. He was the son of Kulashekara Pandyan. He came to know about the Shivalinga and decided to build a huge temple for Shiva in the forest Kadambavanam (vanam means forest). He also developed the region into a fine princely state called Madurai.

Blessings from the temple elephant

The king was childless and sought an heir for the kingdom. Shiva granted him his prayers through an Ayonija child (one born not from the womb). This child was three years old and actually the incarnation of goddess Parvati the wife of Shiva. She was born with three breasts and fish-shaped eyes. It was said that the extra breast would disappear when she met her future husband. She was named Meenakshi, (meaning fish eyed) from the words Meen (meaning fish) and akshi (meaning eyes).

Deepavali Divali Diwali

She grew up to be a Shiva-Shakti personification. After the death of the king, she ruled the kingdom with skillful administration.

Detail of Gopuram

In one of her expeditions she went to the Himalaya mountains and there, on seeing Shiva, her extra breast disappeared. Many of the gods and goddesses came to witness their marriage.

Inside meenakshi temple

At the wedding celebrations the Gods refused to have the served food unless Shiva performed a majestic dance for everybody gathered at the place. At this there was the dance of Chidambaram, the cosmic dance in front of his wife Meenakshi. It epitomised and merged all life force and beauty into one whole. In the end Meenakshi was merged with the shivalingam and became the representation of life and beauty.

madurai temple top view

There is another legend that talks about why the North Tower (called as "Mottai Gopuram") does not have that many sculptures. Bhootaganas were supposed to finish the construction of the temple towers during the night. Legend says that bhootaganas completed all three towers but while in the middle of building the north tower sunrise happened halting the completion of the north tower.

meenakshi temple tank

Meenakshi Temple:

Once Dhananjaya,a merchant of Manavur,where the Pandyas had arrived after the second deluge in Kumari Kandam,having been overtaken by nightfall in Kadamba forest,spent the night in the Indra Vimana. When next morning he woke up,he was surprised to see signs of worship. Thinking that it must be the work of the Devas,he told the Pandya,Kulasekhara,in Manavur,of this. Meanwhile Lord Shiva had instructed Pandya in a dream to build a temple and a city at the spot Dhananjaya would indicate. Kulasekhara did so. Thus originated the temple and city.

meenakshi amman temple

In the 14th century an invasion by Malik Kafur damaged the temple. In the same century Madurai was under Muslim rule for nearly fifty years. The temple authorities closed the sanctum,covered up the Linga,and set up another in the Ardhamandapa. When the city was liberated,the sanctum was opened,and,tradition says the flower garlands and the sandalwood paste placed on the Linga were as fresh as on the first day,and two oil lamps were still burning.

meenakshi temple at dusk

Ashta Sakthi Mandapa :

This Mandapa is a convention in this temple,different from that followed in others,that the devotee offers worship first to Goddess Meenakshi. Therefore,while there are four other entrances into the temple,under huge Gopuras in the four cardinal directions,it is customary to enter not through any of them but through a Mandapa,with no tower above it. This entrance leads directly to the shrine of the Goddess.

elephant

This Mandapa is an impressive structure,with a hemispherical ceiling. It is 14m long and 5.5m wide. There are bas-reliefs all over the place. Over the entrance one of them depicts the marriage of Goddess Meenakshi with Lord Somasundara. The Mandapa derives its name,the "Ashta Sakthi",from the fact it contains sculptures of the eight Sakthis (also spelt as Shakti). Those of the four principal Nyanmars were added during renovation of the temple in 1960-63.

endearing pray

Meenakshi Nayakkar Mandapam :
This hall 42.9m long and 33.5m wide is adjacent to Ashta Shakthi Mandapam. It contains 110 stone columns,each 6.7m high carrying the figures of a peculiar animal with a lion's body,and an elephant's head called Yalli.

Girl making kolam


Potramaraukulam (Golden Lotus Tank) :
This temple tank is an ancient tank where devotees take bath in the holy water. The corridors around the tank are rightly called the Chitra Mandapa,for the walls carry paintings of the divine sports of the Lord. The area around this tank was the meeting place of the Tamil Sangam - the ancient academy of poets.This academy judged the worth of any work of literature presented before it by throwing it into the tank. Only those that did not sink were considered worthy of attention. The tank is surrounded by a pillared corridor. Steps lead down to the tank,enabling worshippers to take bathe in it.

Golden Lotus

The Thousand Pillar Mandapam :
It is the 'wonder of the place',Actually the number of pillars count to 985. Each pillar is sculptured and is a monument of the Dravidan sculpture. There is a Temple Art Museum in this 1000 pillars hall where you can see icons,photographs,drawings,etc.,exhibiting the 1200 years old history. There are so many other smaller and bigger mandapams in the temple. Just outside this mandapam,towards the west,are the Musical Pillars. Each pillar when stuck,Produces a different musical notes.

Income Hall

Vasantha Mandapam :
This mandapam was built by Thirumalai Nayakkar. Vasanthosavam - the Spring festival-is celebrated in this mandapam in Vaikasi (April/May). Its pillars contain elaborate sculptures of Shiva,Meenakshi,scenes from their wedding as well as the figures of ten of the Nayak Kings and their consorts. This is also called Pudhu Mandapam.


Detail of Gopuram

Oonjal Mandapam :
Two Mandapas,the Unjal (swing) and the Kilikatti (parrot cage),are on the western side of the tank. On their ceilings are more paintings. The Kiliatti Mandapa has on its walls the carvings of the divine sports. The most ornamental of the temple's Mandapas,it was built in 1623.

Detail of Gopuram

Every Friday,the golden idols of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar are seated on the swing in the Oonjal Mandapam and hymns are sung as the deities gaily swing to and fro. The parrots in the Kilikoontu Mandapam have been trained to repeat Meenakshi's name. But more interesting are the 28 pillars of the mandapam which exhibit some excellent Sculptures of figures from Hindu mythology.

Devotion

Swami Sundareswarar Shrine :
Lord Sundareswarar (Shiva) the consort of Goddess Meenakshi is to the north of Kilikoontu Mandapam . On your way you can worship a gigantic idol of Sri Ganesh called Mukkurini Pillaiyar. When the king Thirumalai Nayakar excavated a temple tank 3 km from Meenakshi temple he unearthed this idol of Vinayaka and erected the same here.


Devotional

In the outer pragaram (corridor outside the main shrine) there is stump of the kadamba tree,which is said to be a part of the same tree under which Indra worshipped Shiva linga. Also in the outer corridor there are the Kadambathadi Mandapam and big hall called ' Velli Ambalam' . Here, An idol of Nataraja (Shiva as the Lord of Dance) is seen. This idol of Nataraja is covered with silver leaves. Hence this hall is named as Velli Ambalam (Silver Hall).

East Gopuram

The famous festivals held at Madurai,include Teppam festival,the annual Float Festival,wherein the images of Sri Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswara (also spelt as Sundreshwara) are mounted on floats,and taken to Mariamman Teppakkulam Tank,where for several days they are pulled back and forth across the water in the middle of the tank,on an illuminated raft embellished with flowers,before being taken back to the main temple.

Prayer

Meenaskhi Kalyanam,the wedding festival of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwar is celebrated for twelve days from the second day of the lunar month (i.e. two days after the new moon). This is a spectacular festival celebrated in the month of Chaitra (April-May). The festival is characterized with royal decorated umbrellas,fans and traditional instrumental music. Scenes from mythology are enacted and the deities of Lord Shiva,Goddess Shakti and Goddess Meenakshi are taken out in a colourful procession. Thousands of devotees from all over the country gather in the city of Madurai on this occasion.

Prayer to the God



Praying Parvathi



Roof top Gopuram



Siva Gopuram



Outer wall



Outer wall



Outer wall



Pilgrims at Meenakshi temple



Pillar



Meenakshi temple festival



meenakshi temple Night Veiw



Temple Gopuram at Dusk



Meenakshi



Old man praying at the temple



Thousand Pillar Hall


Thousand Pillar Hall


Thousand Pillar Hall


Thousand Pillar Hall


Woman Praying to Hanuman



temple



Thanga Kuthirai; Golden Horse



The wedding of the Goddess



This is where you pray for a child



view temple



South Gopuram



Sri Rishaparudar



Standing Lion Pallava III



Statues carved on the columns of a temple, Thousand Pillar Hall


Sunset at Meenakshi Temple