Meenakshi temple

Meenakshi Amman temple , also known as Minakshi Sundareshwar temple is one of the oldest and most important temples , located on southern bank of the Vaigai river in temple City of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.

  

 The temple is at he centre of the ancient temple City of the Madurai mentioned in the Tamil Sangam literature, with the goddess temple mentioned in the 6th C. b.c.e. texts.

 

About the temple : 

    It is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi, a form of Shakti and her consort, Sundareshwarar , a form of Shiva .

                       It is believed that Lord Shiva assumed the form of Sundareshwarar ( means ' the handsome one' ) and married Parvati (Meenakshi) at the site. 

 Lord Vishnu, who is believed as brother of Parvati, is depicted presiding over the marriage of Shiva and Meenakshi in the temple sculptures.

Mythology about the Goddess Meenakshi: 

                 There was a Pandya King, Malayadhvaja , who hoped for a son and heir . He carefully performed a fire ceremony with his wife requesting that the god fulfill his wish. Instead he was granted a daughter, Meenakshi, who was born with three breasts. The gods told the king not to worry, but to raise Meenakshi as a brave warrior, just as he would a son and that when she grew up and met her true love, her third breast would disappear. Meenakshi proved herself gifted in battle, conquering armies in all directions. It is said that she even conquered Inderlok.

   When she sought to attack north , however,  she was confronted by the god Shiva, who dwells on mountain kailasha , deep in the Himalayas. Upon seeing lord Shiva, one of her breasts fell off and the prophecy was realised.

About the structure of temple : 

 1.  It was built by Kulashekarar Pandyan , in the Dravidian style of temple architecture.

2.    The temple enclosed with huge walls , which were built in response to the invasions.

3. The entire structure when viewed from above , represents a Mandala.

4. Various shrines of deities built within the temple complex , apart from two main shrines of Sundareshwarar and Meenakshi.

5.  Temple also has a consecrated pond named Pothamarai kulam ( means ' pond with a golden lotus' which was placed at centre of pond).

     It is said that lord Shiva blessed this pond and declared that no marine life would grow in it. 

6. The temple has four main towering gateways ( gopurams) that look identical to each other . 

  Apart from the 4 gopurams , the temple also houses many other gopurams ( total 14) that serve as gateways to a number of shrines like :

       1.Kadaka Gopuram to the Goddess Meenakshi shrine.

      2.  Sundareshwarar shrine gopuram.

 The gopurams are very beautifully carved with sculptures of gods, goddesses etc.

7.  The temple also has numerous pillar halls called 'Mandapams' , built by various king and emperors to commemorate their victories. 

 Some important Mandapams : 

        1. Ayirakkal Mandapam (means 'hall of 1000 pillars'- depicting gods, demons and divine animals,  though the total pillars are not 1000).

         2. Kilikoondu Mandapam.

         3. Nayaka Mandapam .

         4. Ashta Shakthi Mandapam.

8. The temple was looted and destroyed by many medieval Muslim rulers and was rebuilt again in 16th C. , by Nayaka dynasty. Again is was destructed by Britishers an again rebuilt after 1959 by Tamilnadu Hindu community.

               Since Meenakshi is the main deity of the temple , the temple signifies the importance of women in the Tamil Hindu family and also represents their status in the ancient India. 

      The temple is living example of architectural and structural workmanship of Indian artisans . The temple is visited everyday by thousands of devotees and tourists, who were always in awe after seeing the magnificent temple .