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Meenakshi Temple Tour |
 Madhurai 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".
At first glance the most striking feature of the temple is the soaring 'gopuram' (gateway towers) built above the four entrances on the four sides. The most popular entrance is on the East Side through a towerless entrance in line with the shrine of Meenakshi. This magnificent temple complex sprawls over an area of 6 hectares. It also has 12 gopurams or gateways, ranging in height from 45 to 50 m, the tallest being the southern one. The southern gateway is beautifully proportioned and is nine stories high. Like the other gopurams, it is also crowded with the images of gods, goddesses, gargoyles, and gryphons. Like the statues of classical Greece, the people who follow the ancient Dravidian culture of South India also paint their gods in brilliant colors. Thus, one can experience a myriad of colors atop these gateways.
This entrance leads to the 'Ashtasakthi Mandapam' where the pillars are full of sculptures illustrating the different aspects of Goddess Meenakshi and the miracles performed by Lord Siva in Madurai. It was built by Thirumalai Nayakar's wives Rudrapathi Ammal and Tholimamai.
Malayadwaja Pandya, a king of Madurai , was childless for a long time. He performed a number of yagnas (sacrifices made before a sacred fire) because he wanted an heir to his throne. On one occasion, a three-year-old girl came out of the fire and Malayadwaja adopted her. But the girl had three breasts and this worried Malayadwaja. However, a divine voice assured him that the third breast would disappear as soon as she met her consort. The girl grew into a brave and beautiful princess. she won many battles, but eventually lost her heart to Lord Shiva, when she met him on the battle-field in Kailas. As soon as she saw him, her third breast disappeared and she recognized her divine consort, for the princess was none other than Shiva's wife, Parvathi. After ruling over the Pandya kingdom for a while, they settled in the Madurai temple as Meenakshi and Sundareswarar.
This big hall is adjacent to Ashta Shakthi Mandapam, consisting of 110 pillars carrying the figures of a peculiar animal with a lion's body , and an elephant's head called Yalli.
This hall leads to the 'Ciththirai gopuram' passing through which will take you to a passageway on the eastern end of the 'Pottramarai kulam'.
The Tank of Golden Lotuses is an ancient tank where devotees take bath. It was the meeting area of the Tamil Sangam-the academy of Tamil poets. Any work of literature was first thrown into this pond and its worth was assessed based on whether it floated or sunk.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.
The city of Madurai has been a seat of Tamil culture and traditions since very ancient times. Great scholars like, Nakkeerar, Appar and Sambandar have celebrated its glorious culture in their songs. The temple complex is like a huge city—one of the largest of its kind in India and undoubtedly one of the oldest. The grandeur of the Meenakshi temple has remained undiminished for the past two thousand years. This sprawling and awe-inspiring temple complex is not only a marvel of architecture but also a symbol of Indian culture and civilization in all its glory. Walking around the tank in a clock-wise direction brings into view the golden 'vimanam' of the shrines of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar
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. 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)..
A corridor, having lions and mythical beasts about to prance and literally jump out of pillars and pilasters, leads one past the sanctum sanctorum of the goddess towards one of the most perfect halls in the temple complex, the Kambhattadi Mandapam, which faces the sanctuary of the Lord. Older portions of this mandapam (hall) were built around the late 15th century. Natural light stripes the flagstones and floods statues inside. One is spellbound by the exquisite expressions on the face of Meenakshi as she weds Shiva. She looks shy, he suitably serious. They could be any modern-day bride and grooms. Next to them stands Meenakshi’s brother, giving the bride away, a look of great pride and joy on his face. The other statues in the hall are no less important and explore the whole gamut of human emotions.
While on the east of the tank. As you come round the tank you pass the 'Oonjal mandapam' where every Friday Meenakshi and Sundareswarar are put on a swing while 'othuvars' sing the ancient Tamil hymns. Passing the 'Oonjal mandapam' you arrive at the 'Kilikkoottu mandapam' where parrots were used to be kept. Next is the entrance to Meenakshi shrine. North of the entrance to Meenakshi koil is the entrance to Sundareswarar koil.
Of the same vintage is the thousand-pillared hall, an awe-inspiring edifice, which measures 240 feet by 250 feet. The stone pillars here are not only decorative, some also sing, as one gently taps them. Pillars, decorated, exuberant, bustling with life and emotions are a trademark of Madurai. And where better to see the best of them than at the thousand-pillared hall?
From one of its monolithic stone pillars, the figure of Rati (consort of the god of love) emerges. The slightly elongated face is that of a Pandya beauty, the cheeks elegantly rounded, the chin defined by a marked protuberance under the lip. The nose is damaged, but the lips are well shaped, with a suspicion of a lilt to the corners. The eyes lack pupils, but they are wide open and beautifully shaped. The eyebrows arch from mid-temple to the corner of the eyes. She wears large earrings. Her arms, neck, waist, bosom, and feet are encrusted with delicate jewelry that leads the eye to the folds of her lower garments that fall in pleats and swirls over her thighs, calf muscles, and ankles. She has long hair done in a loose knot that seems to be unraveling itself, slowly. Her back is arched. She sits astride a grimacing swan, her right leg hinged at the knee and placed on the swan’s back, the left, swathed over the elaborately carved bulge of the bird’s belly supported by decorated stirrups.
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. |
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Oonjal Mandapam 