Introduction to Meenakshi Temple:

This blog will provide information about Meenakshi temple Madurai’s history, architecture, and complete information about Madura Meenakshi temple.

Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple is an ancient historic Hindu temple on the southern bank of the Vaigai river in the temple city of Madurai, Tamilnadu, India

It is dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi and Sundareswarari. The name Meenakshi can be split into “Meen,” meaning Fish, and “Akshi,” meaning Eyes, thus giving the meaning as the “Lady with the Eyes of a Fish.”

The Meenakshi Temple is an outstanding example of Dravidian architecture, famous in India’s southern states.

Covered porches on temples, large entry gate towers on two or more sides, many-pillared halls, and a water tank or reservoir for ritual bathing are typical features of the Dravidian architecture.

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Dedicated to: Meenakshi (Goddess Parvati) and Sundareswarar(Lord Shiva)

Location: Madurai, Tamilnadu

Built By: Kulashekarar Pandyan

Architectural Style: Dravidian

Contact Information: www.madhurameenakshi.org, 00914522344360(Temple contact Number).

The main attraction to devotees visiting Meenakshi temple

It is the only temple in India, including 4 Rajagopuram (towers) and one of the Shakthi peethas. The king of Gods, Indira, found the sacred Suyambulingam in Kadambavanam and later enshrined it there.

The Lord allegedly appeared on Indira’s vehicle in this temple, serving as evidence of this. In this temple, Goddess Meenakshi is seen with a parrot in her right hand, showing a symbol of Kama, the god of love.

She also has a small dagger on her waistband. The shrine is believed to be one of the five places where Shiva performed the tandava.

There is a huge silver statue of Lord Shiva in the form of Nataraja, in which Nataraja is shown dancing with his right leg raised, and it is entirely different from the rest of the image of Nataraja.

Meenakshi Amman temple is one of Tamilnadu’s most heritage sites and spiritual retreats. The temple has a beautiful appeal that captivates every tourist who comes to see the grandeur of this massive pilgrim destination.

Madurai Meenakshi Temple is one of the world’s new top 30 wonders and was nominated for the “New Seven Wonders of the World.”.

The marriage of sundareshwar Swamy with Meenakshi amma was clearly explained on the gopurams, an eye festival for devotees is also one of the main attractions of this temple.

How Meenakshi Amman temple deities are saved :

Our ancestors constructed a stone wall in front of the Deity in the Sanctum and set a replica idol in front of the stone screen, known as the Kal Thirai, Screen made of Stone, after learning that Muslim Ruler soldiers were advancing near a city.

Most of the Moolavar Vigrahas were thus rescued from the savage Islam Armies.

The Sivachariars of Madurai used this method to save the Moolavar of Meenakshi Amman. The Meenakshi temple houses the Siva Linga that the Muslim armies harmed.

History

In the 6th century BC, the survivors of Kumari Kandam are thought to have built the temple. Sultanate Muslim Commander Malik Kafur raided the temple in the 14th century and took its riches.

According to the Shilpa Shastra, Vishwanatha Nayakar restored the temple in the 16th century. Thirumalai Nayakar enlarged Vishwanatha Nayakar’s original design to create the current structure.

This 2500-year-old temple is thought to be the beating heart of Madurai. Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic Hindu temple on the south bank of the Vaigai River in Madurai, also known as the Sleepless City.

The fish-eyed Deity Meenakshi (an avatar of the Goddess Parvati) and the handsome Lord Shiva Sundareshwarar are the main deities of this temple.

This temple has an important place in Tamil literature. However, the current system was built between 1623 and 1655.

Madurai Meenakshi Temple has 14 entrance towers, each ranging in height from 45 to 50 meters, with the Southern Tower being the tallest at 51.9 meters (170 feet).

The temple complex has 4 nine-storey gopurams (outer, raja), one seven-storey gopuram (Chittirai), five-storey gopurams, two three-storey, and two one-storey gold-gilded sanctum towers.

Five are gateways to the Sundareshvara shrine, three to the Meenakshi shrine.

The temple has about 33000 sculptures. It is in the top 30 list of the “Seven New Wonders of the World.”

This temple is one of the most important attractions of Madurai city. Madurai is called the City of festivals, and the most important festival is the Meenakshi Thirukkalyanam.

According to a tradition mentioned in the Tamil book Tiruvilaiyatarpuranam, King Malayadwaja Pandya and his wife Kanchanamalai engaged in a Yajna to produce a son who would succeed him.

Instead, a girl with three breasts and a 3-year-old came out of the fire. According to Shiva, the third breast would be lost when she met her spouse, who intervened and advised the parents to treat her like a son.

They adopted the suggestions. When the young woman encountered Shiva, his prophecy came true, and she assumed her complete form as Meenakshi.

The marriage of Meenakshi and Shiva was the biggest event, with all gods, goddesses, and living beings gathered.

Vishnu is believed to be the brother of Meenakshi. Vishnu gives her away to Shiva at the wedding. The divine couple made their home in Madurai.

Even today, the wedding ceremony is celebrated yearly as ‘Chithirai Thiruvizha,’ also known as ‘Tirukalyanam’ (the grand wedding).

Architecture

One must look up to see a recently painted 3-Dimensional image of Lord Shiva’s Linga as one leaves Goddess Meenakshi’s Sanctum.

The massive Madurai Meenakshi Temple complex is broken into several concentric quadrangular enclosures, each enclosed by a wall made of thick sandstone. It is one of the rare temples in Tamil Nadu, with entrances on each of the four cardinal points.

According to Shilpa Shastra, Vishwanatha Nayaka completely reconstructed Madurai. The City and temple are compared to a lotus, with the City’s streets acting as its petals and the temple serving as its core, according to ancient Tamil literature. A sizable festival calendar is located in the temple’s outer precincts.

14 Gopurams constructed the temple, or gateway towers, the biggest and most well-known of which is the southern tower, which rises to 170 feet and was constructed in 1559.

Stone sculptures in vibrant colors of Gods, Demons, and animals adorn the multi-story Gopurams.

Goddess Meenakshi and Sundareswarar are honored in the main shrine. The goddess’ idol is thought to have been carved from a single emerald stone.

4 smaller Gopurams leading to the main shrine are again positioned around it. Meenakshi and Sundareswarar’s respective shrines are both covered with gold-plated vimanas.

The Mukuruny Vinayakar, a 7-foot-tall sculpture of Lord Ganesha, is situated in front of the Sundareswarar shrine.

Destruction and reconstruction

Malik Kafur destroyed the temples that were sources of gold and jewels during his raids on Madurai, Chidambaram, Srirangam, Virudhachalam, Rameswaram, and other sacred temple towns, according to the records left by the court historians of the Delhi Sultanate.

He returned to Delhi with a tonne of loot from the Pandya and Dwarasamudra empires. After the invasion and devastation, the Delhi Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq appointed Jalaluddin Ahsan Khan as the Muslim governor of Madurai.

In 1335, Ahsan Khan broke away from the Delhi Sultanate to find the Madurai Sultanate.

Instead of assisting the temple towns, the Sultanate demanded tributes from them and, on occasion, severely harmed them and imposed tyranny on the local populace.

The Hindu Vijayanagara Empire, led by Bukka Raya, conquered the Muslim Madurai Sultanate in 1378 CE, ending its brief existence.

The commander Kumara Kampana’s wife, Gangadevi, is said to have given him a sword and urged him to free Madurai, right the wrongs, and reopen the Meenakshi temple from its ruins in one poetic legend known as Madhura Vijayam.

After clearing the ruins and reopening the temple for active worship, the Vijayanagara emperors were successful.

Through the 16th century, they expanded, repaired, and restored the temple and numerous other local temples. 

The Nayaka kings redesigned the Meenakshi temple and the temple city plan following the Hindu texts on an architecture known as the Shilpa Shastras in 16th and 17th centuries.

Festivals in Meenakshi temple

1. Chithirai Brahamostavam – Arumigu Thirukkalyanam during April – May

2. Vasantham Festival during May -June

3. Unjal Festival during June- July

4. Aadi – Mulai Kottu Festival during July- Aug

5.Aavani Moolam Festival – ” Puttukku Mansumantha Leela Festival during Aug.-Sep

6. Navarathri festival during Sep – Oct

7. Masi – Mandala utsavam for 48 days during Feb – March

8. Summar Vasantham Festival during March – April

9. Kolattam Festival during October -November

How to reach Meenakshi temple

BY AIR:

Avaniyapuram, about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the City, is where you’ll find Madurai Airport. It provides domestic flights to a few Indian cities.

The airport offers services and international flights to Colombo, Dubai, and Singapore. Air India, Air India Express, Jet Airways, SpiceJet, Indigo, and Srilankan Airlines are among the airlines that fly out of the airport.

By Train

The central railroad station serving the District is Madurai Junction. There are direct trains from Madurai to many important towns and cities throughout India, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, and Chennai.

By Road

National Highways NH 7, NH 45B, NH 208, and NH 49 pass through Madurai, connecting the district of Madurai well. SH-33, SH-72, SH-72A, SH-73, and SH-73A are state highways that run through the City and connect to different areas of the Madurai district.

Golden Lotus tank in Madura Meenakshi temple

The centrally located architecture of this tank is its most striking feature. This tank is 240′ long and 165′ wide and has a 1-acre floor area.

The tank was given the name Potramarai Kulam, which translates to “golden lotus tank,” in honor of the original moola lingam, which is believed to have been discovered here.

This pond is called Adhi Theertham, Sivaganga, and Uthama Theertham. Adhi Theertham is the name given to this theertham because it was made before all other theerthams.

Parama Theertham and Gnana Theertham are different names for this theertham because it bestows prosperity on everyone who bathes in it.

Due to its ability to grant heavenly abode, it is also known as Mukthi Theertham, Sivaganga (because Ganga’s water from Lord Siva’s head confluences with it), and Uthama Theertham (because it is purer than any other theertham).

The devotees will be granted all their wishes for success if they take a bath in the waters of this pond of Golden Lotus on Amavasya (new moon) day, the first day of the month, days of eclipse, and other auspicious days and worship the Lord.

This tank has some distinctive characteristics. Even though the water is never tended to or cleaned, the tank is always free of Fish and frogs.

Conclusion

I hope through this blog, I have provided information about Meenakshi Temple Madurai, if you have any questions related to this topic that I cleared or have not cleared, just let me know in the comments section or reach out to me at 24rradha@gmail.com

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