Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai

The Meenakshi Amman Temple is one of the most important Hindu Pilgrimage places, located in the heart of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is also known as Sundareswarar (Beautiful God) along with his consort Parvati who is also known as Meenakshi. The Temple was first built 2000 years ago and then expanded substantially during the reign of Thirumalai Nayak in the years 1623- 1655 A.D.

The Temple complex has 12 wonderful Gopurams (Towers) including two golden Gopurams for the main deities Lord Shiva and Meenakshi Amman which are intricately sculptured and painted. The tallest of these 12 Gopurams is the southern Gopuram which rises over 52 meters high. This Temple complex is surrounded by other shrine sanctums and grand pillared halls. The impressive Gopuram towers have solid granite bases and are covered with stucco figures of deities, mythical animals and monsters colored in various colors.

The Pandyan King Kulasekhara built the Meenakshi Amman Temple around which he created a lotus shaped Madurai city. According to the legend, Madurai is the original site where Lord Shiva and Meenakshi got married.

There are four Gateways to the Meenakshi Amman Temple. The South gateway contains the Gopurams of the Lord Shiva and Meenakshi Amman and is about nine stories in height. The temple complex is located in the area of 6 hectares displaying the Dravidian style architecture.

On the outer walls of the twin temples, besides the four Gopurams, there are four smaller Gopurams in each of the two shrine compound. Originally Madurai was known as Kadambavanam or the “forest of Kadamba” or the Nauclea Kadamba. 

The Meenakshi Amman Temple is one of the few temples in Tamil Nadu to have four entrances facing four directions. This temple was selected as one of the Seven Wonders of India by NDTV and it is running as the frontrunner in the election for the Modern Seven Wonders of the World

Features of the Temple:

Ashta Shakthi Mandapam:

Ashta Shakthi Mandapam is located at the eastern gateway of the Meenakshi Amman temple. It was constructed by Thirumalai Nayakar’s wives Rudrapathi Ammal and Tholimamai. This is the hall where food was once distributed to the coming from off places. This entrance leads directly to the Shrine of Goddess Meenakshi Amman.

Ashta Shakthi Mandapam consists of hemispherical ceiling with an impressive structure. It is 14m long and 5.5 m wide with bass reliefs all over the place. This Mandapam got its name “Ashta Shakthi” from the eight sculptures it has on it. Those of four principle Nyanmars were added in 1960-1963 during renovation of the temple.

The Lord Shiva’s miracles (Thiruvilayadals), the story of Goddess Meenakshi’s birth and her life as the Princess of Madurai are depicted on the pillars of the Ashta Shakthi Mandapam in beautiful sculptures.


The descriptor Stories on the pillars of Ashta Shakthi Mandapam is as follows:

Madurai King Malayadwaja Pandya was childless for a long time. He did several Yagna (ritual of sacrifices made before a sacred fire) for the heir to his Throne. A three year old girl came out of the fire on one occasion and the king Malayadwaja adopted her. Later he came to know that the girl had three breasts and this worried Malayadwaja. Nevertheless, a divine voice assured him that as soon as she meets her consort the third breast will disappear. The girl grew into a bold and beautiful princess and won many battles, but finally lost her heart to Lord Shiva, when she met him on the battle field in Kailash. Her third breast disappeared as soon as she saw him and she recognized her consort. The Princess was none other than Parvati. They settled in Madurai temple as Meenakshi and Sundareswarar after ruling over the Pandya Kingdom

Samagam Meenakshi Nayakar’s Mandapam:

Adjacent to Ashta Shakthi Mandapam this big hall is located with 110 pillars with 6.7 m high. These pillars portray the pictures of a peculiar animal with a lion’s body and an elephant’s head called Yalli. This Mandapam was built by Vijayaranga Chokkanatha (1706-32) in 1707.

Earlier, the Temple’s camels, elephants and bulls used to be sheltered here. A 7.6 m high brass “Tiruvatchi” holding a thousand and eight lamps is based here. One of the early opponents of the growing British power installed it.

The Meenakshi Nayakar’s Mandapam is a huge hall with 42.9 m long and 33.5 m wide. It has some of the unfinished carvings.

Potramaraikulam (golden lotus tank):

Potramaraikulam is the ancient holy water tank which is 40 m by 60 m in itself is where the devotees take bath. The ancient academy of poets (Tamil Sangam) meeting place was around the Potramaraikulam. The history of the Sangam goes back to the days when gods trifled with men. The Sangam academy judged the worth of any work of literature kept before it by throwing it into the tank. The literature work which did not sink was considered worthy. This holy tank is surrounded by a pillared corridor.

In 16th century, corridors and steps leading down to the tank were built. In 1562, the northern corridor, in 1573, the east corridor and steps and the other corridors and steps were constructed five years later.

Oonjal and Killikootu Mandapamas: 

The Oonjal (swing) and Killikoontu (parrot cage) Mandapams are located on the western side of the Potramaraikulam tank. In the Oonjal Mandapam, every Friday the golden idols of Meenakshi Amman and Sundareswarar are seated on the swing and as the deities swing to and fro, the hymns are sung.

The parrots have trained in the Killikoontu Mandapam to repeat goddess Meenakshi Amman’s name. The interesting part of the Mandapam is 28 pillars which portray some magnificent sculptures of figures of Pandavas, Vali, Sugreeva and the inevitable Yali from Hindu mythology of which the Vijayanagar Kings were very fond of. This Mandapam was constructed in 1623. The shrine of the Vigneswara is located at the southern end of this Mandapam.

Thattu Chuttur Mandapam:

At the junction of the north and east Adi Street this Mandapam is located. Thattu Chuttur Mandapam is also known as 16-pillar Mandapam. The paintings of the saint Manickavasagar are portrayed in this Mandapam, who was a renowned Prime Minister in the court of the Pandyan period in 18th century before he became a saint.

Ayirankal Mandapam (thousand Pillar Mandapam):

Ayirankal Mandapam is located to the east of the Sundareswarar Sannidhi. There are actually 985 pillars in the Ayirankal Mandapam which supports the roof 73 meters by 76 meters with excellent sculptures. The sculptures are in Dravidian architecture which portrays the emotions of Gods and Goddesses.

The Ayirankal Mandapam domiciliates the Temple Art Museum which contains icons, Photographs and drawings from the 1200 years old history of Indian temple architecture in the South India. It is said that the large size of the many pillared halls, mush favored by the Nayak Kings of the 16th century, has been set up an elaborate stone-cutters factory to manufacture beams and pillars in an endless flow.

Vasantha Mandapam (Pudhu Mandapam):

Vasantha Mandapam was constructed by Thirumalai Nayakkar. In Vaikasi (April/May) the Vasanthosavam (the spring festival) is celebrated in this Mandapam. This Mandapam is also known as Pudhu Mandapam which contains sculptures of Lord Shiva, Meenakshi, scenes from their wedding and also the figures of ten Nayak Kings along with their consorts.

Chitra Gopuram:

Chitra Gopuram is located to the west of the Meenakshi Nayakkar Mandapam. This Gopuram is the tallest seven storied Gopuram with most artistically sculptured inner tower. On this Gopuram there are nearly 730 excellent miniature sculptures.

Mudali Mandapam:

Mudali Mandapam is located in the Chitra Gopuram which is a hall full of sculptures and statues. The statues of Mohini, Lord Shiva as Bikshadanar, a saint of the tharuga forest, some unusual sculptures and many more are on this Mandapam.

Rani Mangammal Mandapam:

The Rani Mangammal Mandapam is located towards the west side of the Potramaraikulam (golden lotus tank) projecting over the stairs of the tank. The Rani Mangammal of the Nayak dynasty ruled Madurai in the 17th century. By the ungrateful and jealous generals she was tortured to death after 15 years. The Rani Mangammal Mandapam has statues of the queen, her minister Ramappayyan and grandson Vijayaranga Chokkanatha.

This Mandapam has large number of paintings about the events that took place during Rani Mangammal’s Period. The Painting of Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Thirukalyanam was painted gorgeously on this Mandapam. Lord Vishnu, the brother of the bride affectionately holds her with all Gods and Goddesses around the divine couple. Lord Brahma performs all the rituals and mantras in front of the fire.

Raja Gopuram:

                             

             

Raja Gopuram is the unfinished Gopuram which is beyond the Vasantha Mandapam (Pudhu Mandapam), farther east. It is a huge Gopuram with a base of 70m by 40m and its each monolithic pillar is over 30 m high. Thirumalai Nayakar started his gigantic project, but the democratic Emperor died before it is completed.

Musical Pillars:

In the Ayirankkal Mandapam, there are two Musical Pillars and near Mottai Gopuram there are five Musical Pillars. Every Musical Pillar has a central column surrounded by groups of thin columns well-defined from the same stone. Each and every pillar produces a different musical note when struck

Swami Sundareswarar Shrine:

To the north of Killikoontu Mandapam Swami Sundareswarar Shrine sanctum is located. In the outer corridor of the main shrine, there is a pulpit of the Kadamba tree. Velli Amballam (silver hall) and Kadambathadi Mandapam are also located in the outer corridor. In the Velli Amballam Hall, Lord Shiva as Nataraja, covered with silver leaves can be seen.

Temple Towers:

East Tower - The 161 feet 3 inch, high tower is nine storied and has 1011 Sudhai figures.

West Tower - The 163 feet 3 inch, high tower is nine storied carved with 1124 Sudhai figures.

South Tower - The 170 feet 3 inches, high tower has nine stories with 1511 Sudhai figures.

North Tower - The 160 feet 6 inch high nine storied tower has Sudhai figures than other towers.

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