MEENAKSHI TEMPLE
INTRODUCTION
Situated in Madurai, one of the oldest city of Tamil Nadu
(India), the Meenakshi temple is the city's main attraction.
A perfect example of Dravidian architecture. No text can
do justice to the Meenakshi temple. The gigantic temple
complex, the statues exploring the entire range of human
emotions, everything here is larger than life. The Meenakshi
temple complex is a city temple - 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 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.
HISTORY OF MEENAKSHI TEMPLE
The Sri Meenakshi Sundareswara temple and Madurai city
originated together. According to tradition, Indra once
committed sin when he killed a demon, who was then performing
penance. He could find no relief from remorse in his own
kingdom. He came down to earth. While passing through a
forest of Kadamba trees in Pandya land, he felt relieved
of his burden. His servitors told him that there was a Shivalinga
under a Kadamba tree and beside a lake. Certain that it
was the Linga that had helped him; he worshipped it and
built a small temple around it. It is believed that it is
this Linga, which is till under worship in the Madurai temple.
The shrine is called the "Indra Vimana".
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.
DESCRIPTION OF MEENAKSHI TEMPLE
The Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple has grand Gopurams which
tower over the city, at the heart of which they stand. The
temple complex spreads over 6 hectares in the city and is
flooded with tourists from all over, almost everyday. The
towers have minute and delicate carvings of the gods and
goddesses, mythological figures and running depictions of
legendary tales. The majestic southern gopuram has over
1500 sculptures! This temple is dedicated to Shiva and Meenakshi,
an incarnation of his wife Parvati, who was born to a childless
ruler after many a prayer. The Temple Museum is at the 'thousand
pillared hall' where each of the 985 pillars is carved in
great detail.
HOW TO REACH MEENAKSHI TEMPLE
Air- Madurai is connected by air with
Mumbai and Chennai. Madurai airport is 10-km away from the
city.
Rail- Madurai has direct rail connections
to Bangalore, Coimbatore, Kollam, Chennai, Rameshwaram,
Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Tirupathi and Tuticorin.
Road- There are excellent roads connecting
Madurai to all parts of South India. Madurai city has 5
Major Bus Stands- Periyar Bus Stand, Anna Bus Stand, Palanganatham
Bus Stand, Arapalayam Bus Stand, Mattuthavani Bus Stand.
From Madurai town buses, suburban buses, taxis, auto rickshaws
and cycle rickshaws are available to reach the temple.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
November to January
|
