Pandya Temples

Meenakshi temple in Madurai and Aranganathar temple in Srirangam are indeed the pinnacles of Pandya construction. Meenakshi Temple, Kumbakonam, Thiruvannamalai, Kovilpatty, Thiruppathur, Alagarkoil, Ambasamuthram, and Madurai all have architectural rock shrines.

Religious building underneath the reign of the Pandyas: The Pallavas’ shrine buildings were continued by contemporary predecessors, the Pandyas. The Pandyas’ architecture is a mix of structured with monumental buildings.

“Monolithic Vimanas” may be seen in the Pandya’s stone shrines. Anaimalai, Thirupparankundram, Karaikudi, Kalugumalai, Trichy, and Malayadikurichi all have a significant stone-carved shrine. The majority of the shrines as well as stone shrines were dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu.

The Pandyas built architectural shrines that included many of the characteristics of major structures including the Vimana, Shikara, and Mandapas.So during Pandyas’ dominion, the Shiva shrine’s outward building took a huge stride forward. The primary sanctum is made up of the “Linga,” which has been cut from the solid stone, and a “Nandi,” which stands in before the Mahamandapa.Gopurams: Gopurams are the rectangle entrances of shrines having tall constructions.

Rock-cut temples of Pandya’s 

The Pandyas governed in southern Tamil Nadu (the province south of the Kaveri) from 300 BC until the 15th century, with many notable interruptions or pauses in the middle. Madurai was indeed the Pandya monarchs’ capital. The Pandyas built rock-cut shrines everywhere throughout the area bounded by the rivers Kaveri in the north, Tamraparani in the south, the Western Ghats in the west, and the Bay of Bengal in the east. Tiruvellarai, Tirumalapuram, Virasikhamani, Kunnakudi, Pillaiyarpatti, Kudumiamalai, and Tirupparankunram are among the major Pandya large stone shrines.

Meenakshi Amman Temple (Madurai):

The Pinnacle of Pandyan architecture was found in the Meenakshi Amman temple of Madurai. This temple was built by “Kulasekara Pandiyan” during his rule. Meenakshi Amman Shrine (Madurai): The Meenakshi Amman shrine at Madurai was indeed the zenith of Pandyan construction. Throughout his reign, “Kulasekara Pandiyan” erected this shrine.

With gopurams, entrance turrets, colonnaded rooms, and ponds for rituals performed, the shrine was an example of Dravidian design. Ariyanatha Mudaliar erected the massive 1000-pillar edifice from a Monolith in 1569, which would be located within the Meenakshi Amman shrine.The central Gopuram inside the Meenakshi Amman shrine is roughly 170 feet in height and has 15 levels. There are true “mandapams / ornate pillared rooms” in the shrine. The Meenakshi Amman Temple, commonly referred to as the Minakshi-Sundareshwara Temple, has been one of India’s biggest and perhaps most significant shrines. The shrine, which is situated in Madurai, has significant mythical and cultural relevance. Lord Shiva is said to have taken the appearance of Sundareswarar (the lovely ones) and wedded Parvati (Meenakshi) just at the existing location of the shrine. Meenakshi Temple, known for its stunning design, has been recommended as among the world’s largest marvels but didn’t actually join the selection of the “Seven Wonders of the World.” The shrine, on the other hand, is unquestionably one of India’s “Wonders.” 

Nellaiappar Shrine (Tirunelveli): 

Tirunelveli Nellaiappar Temple is very noteworthy.  The shrine was erected in the 7th century by “Nindrasir Nedumaran” and is regarded to become one of the best examples of Pandyan construction. 

The Gopurams of the shrines were designed in accordance with the “Agama Shastras,” which is an example of stunning architecture.Agama sastra is a “Sanskrit phrase” that functioned as a guide for shrine construction, rites, and devotion. As a major supporter of Jainism, it is thought that “Thirugnana Sambandhar,” a renowned Shaiva Saint, was important in turning Nindrasir Nedumaran to Shaivism.

Conclusion

Pandya  shrines in Tamil Nadu demonstrate a wide range of sizes, equally tiny and enormous. The memorial of Pandya  temples is frequently flat with the mandapa’s rear walls or carved form projecting monument with adhishthana, pillar, and maybe kapota-moldings, somewhat foreshadowing the monumental rathas in height. Pandya temple architecture is distinguished by gopuras, Prakarsa, vimanas, and garbagrahas. Temples in Madurai, Chidambaram, Kumbakonam, Thiruvannamalai, and Srirangam are notable instances of Pandya architectural growth.