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Meenakshi temple – Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic Hindu temple located on the south bank of the Vaigai River in the region of Madurai in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. This temple is devoted to Mata Parvati, known as Meenakshi and Shiva, known as Sundareswarar.
This Meenakshi in Madurai Meenakshi temple is the heart and lifeline of the 2500-year-old city of Madurai and one of the main attractions of Tamil Nadu. An idol of Lord Ganesha carved out of a single stone is present in the Vinayaka temple here. The temple’s sanctum sanctorum is adorned with many forms of Indra Vishnu and Lord Shiva.
There are many mythological stories associated with the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Similarly, there is a story that this temple was built by Indra Dev when he came here to atone for his sins. Another legend says that Goddess Parvati appeared as the daughter of the Pandya king Malayadwaja Pandya, as she prayed a lot to the Lord. The girl was said to have three breasts, and it is said that when she met her husband, her third breast disappeared on its own.
The name of the king’s daughter was “Tadatgai”, and she was the heir to the throne. She was well trained in 64 Shastras and knew all subjects to rule the kingdom wisely. Parable has it that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati ruled here for many years after marriage. Shiva-Parvati started their journey to heaven from where the Meenakshi temple is today.
Chithirai, the most important festival of Madurai Meenakshi temple, is celebrated in April and May at Meenakshi Temple. Lakhs of devotees visit this temple during this function. Many religious rites are performed during the festival, including the coronation of Meenakshi, the chariot fest and the marriage of the deities, etc. The festival ends with the return of Lord Kallajhaga, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, to the temple.
The history behind the Meenakshi temple
Kumari Kandam surviving are thought to have built the temple around the 6th century BC. Malik Kafur plundered the temple’s treasures later in the 14th century. ” Vishwanatha Nayakar renovated the temple in the 16th century in line with the Shilpa Shastra. Thirumalai Nayakar enlarged the initial plan of Vishwanatha Nayakar to the present edifice.
The religious importance of Meenakshi Temple
In this temple, Goddess Meenakshi is seen with a parrot in her right hand. It is believed that the shrine is 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 completely different from the rest of the image of Nataraja as his left leg is raised in the rest.
Every year in April, the festival of “Meenakshi Thirukalyanam”, or the divine marriage of Meenakshi, is celebrated with great pomp. Here, the celebration is a classic example of a female-dominated ceremony known as the Madurai Vivah. Let us tell you that this festival lasts for a month and includes many events like Rath Festival and Float Utsav. The festivals of Navratri and Shivratri are also celebrated here.
The architecture of Meenakshi Temple
The 14-acre complex, located in the centre of Madurai, is home to a massive temple. Massive defences were erected around the temple in the wake of the attacks. When seen from the top, the whole building resembles a mandala. A mandala is a geometric design based on the principles of symmetry and locality. The temple complex has a number of shrines. Sundareswarar and Meenakshi are the temple’s two principal shrines, although it also features shrines for other deities, such as Ganesha and Murugan. It is home to many other Hindu deities, including the goddess Lakshmi, as well as Rukmini and Saraswati.
‘Potramarai Kulam’ is the temple’s sacred pond. ‘Potramarai Kulam’ means ‘pond with a golden lotus’ in Tamil. The pond’s centrepiece is a golden lotus sculpture. According to legend, Lord Shiva sanctified this pond and swore that no marine life will ever thrive there because of his decree. Tamil mythology has it that each new piece of literature may be judged on its merits by a pond.
Conclusion
The Meenakshi Amman Temple is situated in the centre of Madurai. Not to note, it happens to be the most extensive temple complex in the state of Tamilnadu. As per the experts, the temple dates back to the first century A.D.
The Tamil poet and saint Thirugnanasambandar said the temple in early Tamil texts in the 6th century. The development of the temple persisted over centuries, as recent as the 17th century.
The central deity is Goddess Parvathi, known as Meenakshi (fish-eyed). Unlike other temples, individuals worship Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvathi here.
