Meenakshi is one of the most important temples in India. It is located in the city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva (Sundareshwar) and his consort Parvati (Meenakshi). The term “Sundareswar” suggests “the beautiful lord” and “Meenakshi” means “the fish-eyed goddess”. Thousands of pilgrims flock to the temple to pay homage to the Lord. He was nominated for the new ‘Seven Wonders of the World’. The temple is open from 5 am to 12:30 pm and from 4 to 9:30 pm. It is closed to non-Hindus.
History of Meenakshi Temple:
Meenkshi is one of the oldest temples in South India with its history dating back 2,000 years. It was designed in 1550 by Vishwanatha Nayak and built during the reign of Tirumalai Nayak in the 16th and 18th centuries, but some parts are much older. according to legends
Meenakshi Temple Architecture:
The Meenakshi temple is the magnificent example of the Dravidian style of architecture. There are 33 million carvings in the temple. The temple has no less than 12 gopuras, or large gates, set into the outer walls, the four largest reaching a height of around 46m and visible for miles outside the city. Each is covered with gaily painted stucco gods and demons. The largest is the south tower with a height of 170 feet, the west tower is 154 feet high, and the north tower is 152 feet. All these gopurams they are beautifully sculpted.
The temple complex is surrounded by the Ashta Shakti Mandapa, where you can see several sculpted pillars representing the different aspects of Goddess Shakti and Shiva’s sixty-four miracles in Madurai. Visit the Pottamarai Kulam where Indra bathed before worshiping the shivlangam. Stop by the Meenkshi Shrine, also known as Amman Koyil, which is closed to non-Hindus. Then there is the Rani Mangammal Mandapa which has a detailed 18th century ceiling painting of the marriage of Meenakshi and Sundareshwar, surrounded by lions and elephants against the blue background.
Sermons and Festivals:
Every day, the endless round of puja ceremonies, loudly nagaswaram and table music, weddings, brahim boys reading closed, the prostrations of countless devotees and the bright market stalls enchant tourists with a unique experience. Approximately fifty priests work in the temple and live in houses near the north entrance.
Among the major festivals held at the temple includes the Teppam festival, in which the images of Sri Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswara are mounted on floats and taken to the Mariamman Teppakkulam tank, where for several days they are carried and rolled back to through the water in between. from the tank, onto an illuminated raft bedecked with flowers, before being taken back to the main temple.