Where is Meenakshi Temple?
The Meenakshi Temple is located at Madurai in the state of Tamil Nadu in
southern India. The temple lies in the heart of the city and attracts a huge
number of both tourists and pilgrims from all across the globe.
How will you gain access?
Madurai has its own airport which is located at a distance of 12 km from
the city centre. The airport operates regular flights connecting the city to
places like Chennai and Mumbai. By rail, the city is linked with Coimbatore,
Chennai, Rameshwaram, Kanyakumari and other towns and cities of Souh India.
There is a good road-network as well that connect Madurai to all the major
towns of Tamil Nadu and other surrounding areas.
What does it signify?
The Meenakshi Temple is one of the largest and the most ancient temple in
the country. It is believed that Madurai is the actual site where the
wedding between Shiva and Meenakshi took place. According to the Hindu
mythology, Indra once killed a demon who was then observing penance. He
could find no way of freeing himself of the sin and so came down to earth.
As he was passing through a forest of Kadamba trees in Pandya land, he felt
relieved. His attendants told him that it was all due to a Shiva Linga that
lay beneath a Kadamba tree. Absolutely certain that it was a Shiva Linga
that had helped him, he worshipped it and built a small temple around it. It
is said that it is the very Linga that is still worshipped in the Madurai
Temple.
What beckons devotees?
» Ashta Shakti Mandapa
It is customary with the devotees and worshippers to offer prayers first to
the goddess Meenakshi. Though there are four entrances to the temple, the
devotees enter through a Mandapa that leads directly to the goddess' shrine.
The Mandapa is a splendid structure, measuring 14 m in length and 5.5 in
width. Bas-relief can be observed all around.
» Samagam Meenakshi Naicker Mandapa
The Mandapa provides connections with the larger Mandapas and
another larger hall. It was erected in the year 1707. In those days the
temple's elephants, camels and bulls used to be sheltered here. The Mandapa,
a huge hall, is 42.9 m in length and 33.5 m in width. There are 110 stone
columns here each measuring 6.7 m in height. Delicate relief work and
carving can be seen here.
»
Mudali Pillai Mandapa
The Mudali Pillai Mandapa was erected in 1613. The walls of the Mandapa
bear numerous Puranic scenes. It measures 183 m in length and 7.6 m in
width. The Mandapa was devoid of any natural light but it was only during
the last renovation that windows were added to it.
» The Golden Lily Tank
The Golden Lily Tank is a major attraction around. Popular photographic
views of the temple are taken standing on the banks of the very tank. From
here one can have a splendid view of the gigantic south outer Gopura, with
the northern corridor leading directly to the shrine of the goddess. The
corridors around the tank are termed as the 'Chitra Mandapa' for the reason
that the walls bear paintings of the divine sports of the lord.
» Historic Shrines in the Prakaras
One can find a number of historic shrines in the Prakaras. Lord
Sabhapati is a famous shrine out of the lot. It is the popular
Velliambalamwhere Lord's divine sports took place on the request of the
sages. There is a shrine of the Sangam poets in the second Prakara. There is
a row of fourteen small shrines in the very Prakara.
What is the best time?
Madurai has a warm climate and the temperature seldom comes below 20
degrees centigrade even during the winter months. However, the best time is
between the months of September and March.
