Vigourously promoting Tamil literature, art, music and dance since thousands of years, the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Tamil Nadu's Madurai is an architectural masterpiece. The Pandyan King Kulasekarar built the great temple and thereafter laid the lotus shaped city of Madurai around the temple.

Accommodation and Connectivity

Being a major tourist attraction of Tamil Nadu, Madurai is well connected by road, rail and air with the rest of Tamil Nadu and many destinations of neighbouring states. Infact, Madurai railway junction is one of the largest in South India.


The various hotels and lodges of Madurai fit very well into the purse of different income groups. But as devotees flock the temple city regularly, advance booking would be a good option to avoid accommodation problems on reaching the place.

The Meenakshi Temple

History

The original temple was built by Pandyan King Kulasekara, but the Nayakas meticulously renovated it later and all the credit for the present magnificent form of the temple goes to the Nayaks only. The religious Nayaks ruled Madurai from the 16th to the 18th century and left an imposing legacy in the form of Meenakshi Temple.

The Deity

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva known as Sundareshvara and his consort Parvati or Meenakshi. The temple complex is within high enclosures and at the core are the sanctums of Meenakshi and Sundareshvara.

Architecture

There are 985 beautifully sculptured pillars that support the temple. They form the thousand pillar mandapan hall. The two sanctums of Sundareshvara and Meenakshi are surrounded by a number of smaller shrines and grand pillared halls. The 12 gopuras of the temple are the most impressive. Their soaring towers are made of solid granite bases and have paintings of different deities, mythical animals and monsters. The gopuras are pyramidal gates that rise to heights exceeding 50 m. The main gopuras indicate the entrance to the temple complex at four points and smaller gopuras lead to the sanctum of the temple. It is worth mentionable that the deities on the tower are repaired and repainted as part of rituals every 12 years. The stupendous architecture of the temple is further enhanced by the golden lily tank.


The Festivals

There are many festivals that are celebrated in the temple. They include the Teppam Festival and Meenakshi Kalyanam. Meenakshi Kalyanam is the annual solemnization of the marriage of Meenakshi with Lord Sundareshvara. Apart from the religious significance, the magnificent architecture of the temple is another strong reason to visit the great temple.