This temple is devoted to Mata Parvati, known as Meenakshi and Shiva, known as Sundareswarar. The Nayaka rulers followed the Hindu texts on architecture called the Shilpa Shastras in redesigning the temple city plan and the Meenakshi temple. Om akararpinyai nama Lord Shiva weds Goddess Meenakshi. This is most evident in the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Sundareswara, the handsome lord, is an aspect of the great god Shiva. However, legend suggests that Meenakshi Amman was born to a king named Malayadwaja Pandya and his Queen Kanchanamalai. But centuries ago, the land that is now the United States was a very different place What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? [77] The pool walls were painted with frescoes. [31][32] She is also known by the Tamil name "Angayarkanni" or "Ankayarkannammai" (literally, "the mother with the beautiful fish eyes"). Having returned back to Mother Andal, She blessed Sukadeva by asking him to ask Her a boon. The pool is 165ft (50m) by 120ft (37m) in size. Om guhyyai nama 60 , Om yoitpuruamohinyai nama The Urchava Nayanar Mandapa and the small six-pillared mandapa in front of the Mahamandapa was rebuilt by Sundaratolydaiya Mavali Vanathirayar in the 15th century. The temple has continued to evolve in the modern era. [67], Kumara Kampana, states the Thirupanimalai text, donated jewels and made grants to cover the expenses for daily operations of the two shrines in the 14th century. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. All of these place the temple in ancient times and include a warrior goddess, but the details vary significantly and are inconsistent with each other. serving as evidence of this. Kulasekara Pandya was also a poet and he composed a poem on Meenakshi named. We take pride in our great customer service that is available 24/7. Om bhavyai nama Meenakshis suitors brought precious gifts with them, which they hoped would impress the princess. There are so many other smaller and bigger mandapams in the temple. The outer towers are the landmarks of Madurai. Thus, Meenakshi remained single, and her father eventually relented, allowing her to ascend the throne in her own right. The land of Temples, Tamil Nadu has a very beautiful and ancient temple on the southern bank of the River Vaigai. Some link its legend to other deities such as Indra who proclaims the primacy of the goddess, while some describe Hindu gods appearing before ancient kings or saints urging wealthy merchants to build this temple in the honor of a goddess. Om kalyyai nama The outer walls have four towering gateways, allowing devotees and pilgrims to enter the complex from all four directions. Kulasekara Pandya was also a poet and he composed a poem on Meenakshi named Ambikai Malai. Mennakshi Amman Parrot | Goddess Meenakshi Decorative ItemSize==9inchesThe main icon of Meenakshi shows her holding a parrot, symbol of Kama, god of love. Om brahma vidyyai nama According to the text Thirupanimalai, the Vijayanagara commander Kumara Kampana after completing his conquest of Madurai, rebuilt the pre-existing structure and built defensive walls around the temple in the 14th century. For example, before the colonial era, the temple complex itself was inside another layer of old citys fortified walls. 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. Goddess Meenakshi: It has the greenstone image of Meenakshi, standing in bent-leg posture. Om paupaterdevasyapatnyai nama Oonjal Mandapam, lying on the tank's western band, comprises of the primary divinities and the lobby of parrots or Kilikootu Mandapam has parrots that serenade the Goddess' name. [11][26] Madurai is one of the many temple towns in the state which is named after the groves, clusters or forests dominated by a particular variety of a tree or shrub and the same variety of tree or shrub sheltering the presiding deity. From the southern bank, devotees could worship the golden pinnacles of Swamy and Amman temples. The parrot is Kaamadeva 's Vaahana (vehicle). He ordered the allegiance of the society of Maravar and insisted a distinction between all classes. Men and women should stand in separate rows and worship the deity. [5] The temple is at the center of the ancient temple city of Madurai mentioned in the Tamil Sangam literature, with the goddess temple mentioned in 6th-century-CE texts. [78], The small six-pillared swing mandapam (Unjal) was built by Cheventhi Murthi Chetti during this period, and this remains in use currently for a Friday ritual and it also houses the model of the entire temple complex created in 1985. Om nityapupyai nama A copy of this image has been made from metal and is kept in the temple complex. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. Chinnappa Nayakkar constructed the 100-pillared Mandapa Nayaka Mandapam in the northeastern part of second courtyard in 1526. Meenakshi grew up learning the martial arts, and became a fine warrior who excelled particularly in archery and sword-fighting. [50][note 1] The temple city grew again around the new temple, with human settlements structured as per their castes, with the royalty, Kshatriyas and Vaishya merchants lived on the southeast side of the temple, the Brahmins in a special quarter close to the temple, while others in other areas and fringes of the city. [93] This event is commemorated with an annual festive procession that falls sometime around April. [51][54] The missionaries ridiculed the temple artwork and criticized the temple practices while introducing themselves as "Roman Brahmins" and "Northern Sanniasis" [sic]. Om saciveyai nama [48] They restored, repaired and expanded the temple through the 16th century, along with many other regional temples. This is the structure that visitors are able to see today when they visit Madurai. R.HARISHANKAR. The Muslim Madurai Sultanate was relatively short-lived, with the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire under Bukka Raya removing it in 1378 CE. The gopuram near the Ganesha shrine (Mukkuruni Vinayakar), also called the Nadukkattu gopuram or Idaikattu gopuram, was built by the Siramalai Sevvanthimurti Chetti family. The court decided on 20 July 1899 that neither the accused nor any member of their community had the right to enter any part of the temple. Devotees proceeding the temple should bathe and wear Saiva symbols such as holy ash, Uthiraksham, and carry with them coconut, fruits, incense and other items of offering to the extent possible. This temple tank is an ancient tank where devotees take bath in the holy water. Om rvidyyai nama The tall sculpture of Ganesh carved of single stone located outside the Sundareswarar shrine in the path from Meenashi shrine is called the Mukuruny Vinayakar. Om caturbahave nama [38], The temple has its traditional version of history that it calls Shiva-lilas (sports of Shiva), and sixty four of these episodes are painted as murals around the temple walls. The Kanaka Sabha and Ratna Sabha are in the first prahara, Rajata Sabha in Velliambalam, Deva Sabha in the 100-pillared mandapam and Chitra Sabha in the 1000-pillared mandapam.[92]. Get Free Wifi, Free Breakfast, with best Rates . [16][40], The shrines of Meenakshi temple are embedded inside three walled enclosures and each of these have four gateways, the outer tower growing larger and reaching higher to the corresponding inner one. According to Hindu scriptures, it was Indra who . Om mantryai nama 10 var cid='6828205647';var pid='ca-pub-6871286948502409';var slotId='div-gpt-ad-templesinindiainfo_com-box-3-0';var ffid=2;var alS=2002%1000;var container=document.getElementById(slotId);container.style.width='100%';var ins=document.createElement('ins');ins.id=slotId+'-asloaded';ins.className='adsbygoogle ezasloaded';ins.dataset.adClient=pid;ins.dataset.adChannel=cid;if(ffid==2){ins.dataset.fullWidthResponsive='true';} [Online]Available at: http://ma.nithyananda.org/dfoienr20938l4kfdifd/history/meenakshi-the-fish-eyed-cosmic-mother/, Pattanaik, D., 2016. [34][35] According to Harman, this may reflect the matrilineal traditions in South India and the regional belief that "penultimate [spiritual] powers rest with the women", gods listen to their spouse, and that the fates of kingdoms rest with the women. The gopuram is notable for its extensive artwork with over 1,500 mythological characters in panels that narrate legends from the Hindu texts, particularly the. Om vvtyai nama Om subhruve nama Though there are many temples dedicated to the main female deity of Saivite sect of Hinduism, this is the place where the Goddess was born as a girl and married Shiva and people of Madurai still believes Meenakshi is ruling the Madurai city. Later the idols of Hanumar, Krishnar and other deities on the pillars at the back and then enter the middle way and leave through Amman Sannidhi. "forest of Kadamba") or Velliambalam (lit. Om amritodbhavyai nama Om sunsyai nama Worshipping Arulmighu Meenakshi Amman at first had been the manner of prayer traditionally. Om trailokya sundaryai nama Also Known as: Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple Legends believed that Goddess Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva was reborn as Meenakshi having eyes like a fish to the family of Malayadhwaja Pandyan and his wife Kanchanamala on performing the Putthrakameshthiya puja. Parrots can be fed with fruits, nuts and pulses. This gopuram is named after the frescoes and reliefs that depict secular and religious themes of Hindu culture. . The missionary efforts were largely unsuccessful with people continuing to patronize the temple after baptizing. After that the devotees should proceed along the six pillared pedestal and worship Chandrasekarar and other deities and the Natarajar who danced changing his legs at the Velliyambalam and then worship the Lord at the sanctum. [22] The temple attracts over a million pilgrims and visitors during the annual 10-day Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival, celebrated with much festivities and a ratha (chariot) procession during the Tamil month of Chittirai (overlaps with AprilMay in Georgian calendar, Chaitra in North India). 8 Palliarai pooja 09 : 30 PM - 10 : 00 PM. Meenakshi is a goddess in the Hindu pantheon who is worshipped mainly in the southern part of India. This mandapa houses the famed Nataraja statue with his "right" leg up in dance mudra, instead of the left leg typically found in Nataraja bronzes. The Nataraja shrine was also added in the 15th century by Arulalan Sevahadevan Vanathirayan, who also renovated the Thiruvalavaudaiyar shrine. Om kradhriyai nama 80 , Om tmaikasumukibhuta jagadahldakriyai nama [11] Early Tamil texts mention that the temple was the center of the city and the streets happened to be radiating out like a lotus and its petals. [44][45][46], The Islamic invasion in the 14th century brought an abrupt end to the patronage of Tamil Hindu temple towns. Only those that did not sink were considered worthy of attention. [76], The sacred temple tank is called Porthamarai Kulam ("Pond with the golden lotus"). The short main ceremony is completed in the temple, followed by receptions and other rituals elsewhere. Along with these, there are statues of King Thirumalai Naicker with his wives within the temple complex. Born with three breasts Meenakshi grew up to become a daring Queen. Its shrines are dedicated to Hindu deities and Shaivism scholars, with the vimanas above the garbhagrihas (sanctums) of Meenakshi and Sundaresvara gilded with gold. Therefore, the king was hoping to find a suitable husband who would rule the kingdom jointly with his daughter after his death. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. "bald" gateway) was started by Krishnappa Nayakkar, also called the North Raya gopuram (this is not on the plan, below the bottom edge). The west tower (gopuram) of the temple is the model based on which the Tamil Nadu State Emblem is designed. Continue with Recommended Cookies, rmnk stotrottaraatanmval , atha rmnk aottaraatanmval . It was completed by Amaravati Purur Vayinagaram Chettiyar family in 1878 CE. This goddess is believed to be an avatar of the goddess Parvati, the wife of Shiva. The name Meenakshi can be split into "Meen," meaning Fish, . To appease Vishnu, Meenakshi and her husband meets him in the middle of the river and accept his wedding gifts, but he steadfastly refuses to enter the city Madurai, thus venting the local Shaiva-Vaishnava rivalry.Contact:+601151624741Pls Subscribe,LIKE \u0026 SHARE My Channel Link:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlx6j7jlB1XadXbA_W-WQwWhats app Link:https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=601151624741Facebook Profile:https://www.facebook.com/viswabrammaa.sathishmalaysiaFacebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/viswabrammaaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/viswabrammaa_sathish/Email:viswabrammaastore@gmail.comTelegram Channel:https://t.me/vsbsm#parrot #meenakshiamman #goddessmeenakshi I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds, about Meenakshi Amman Temple: Unique Towers, Migrants from a Lost Continent, and Sacred Marriage Celebrations, Mother and Child Reunion Of Thetis And Achilles, Seductive Sirens of Greek Mythology and How Heroes Resisted Them, Celestial Goddess Selene: The Ancient Greek Goddess of the Moon, Pegasus of Greek Mythology: Majestic Winged Horse of Mount Olympus, Dreams of Human-Powered Flight: Daedalus and the Story of Icarus. According to the inscriptions found on the foundation of the gateways, Visvappa Nayakkar built the Nayaka gopuram in the second prakara around 1530, while Palahai gopuram was built about the same time by Mallappan. Om guhyopaniaduttamyai nama Steps lead down to the tank, enabling worshippers to take bathe in it. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. [114], Kumaraguruparar, a 17th-century Tamil poet, composed Meenakshi Pillaitamil in praise of presiding deity of this temple. On your way you can worship a gigantic idol of Sri Ganesh called Mukkurini Pillaiyar. Om kastritilakyai nama The Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai. [25] The temple complex is well connected with road network (four lane National Highway 38), near a major railway junction and an airport (IATA: IXM) with daily services. Some of the shrines and the gopuram are not exactly aligned east-west and north-south axis, however. Om npavayakaryai nama Om sarvasaubbhgyadyinyai nama Before its completion in the 19th century, the gopuram made of stone and brick had even fewer stucco images. Parrots usually live up to 20 years, and it depends on their living place. The marriage of the goddess and god is a symbolic paradigm for human marriage. Om nityaklinnayai nama Mother Andal once sent Sukabrahmmam to Lord Vishnu as an emissary for Her divine love. The Mottai gopuram for nearly three centuries did not have the roof structure, is simpler and has fewer stucco images than the other major entrances, giving it a relatively bald appearance and the local name. Om divyacandana digdhgai nama 50 , Om yvakarardrapadabujyai nama The courtyard walls were added over time in response to invasion and the plunder of the temple complex. Lord Kamadeva also called as Manmadha (Kamadev) and his vehicle is a parrot, the great Shuka Maharishi contains parrot head and Mata Meenakshi Amman at Madurai is holding a parrot in her right hand. On each Friday, brilliant hued symbols are situated on the swings and a terrific venerating service follows psalms and contributions by the enthusiasts. Om bimbohyai nama [59][60][61], A group of 15 Nadars belonging to the family of Erulappa Nadar entered the temple in Kamudi in May 1897, performing puja to the chief deity themselves. The goddess Meenakshi of Madurai Devdutt Pattanaik / Updated: Nov 27, 2016, 01:00 IST The temple is one the grandest in Tamil Nadu, spread over 14 acres with 12 large gateway towers and 33,000 icons We have all heard the story of Ram, a prince from North India, who went to the southern tip of India. The Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai ( CC by SA 2.0 ). In addition, the girls eyes were shaped like fish, and hence she was given the name Meenakshi. The tank is surrounded by a pillared corridor. Om nityyai nama Om vainyai nama The area around this tank was the meeting place of the Tamil Sangam - the ancient academy of poets. The Warriors Who Shaped African History: The Horsemen of Oyo, Royal Mistress Jane Shore Walked Streets of London in her Underwear, Leonardo Da Vincis Notes Show He Understood Gravity Long Before Newton, Talks Begin on Repatriating Remains of Patrick Sarsfield, Irish War Hero, The Ramessid Dynasty: A Golden Era in Ancient Egypt, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Unleashing the End of the World, Unraveling the Mystery of the Carnac Stones: An Ancient Puzzle of Epic Proportions, Unraveling the Enigma of Aramu Muru, The Mysterious Gate of the Gods, Alleged Sighting of the Mythical Manananggal in the Philippines Causes Public Anxiety. Meenakshi Sundareswarar. Not just a 2500 year old temple complex but it is like a city with in the Madurai city dedicated to the deity Meenakshi, an avatar of Goddess Parvati, and her consort Sundareswarar, Lord Shiva.So if you are planning for a calm religious tour Meenakshi Amman Temple is the . [4] According to the Tamil text Tiruvilaiyatarpuranam, king Malayadwaja Pandya and his wife Kanchanamalai performed a Yajna seeking a son for succession. Some of these mandapas include:[16][79], The mandapas also feature community gathering halls. Meenakshi Amman is said to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. Every Friday, the golden idols of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar are seated on the swing in the Oonjal Mandapam and hymns are sung as the deities gaily swing to and fro. iti rmnk aottaraata nmval sampram , 108 Names of Meenakshi Amman | Ashtottara Shatanamavali in Hindi | English | Bengali | Gujarati | Punjabi | Kannada | Malayalam | Oriya | Telugu | Tamil. Kambathadi mandapam (H) was built by Krishna Virappa Nayakkar (1572- 1595). The Meenakshi Temple is the epicentre of the city of Madurai as it was built according to the ancient Indian building manual called Shilpa Shastra. Height 161'3". Perhaps that is just a story, but the unique and monumental towers with their brightly-colored sculptures of As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. The missionaries wrote back that the Tamils were "baptizing, but not converting", for they baptize if "someone wants a wife who is Christian" or medical aid when they have a disease, material aid if they are poor. [63], The temple complex is spread over about 14 acres (5.7ha). [9] It was rebuilt after the 14th-century damage, its granite structure was renovated by Kumara Krishnappar after 1595. Just outside this mandapam ,towards the west, are the Musical Pillars. While sorting through some 280,000 artifacts excavated from land reserved for a highway construction project running from Cambridge to the village of Huntingdon in eastern England, archaeologists affiliated with the Museum of London Archaeology discovered a miniature comb that was incredibly ancient and also made from a most unusual material. This did not work, however, as Meenakshi proclaimed that she would only marry the man who could beat her in combat. The Vijayanagara rulers succeeded, cleared the ruins and reopened the temple for active worship. Om sarvasyadevasyapatnyai nama He also built a Mahamandapam. The Meenakshi Amman temple was built almost 3500 years ago, the temple was constructed in such a grand way that even today this temple is one of the richest temples of India. It was completed in the second half of the 16th century. Mennakshi Amman Parrot | Goddess Meenakshi Decorative ItemSize==9inchesThe main icon of Meenakshi shows her holding a parrot, symbol of Kama, god of love. [69] Of these five are gateways to the Sundareshvara shrine, three to the Meenakshi shrine. In the historical records, however, the existence of this temple is first mentioned during the 7 th century AD. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Excerpt for the etymology of Meenatchi from ", Christopher Fuller (1995), The 'Holy Family' of Shiva in a south Indian temple, Social Anthropology, Volume 3, Issue 3, Cambridge University Press, pages 205-217, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, "This Temple Is Covered in Thousands of Colorful Statues", "Which Tamil Nadu temple is the state emblem? [16] There are periodic ratha (chariot) processions where one of the metal copy icon of the goddess is taken out of the temple in an elaborate car shrine decorated with colorful clothes and flowers, with volunteers pulling the car through the streets of Madurai and circumambulating the temple complex on one of the concentric roads in the old city. Her raised hand holds a lotus, on which sits a green parrot. As Madurai was the capital of Meenakshis kingdom, it also became the center of her worship. This gopura was reopened after the renovations completed in 1963. Each pillar is sculptured and is a monument of the Dravidan sculpture. Top image: An image of the goddess Meenakshi. Om vypinyai nama Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic Hindu temple on the south bank of the Vaigai River in Madurai, also known as the Sleepless . Om bhagapriyyai nama [102], The Meenakshi temple is not only a religious center, but is also an economic center. Vanniyadi Natarajar Mandapam and Annakkuli Mandapam were built by a woman named Chellappen Mannikkam in the late 16th century. This Tower has 1511 sudhai figures
Be alerted about forthcoming festivals and pooja offers from Parihara.com. The gopuram west to the Sundareshwara shrine is also 5 storeyed, and was completed around 1374 by Mallapan. The main icon of Meenakshi shows her holding a parrot, symbol of Kama, god of love. Devotees should meditate the five holy alphabets, recite the sacred names of the Lord, sing divine songs and go round the shrine.. Pudumandapam, also called Vasantha mandapam (bottom of plan) was completed by Thirumalai Nayak in the 17th century. Having worshipped the deities including Sadayappar between the Nandhi Mandapam and coming round the hundred pillar hall, Agni Veeraputhirar, Ahora Veerapathirar, Ooothuva Thandava Moorthy and Badrakali, devotees should proceed to the Thirugnanasambandar mandapam and there offer worship to the four deities, Mangayarkarasiyar, Kulachirayar and Nedumaranayar and then after paying obeisance to the flag pole, they should sit down for a while. If you guessed Parvati, then you are right. It is not advisable to put the parrots in cages, since it always prefers to live independently. One legend describes a childless king and queen performing yajna for a son, they get a daughter who inherits the kingdom, conquers the earth, meets Shiva ultimately, marries him, continues to rule from Madurai, and the temple memorializes those times. The Nandi mandapam was renovated again in 1877. Om ymyyai nama [72], The goddess shrine has the green stone image of Meenakshi, standing in bent-leg posture. [10], Though the temple has historic roots, most of the present campus structure was rebuilt after the 14th century CE, further repaired, renovated and expanded in the 17th century by Tirumala Nayaka. Om bhagrdhyyai nama Meenakshi is typically visited before Sundareswarar by the pilgrims, she considered the primary deity of the complex. Between the 4 th century BC and the 17 th century AD, one of the dominant powers in the southern part of India was the Pandyan Dynasty. Each pillar when stuck, Produces a different musical notes. It marks the divine marriage of Meenakshi, and is the most attended festival. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Om ukapriyyai nama Only a fraction of 17th- and 18th-century paintings of Nayak period survives and one such portion is found in the small portico on the western side of the tank. This Tower has 1124 sudhai figures
The marriage of Meenakshi and Shiva was a grand event, with all gods, goddesses and living beings gathered. They are choultry, or a place for the pilgrims to rest. The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2,500 year old . The surviving plan of the temple complex places it within the old city, one defined by a set of concentric squares around the temple. The Thousand-Pillared Hall (Q) contains 985 (instead of 1000) carved pillars, with two shrines occupying the space of the remaining 15. The Kamatchi Amman Temple is an ancient Hindu Temple dedicated to the goddess Kamakshi, one of the highest aspects of Adi Shakti in Shaktism.It is located in the historic city of Kanchipuram, near Chennai, India.Its construction is credited to the Pallava kings, whose capital was in the same city. The goods and services for temple-related pilgrims and visitors is a significant part of the Madurai economy. The Hindus generally circumambulate the shrines clockwise first before entering the shrine for a darshana. The historic Meenakshi Amman temple is located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. [36], The work completed by Vishwanatha Nayaka in 1560 was substantially expanded to the current structure during the reign of Tirumala Nayaka (162355). Om npapriyyai nama West Tower (Nine Storeys). Meenakshi Amman Temple, also known as Minakshi-Sundareshwara Temple, is one of the oldest and most important temples in India. [60][61], The Nadars appealed to the High Court of Judicature in Madras, unhappy with the judgment of the subordinate judge of Madurai, with funds of 42,000 raised from members of the community. [Online]Available at: http://devdutt.com/articles/indian-mythology/shakta/the-goddess-meenakshi-of-madurai.html, Phenomenal Place, 2011. Both the Meenakshi and Sundareswarar shrines have gold plated Vimanam (tower over sanctum). Under the auspices of the Temple administration, a girls higher secondary school called Arulmighu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Girls Higher Secondary School is being run near Teppakulam, Madurai. It depicts the marriage of Sundareswarar and Meenkashi attended by Vijayaranga Chokkanatha and Rani Mangammal. On every Friday, golden-colored idols are positioned on the swings and a grand . The celestial couple is seated inside an architectural frame with a flowering tree in the background. Om sumadhyamyai nama Gain rich insights into the divine wealth of Indian Culture by following this blog. Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple Madurai. Meenakshi is a goddess in the Hindu pantheon who is worshipped mainly in the southern part of India. [109] The festival includes a procession, where Meenakshi and Sundareshwara travel in a chariot pulled by volunteer devotees, and Vishnu gives away his sister in marriage to Shiva. [57] The temple is sometimes spelled as Minaksi and the city as Madura in 17th to early 20th-century texts. [58], In November 1895, the Nadars of kamuthi petitioned to the Meenakshi Sundaraswara temple, which was under Ramnad M. Baskara Sethupathi's trusteeship of the Raj, for permission to hold a ritual feast. Come book your Offers now atwww.madurairesidency.com. April 2, 2013. Lord Sundareswarar (Shiva) the consort of Goddess Meenakshi is to the north of Kilikoontu Mandapam. Additionally, the complex has a golden lotus sacred pool (L) for pilgrims to bathe in, a thousand-pillar hall choultry with extensive sculpture (Q), the kalyana mandapa or wedding hall, many small shrines for Hindu deities and for scholars from the sangam (academy) history, buildings which are religious schools and administrative offices, elephant sheds, equipment sheds such as those for holding the chariots used for periodic processions and some gardens. [Online]Available at: http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-temples/meenakshi-temple.html, lewblank, 2017. Om rudrasyadevasyapatnyai nama Hence this hall is named as Velli Ambalam (Silver Hall).