Worldroom MICE Tourism Guide: India 2008


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	The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or the Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic Hindu temple located in the holy city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, Southern India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, in the form of Sundareswarar or the Beautiful Lord and his consort, Goddess Parvati, in the form of Meenakshi or the Fish-eyed Goddess. The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the city of Madurai, the home of the Tamil heartland. One of the most important places of Hindu pilgrimage, the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple is located at the centre of the city and is the hub of the religious and cultural life of the people. Thousands of pilgrims visit the Temple everyday. The soaring high gateways of the temple stand as landmarks of the city. The temple complex is built within a high-walled enclosure, at the core of which are the two sanctums for Meenakshi and Sundareshwara, surrounded by a number of smaller shrines and a grand pillared hall. The Meenakshi Temple complex is one of the largest of its kind in India and undoubtedly one of the oldest too. The temple grew into an enormous complex extending over an area of 65,000 Sq m. The temple first came into being 2,000 years ago and is a splendid example of Dravidian architecture. The inner sanctum sanctorum is more than 3,500 years old and the outer walls and external construction are about 1,500-2,000 years old. The complex is spread over 45 acres and the temple is a massive structure measuring 254 by 237 meters. The Pandyan king, Kulasekhara built the temple, but the kings of the Nayak dynasty restored the temple to its pristine glory during their reign in Madurai between the 16th and the 18th century.The temple has four gates in four different directions namely North, South, East and West. The temple is surrounded by 12 large gateways, the tallest of which is the famous Southern tower, rising to over 170 ft high. These magnificent gateways are elaborately sculptured and painted. They are adorned with colourful icons of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures. One can also climb the gateways to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. The sculpted pillars in the halls of the Meenakshi temple tell the story of a beautiful princess of Madurai and her marriage to Lord Shiva. Legend has it that the princess was actually an incarnation of Goddess Parvati who came to earth to honour a promise. Lord Shiva came to Madurai as Sundareswarar to marry Meenakshi, and the two ruled over the kingdom for many years. The two presiding deities are honoured with special prayer ceremonies every Friday. The history of the original structure is not properly known, but Tamil literature speaks about the temple for the last couple of millennia. Inside the temple is the Sacred Pond measuring 165 ft by 120 ft. This holy pond is considered unique because according to a legend, Lord Shiva promised a stork that no fish or other marine life would grow here and thus no marine animals are found in the lake. It is also believed that the Sangam litterateurs decided the merit of the literary works presented to them, at the Golden Lotus Tank. The manuscripts that sank in the tank were dismissed while those that floated were considered great works of literature. One of the many beautiful structures of the temple is the Thousand Pillar Hall, which is of very high sculptural importance. It contains 985 (not 1000) magnificently carved pillars and is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. Viewed from any angle, these pillars appear to be in a straight line, truly an architectural masterpiece. Just outside, towards the west, are the Musical Pillars, each when struck produces a different musical note. The most important festival associated with the temple is celebrated in April every year. Madurai is well connected by air and train and road to all parts of South India. The Meenakshi temple is very colourful, the murals and pictures on the towers are a celebration of life and creativity. The temple architecture is stunning and it was a frontrunner in the election for the modern Seven Wonders of the World.