Meenakshi Amman Temple

Meenakshi Amman Temple

The historic Meenakshi Amman temple is located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Built sometime between the year 1623 and 1655, the wonderful architecture of the place is renowned globally. Meenakshi Temple is primarily dedicated to Parvati, known as Meenakshi, and her spouse, Shiva. What makes this temple different from the others is the fact that both God and Goddess are worshipped together.

According to the mythology, Lord Shiva visited Madurai to marry Parvati and it has been the sacred abode of Goddess Parvati since her birth. Meenakshi temple was hence built here to commemorate the same and to pay respects to the Goddess. The most striking feature of the temple is its exquisite facade, which has highly minute details with great art pieces incorporated in the walls and pillars. 

Meenakshi Amman temple complex is made in accordance to the Shilpa Shastra and has 14 gateway towers or 'gopurams', golden 'vimanas', holy sanctums and shrines dedicated to the revered Goddess Meenakshi and many others. It is a major tourist attraction, with thousands of devotees visiting the shrine on a daily basis.

Legend of the Meenakshi Temple

There are several legends that are attached to the Meenakshi Amman Temple. One such story goes that the temple was built by the king of Gods Vishnu while he was on the way to atone for his sins. As he approached the Swayambhu Lingam in Madurai, he felt his burden lifting and to commemorate the same, he built the Meenakshi Amman Temple. 

Another legend says that Goddess Parvati appeared as the daughter of Pandya King Malayadwaja Pandya after his many prayers to the deity. However, the girl had three breasts and it was prophesized that the third breast wouls disappear when she met her husband. The daughter of the king was named "Tadaatagai" and was the heir to the throne. She was well trained in the 64 sastras and all disciplines required for her to rule the kingdom wisely.

Religious significance

Goddess Meenakshi appears in with a parrot in her right-hand at this shrine, which is generally associated with the Vaishnava azhwar saint Andal. It is believed that this shrine is one of the five locations where Shiva performed the 'Tandav' or cosmic dance of destruction, and hence, a huge statue of the Lord made out of silver is installed here. Nataraja is shown dancing with his right leg raised, which is a divergence from the more popular image where his left leg is raised.

The festival of "Meenakshi Thirukalyanam" or the divine marriage of Meenakshi is celebrated here with great fervour in April, every year. The celebrations here are a classic example of a female dominated ceremony, also called a Madurai marriage. The festivities last for a month where several events such as the Chariot Festival and Float Festival are also conducted. Celebrations of Navratri and Shivratri are also important here.