| Gopuram of the temple |
MEENAKSHI-SUNDARESHWAR TEMPLE -
Meenakshi-Sundareshwar Temple is located in the Madurai ,the second largest city of Tamilnadu. Madurai is well connected from Chennai,Bangalore as well as from New Delhi .During our visit to Madurai,we took a direct flight of Spice Jet Airlines from Delhi having only one stoppage at Chennai.Madurai is supposed to be a very old and ancient city once ruled by Goddess Meenakshi herself. This temple is dedicated to Meenakshi and her consort Lord Sundareshwar.
The architecture and the stone carvings in this temple are mesmerising and unique. The layout of the Meenakshi Amman temple complex is square shaped having the four massive Gopurams, one in each direction at the outer walls.
The devotees visiting this complex generally enter through the east via Astha Shakti Gopuram of Meenakshi temple .All the Gopurams located in the temple complex are very colourful and magnificent.While going through the temple devotees walk along the holy golden lotus tank, also known as Potramarai Kulam. It is said that once Indra has also taken bath in this pond and worshipped Lord Shiva to get rid of his sins. It is a practise to take the blessings of Goddess Meenakshi before visiting the temple of Lord Sundareshwar therefore devotees first offer their payers to Goddess Meenakshi and there after through a Parikrama route move towards the temple of Lord Sundareshwar. In the sanctum of the Meenakshi temple ,devotees worship the Goddess, who is standing gracefully and blessing her devotees.The word "meen" means fish and the word "akshi" means eyes therefore the Meenakshi is also known as the Goddess having fish- shaped eyes.
. The temple of Lord Sundareshwar lies at the centre of the complex which leads to a belief that the Sundareshwar shrine is the oldest establishment in this temple complex. While passing through the parikrama route devotees may also offer payers to the idols of other deities. It is said that in ancient time the divine marriage of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwar was performed in Madurai at the same place where the present temple complex is now located .It is believed that the girls who offer prayer in this temple are blessed by the goddess and they soon achieve their suitable marriage partners. It is believed that Subrahmanyam (Murugan) was also born in Madurai. While passing through the corridor or Parikrama, devotees are also blessed by Ganapati. The grand statue of Ganapati known as Mukkuruni Vinayagar is about 8 foot tall ,very magnificent and carved of a single stone.This idol of Ganeshji was discovered during the digging of the temple tank. In the garbh grih of the beautiful temple of Lord Sundareshwar, the sacred Linga of Lord Shiva is worshipped by the devotees. While moving within this temple complex, devotees also get an opportunity to see several beautiful idols and enchanting skill of Dravidian sculpture. The exquisite stone carvings and the magnificent idols depicted at the pillars of Lord Sundareshwar temple are mesmerising.
Non hindus are permitted only up to the outer part of the temple and up to the marked place. While visiting this temple complex, visitors are advised to visit a museum located in the the thousand pillar hall and have a look of excellent Dravidian architecture. The museum is a rich heritage of ancient stone carvings, beautiful idols and antiques.From anywhere we look in this hall,the pillars are in a straight line.
There are several important celebrations in the festive calender of the Meenakshi Amman temple. Chithirai Thiruvizha is a 12 day festival celebrated during the month of April-May when the devotees celebrate the coronation of Goddess Meenakshi and her divine marriage to Lord Sundareshwar. Aavani Moola Utsavam is another 18 day festivity in the month of Aug-Sept during which the coronation ceremony of Lord Sundareshwar is celebrated.
Devotees visiting this holy shrine may also visit Kodaikanal which is a very green and popular hill station of Tamilnadu. Kodaikanal is about 120 km.from Madurai and is known for several tourists spot including Kodai Lake.
Meenakshi-Sundareshwar Temple is located in the Madurai ,the second largest city of Tamilnadu. Madurai is well connected from Chennai,Bangalore as well as from New Delhi .During our visit to Madurai,we took a direct flight of Spice Jet Airlines from Delhi having only one stoppage at Chennai.Madurai is supposed to be a very old and ancient city once ruled by Goddess Meenakshi herself. This temple is dedicated to Meenakshi and her consort Lord Sundareshwar.
The architecture and the stone carvings in this temple are mesmerising and unique. The layout of the Meenakshi Amman temple complex is square shaped having the four massive Gopurams, one in each direction at the outer walls.
The devotees visiting this complex generally enter through the east via Astha Shakti Gopuram of Meenakshi temple .All the Gopurams located in the temple complex are very colourful and magnificent.While going through the temple devotees walk along the holy golden lotus tank, also known as Potramarai Kulam. It is said that once Indra has also taken bath in this pond and worshipped Lord Shiva to get rid of his sins. It is a practise to take the blessings of Goddess Meenakshi before visiting the temple of Lord Sundareshwar therefore devotees first offer their payers to Goddess Meenakshi and there after through a Parikrama route move towards the temple of Lord Sundareshwar. In the sanctum of the Meenakshi temple ,devotees worship the Goddess, who is standing gracefully and blessing her devotees.The word "meen" means fish and the word "akshi" means eyes therefore the Meenakshi is also known as the Goddess having fish- shaped eyes.
. The temple of Lord Sundareshwar lies at the centre of the complex which leads to a belief that the Sundareshwar shrine is the oldest establishment in this temple complex. While passing through the parikrama route devotees may also offer payers to the idols of other deities. It is said that in ancient time the divine marriage of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwar was performed in Madurai at the same place where the present temple complex is now located .It is believed that the girls who offer prayer in this temple are blessed by the goddess and they soon achieve their suitable marriage partners. It is believed that Subrahmanyam (Murugan) was also born in Madurai. While passing through the corridor or Parikrama, devotees are also blessed by Ganapati. The grand statue of Ganapati known as Mukkuruni Vinayagar is about 8 foot tall ,very magnificent and carved of a single stone.This idol of Ganeshji was discovered during the digging of the temple tank. In the garbh grih of the beautiful temple of Lord Sundareshwar, the sacred Linga of Lord Shiva is worshipped by the devotees. While moving within this temple complex, devotees also get an opportunity to see several beautiful idols and enchanting skill of Dravidian sculpture. The exquisite stone carvings and the magnificent idols depicted at the pillars of Lord Sundareshwar temple are mesmerising.
Non hindus are permitted only up to the outer part of the temple and up to the marked place. While visiting this temple complex, visitors are advised to visit a museum located in the the thousand pillar hall and have a look of excellent Dravidian architecture. The museum is a rich heritage of ancient stone carvings, beautiful idols and antiques.From anywhere we look in this hall,the pillars are in a straight line.
There are several important celebrations in the festive calender of the Meenakshi Amman temple. Chithirai Thiruvizha is a 12 day festival celebrated during the month of April-May when the devotees celebrate the coronation of Goddess Meenakshi and her divine marriage to Lord Sundareshwar. Aavani Moola Utsavam is another 18 day festivity in the month of Aug-Sept during which the coronation ceremony of Lord Sundareshwar is celebrated.
Devotees visiting this holy shrine may also visit Kodaikanal which is a very green and popular hill station of Tamilnadu. Kodaikanal is about 120 km.from Madurai and is known for several tourists spot including Kodai Lake.
