Pre christian sangam literature originated in madurai. Meenakshi sundareswarar temple, tiruaalavaai12 and meenakshi amman kovil is a historic hindu temple located on the southern bank of the vaigai river3. The temple is located in the southern bank of river vaigai and is situated in the heart of the city of madurai, tamil nadu in south india, covering an area of 17 acres, the entire city being built around it. On friday night, a major fire broke out in the famed meenakshi amman temple in madurai, tamil nadu, destroying 36 shops located in the 400yearold veera vasantharayar mandapam, a hall in the. Temple details madurai meenakshi temple has the credit of being the largest temple complex in tamilnadu. Located in the heart of the 2,500yearsold city, meenakshi temple is dedicated to goddess meenakshi, an avatar of the hindu goddess parvati the consort of lord shiva.
Peeking out from the 20foot wall surrounding the site, the famous temple is. The meenakshi amman temple situated in the heart of the city is famous, and. It is dedicated to parvati who is known as meenakshi and her consort, shiva, named here as sundareswarar. About madurai meenakshi amman temple according to legend, the sacred suyambulingam discovered by the king of gods indira at kadambavanam, was later enshrined by him in madurai. Meenakshi temple interesting facts madurai meenakshi amman temple attracts six thousand visitors on an average every day. Arulmigu meenakshi sundareswarar temple, madurai convenor the honble madras high court, madurai bench in its judgment dated.
Other articles where minakshisundareshvara temple is discussed. Temple will be crowded on sat, sun, fri, nov, dec, may, jun and navaratri festival days. Its very near to madurai railway station and meenakshi temple. It is said that the figure of goddess meenakshi amman at this temple is engraved out of a single. This is an ancient hindu temple in madurai and stands as an exponent of the fine artistic work done by vishwakarma brahmins. A few religious texts that belong to the 1st to 4th century c. Meenakshi amman temple or meenakshi sundareswarar temple is dedicated to lord parvati who is known as meenakshi and shiva who is known as sundareswara. Though most of the present structure was built between 1623. Fire in madurais meenakshi temple sparks demand for shops.
Meenakshi temple meenakshi amman temple, madurai images. This can also be termed as a new beginning of a new era in the history of the temple, when it was almost rebuilt. The fact that the lord is seen on the vehicle of indira in this temple is said to be proof for this. One of the most spectacular temple complexes of india, sri meenakshi temple in madurai is a wonderful mix of legends, myths, and some brilliant architectural techniques. However, in time, the importance shifted to worshiping meenakshi as the primary deity. The pillars of one of the madurai temples, madana gopala swamy kovil are in philadelphia museum of art, usa. Madurai meenakshi temple explore india travel guide. It is dedicated to lord shiva in the form of sundareswarar or beautiful lord and his consort, goddess parvati in the form of meenakshi. The meenakshi temple of madurai, india amusing planet. The questions can be answered directly in this editable pdf file and can be saved on local. Culture and heritage monuments meenakshi temple madurai. The temple, tirumala nayak palace, teppakulam tank an earthen embankment reservoir, and a 1,000pillared hall were rebuilt in the vijayanagar period 16th17th century after the total destruction of the city in 10. The temple is surrounded by 10 tall gopurams towers, the tallest of which rises to nearly 52 meter above the ground.
Tamil literary works of the first three centuries of the christian era mention about the layout of. Madurai being a cultural capital for more than 2500 years is a treasure. The temple walls, the city streets and finally the city walls were built around the temple in concentric squares. Information about madurai meenakshi amman temple madurai. Meenakshi temple is the most exquisite example of the dravidian architecture. Meenakshi sundareswarar temple or meenakshi amman temple tamil. Meenakshi sundareswarar temple or meenakshi amman temple is located in the holy city of madurai, tamil nadu, india. The story of the figure of meenakshi is also legendary. It is a master piece and was the center of activity for the promotion of art and culture in madurai. Meenakshi amman temple, madurai photos, history, timing. The central shrine of meenakshi amman temple and her consort sundareswarar are surrounded by three enclosures and each of these are protected by four minor towers at the four points of the compass, the outer tower growing larger and reaching higher to the corresponding inner one. Ancient south indian temple towns are designed by placing the temple complex at the centre with concentric rectangle pattern of streets around.
Vishnu presiding over the marriage of shiva and meenakshi, meenakshi temple, madurai photo. Interesting facts about meenakshi amman temple just fun. The presiding deity of the temple is goddess meenakshi goddess parvati and her consort lord sundareshwara lord shiva. Meenakshi amman temple, or popularly called as madurai meenakshi temple, is a famous religious destination in tamil nadu. Meenakshi amman temple temple in india thousand wonders.
This can be seen in another southern temple town srirangam also. It is dedicated to meenakshi, a form of parvati, and her consort, sundareshwar, a form of shiva. The wonder that is madurai meenakshi temple tamil and vedas. In a major fire at madurais meenakshi temple, over 30. The nayaks ruled madurai from the 16th to the 18th century and left a majestic imprint of their rule in the meenakshi sundareswarar temple.
Many historical evidence have been found dating back from early ad. The fire officials say that the fire started at a toy. Brief history of madurai fortune pandiyan hotel madurai. A religious and mythological symbol dating back 2,500 years, the temples 14 towers are each covered.
The pillars depict scenes from the wedding of meenakshi and. The sangam period poet nakkeerar is associated with some of the tiruvilayaadal episodes of sundareswarar that are enacted as a part of temple festival traditions even today. Meenakshi temple, madurai, tamil naidu, india photo. A devotee from chennai on friday donated a waist chain, made of 180 gram of gold and 15carat diamond, to sri meenakshi sundareswarar temple in madurai to adorn presiding deity meenakshi amman. You can also find the distance from madurai junction railway station to meenakshi temple using other travel options like bus, subway, tram, train and rail. The distance between madurai junction railway station to meenakshi temple is 2 km by road. The aadi, chittirai and the maasi, and veli streets surround the temple the towers, or the gopurams for which this temple is known, are visible from a distance. Did you know these interesting facts about the meenakshi. Nearest airport to sri meenakshi temple madurai sri. The history of meenakshi temple dates back to the 1st century c. Minakshisundareshvara temple building, madurai, tamil.
Ebooks, fantasy, fiction, graphic novels, historical fiction, history. Temple, the fulcrum the meenakshi sundareswarar temple is clearly the geographic and ritual centre of the ancient city of madurai. The meenakshi amman temple is the heart of the ancient city of madurai in tamil nadu, india. Madurai meenakshi amman temple is a ancient historic hindu temple on the southern bank of the vaigai river in the temple city of madurai, tamil nadu, india. The iconic meenakshi temple is located in the ancient city of madurai in the south indian state of tamil nadu.
This famous temple in madurai has an interesting history behind its architecture. The original temple is believed to have been built by kulasekara pandya, who received a boon from goddess parvati in. Walkable distance also its near to madurai central bus stand. If tamil nadu is the seat of south indian temple architecture, the madurai meenakshi amman temple is its crowning glory. The temple is in the center of 2,500yearold city of madurai and is a significant symbol for the tamil people. It is said that kulashekarar pandyan, a king who ruled over the pandyan dynasty, built the temple as per the instructions given in his dream by lord shiva. Meenakshi amman temple history the history of madurai dates back thousands of years almost to 6th century b. The colourful abode of the triplebreasted warrior goddess meenakshi fisheyed an epithet for perfect eyes in classical tamil poetry is generally considered. Lets get to know about some of the other interesting facts about meenakshi amman temple in madurai. Meenakshi temples old pictures or objects can be seen in india office library, london, ashmolean museum, oxford and houston meenakshi temple, texas, usa.
Madurai temple timings open, close, puja, darshan, today. Many historical evidences of the temple have been found dating back from. Sri meenakshi temple madurai entry fee, sri meenakshi. E with scholars claiming it to be as old as the city itself. Photo by prabhu b doss major tourist attractions the meenakshi amman temple has four gates in four directions and its compound stretches over an area of 45 acres.
The madurai meenakshi amman temple is now under the administration of the hr and ce department of tamil nadu. The historic meenakshi amman temple is located on the southern bank of the vaigai river, madurai, tamil nadu. Meenakshi temple meenakshi temple of madurai, meenakshi. Madurai is not yet into it boom, so the main activities are into business. The temple is at the center of the ancient temple city of madurai mentioned in the. Being the largest temple complex in tamil nadu, there are a lot more other interesting facts about this temple. Built sometime between the year 1623 and 1655, the wonderful architecture of the place is renowned globally. Madurai meenakshi amman temple simple english wikipedia. Facts about thiruppani madurai meenakshi amman temple. Meenakshi amman temple, madurai, tamil nadu, shilpa shastra. The temple structure with its concentric squares and high walled enclosures is a lesson for students of architecture. Meenakshi amman temple is a historic hindu temple located in the southern bank of river vaigai in the temple city of madurai, tamil nadu, india. Meenakshi amman temple, madurai, according to legend, the sacred suyambulingam discovered by the king of gods indra at kadambavanam, was later enshrined by him in madurai. At the sundareswarar temple across the courtyard, lord shiva is represented as a lingam.
It is dedicated to goddess meenakshi, and sundareswarar history. Interesting facts about meenakshi amman temple in madurai. The temple which has five entrances covers an area 847 feet 254. Meenakshi sundareswarar temple or meenakshi amman temple or tirualavai is a historic hindu temple located in the south side of river vaigai in the temple city of madurai. A major fire broke out at tamil nadus madurai meenakshi amman temple complex last night. Meenakshi temple is a historic hindu temple located on the southern bank of the vaigai river in the temple city of madurai, tamil nadu, india. The king thirumalai naicker played an important role in the construction of the new form of the temple according to records. Meenakshi amman temple madurai history, architecture. The temple is the geographical centre of the whole city of madurai. Madurai meenakshi temple is located on the banks of the legendary river vaigai in tamil nadu. This is one among the few temples which has entrances in all the four dire. The meenakshi amman temple is located in center of madurai city. Meenakshi amman temple is a historic hindu temple located on the southern bank of the vaigai river in the temple city of madurai, tamil nadu, india it is dedicated to parvati, known as meenakshi, and her consort, shiva, here named sundareswarar ancient mythology has it that lord shiva came down in the form of sundareswarar to marry meenakshi, anincarnation of goddess parvati, who descended.
Meenakshi temple also referred to as meenakshi amman or meenakshisundareshwara temple, is a historic hindu temple located on the southern bank of the vaigai river in the temple city of madurai, tamil nadu, india. Meenakshi temple in madurai decided to extend the temple complex with a. It is the main attraction of the city and pilgrims come to the place in the search of spirituality and peace. The temple has four rajagopurams, there are five towers on top of the sanctum. The temple is square shaped and a series of concentric streets with names from tamil months surround the structure.
It is said that the temple was plundered in the 14th. The fact that the lord is seen on the vehicle of indra in this temple is said to be proof for this. Madurai meenakshi amman temple news latest news on. The meenakshi temple at madurai article khan academy. But,these evidences were not enough to come to a conclusion because meenakshi amman temple was almost completely destroyed following a islamic invasion by a muslim conqueror, malik. Madurai meenakshi amman temple golden lotus at meenakshi amman temple tank the world renowned meenakshi sundareswarar temple popularly known as the madurai meenakshi temple dedicated to goddess parvathi and her consort shiva called sundareswarar here stands on the banks of the vaigai river in the 2500 year old temple city of madurai. The original temple was built by kulasekara pandya, but the entire credit for making the temple as splendid as it is today goes to the nayaks. The madurai temple complex in itself is breathtaking, given the fort like walls pierced with lofty towers, surrounding an area of about 640000 square feet. Madurai meenakshi temple guide timings,significance and. In madurai, meenakshi amman temple is at the center. South indian history is deeply tied with hinduism as religious traditions have. Initially, lord sundareshwara was worshiped as the primary deity. What are some of the amazing facts about meenakshi amman.
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