Meenakshi Amman Temple

Meenakshi Amman temple is also called as Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Tiru-alavai temple. It is a remarkable and fabulous Hindu temple positioned in the south India proximity to the river Vaigai in Madurai, referred as the temple city, at Tamil Nadu, India. This divine place is devoted to God Parvati who is known as Meenakshi and her consort, Shiva placed in this shrine as Lord Sundareswarar that means beautiful deity.

There are nearly twenty thousands of devotees visiting this temple every day, the number raise to thirty thousand in Friday. As per the estimation, there are nearly thirty three thousands of sculptures in this temple. Gopurams (Temple Towers) are the highlight of this temple.

There are fourteen Goupurams (Temple Towers) that range form 40 to 45 meters in height. Among these towers the southern temple tower is the highest and comprises height of 51.9 meters. This historic temple is a noteworthy icon for the Tamil people and also has been revealed since antiquity in Tamil literature. The building has been constructed in the period of 1623 to 1655.

Each and every temple tower is a multi configuration, enclosed with thousands of stone figures of animals, gods and demons painted in bright hues. Out of 12 huge temple towers the four tallest towers are raised as the outer walls of the temple at the four entrance of the temple. The temple comprises the Porthamarai Kulam that calculated length is 165 ft and 120 ft in size.

Ashta Shakthi Mandapam can be able to reach from the eastern gateway. It has constructed by Thirumalai Nayakar's wives Rudrapathi Ammal and Tholimamai. The prospects from the Thiruvilayadals of the Lord Shiva and Meenakshi Amman life have been described on the pillars of this mandapam. There are lots and lots of Mandapam are constructed in this temple are listed below

• kilikoondu Mandapam, the parrot cage corridor

• Kambatadi Mandapam, the Hall of temple tree

• Meenakshi Nayakkar Mandapam, the Hall of 100 pillars

• Puthu Mandapam, the new hall

• Ashta Shakthi Mandapam, the Hall of eight goddess

• Viravasantharaya Mandapam, the large hall with huge corridors

• Mudali Pillai Mandapam or Iruttu Mandapam, the Dark hall

• Mangayarkarasi mandapam, the marriage hall

The important and central function celebrated in this shrine is Meenakshi Thirukalyanam, which specifies the divine marriage of Goddess Meenakshi that celebrated during the periods of April in each year. 

Other important festivals celebrated here are "Ther Thiruvizhah" (chariot festival) and "Theppa Thiruvizhah" (float festival). And also the major Hindu festivals like Navrathri and Shivrathri are celebrated in the temple.     

Keywords: Meenakshi Amman, Madurai, navarathri

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