Meenakshi Temple

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Meenakshi Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictMadurai district
DeityMeenakshi (Parvati), Sundareshwar (Shiva)
Location
LocationMadurai
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Meenakshi Temple is located in Tamil Nadu
Meenakshi Temple
Location in Tamil Nadu
Geographic coordinates9°55′13″N 78°07′09″E / 9.920150°N 78.119210°E / 9.920150; 78.119210Coordinates: 9°55′13″N 78°07′09″E / 9.920150°N 78.119210°E / 9.920150; 78.119210
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture
CreatorPandya dynasty

Meenakshi Temple (also known as Meenakshi Amman Temple or Meenakshi Sundareshwara Temple) is a Hindu temple in Madurai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The presiding deities are Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareshwar, a form of Shiva. The temple complex has 14 gopurams (gateway towers}, the tallest rising to a height of 51.9 metres (170 feet). The complex has pillared halls with artistic sculptures.[1]

History[edit]

According to Hindu mythology the temple has divine origins. More than 3,500 years ago, Indra the king of the devas built a temple as a symbol of his devotion to Shiva. Other gods added more temples and the religious centre started growing. The local king; Kulashekhara Pandya, also built a temple there. His daughter, Meenakshi, had divine symptoms at birth and she married Shiva later. However, it is also believed the oldest amongst the present structures was possibly built in the 7th century by the Pandya dynasty and later fully developed by the Madurai Nayak dynasty, in the 16th and 17th centuries. This is the temple complex one sees today.[2]

The temple complex[edit]

The Meenakshi temple complex is spread over almost 700,000 square feet of land. It has two principal sanctuaries and numerous shrines of varying sizes. It contains about 30,000 sculptures. The two principal sanctuaries are dedicated to Meenakshi and Sundareshwara. Pilgrims bathe in the Golden Lily Tank before engaging in worshipping. The thousand pillared hall is a huge mandapam.[2]

The Meenakhi Temple is a fine example of Dravidian architecture. It attracts approximately 20,000 people every day. During the 10-day long Tirukalyanam Festival, about a million people visit the temple. It has been declared as the ‘Best Swachh Iconic Place’ (cleanest iconic place) in India.[2][3]

Meenakshi Temple Gallery[edit]

  • Main Gate

    Main Gate

  • Meenakshi Amman West Tower

    Meenakshi Amman West Tower

  • Meenakshi Amman Temple

    Meenakshi Amman Temple

  • Golden Lily Tank

    Golden Lily Tank

  • Eastern Gopuram

    Eastern Gopuram

  • Thousand Pillared Hall

    Thousand Pillared Hall

  • Eastern Gouram

    Eastern Gouram

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple, Madurai - 625001, Madurai District [TM031962]". Thirucoil. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "The Meenakshi Temple at Madurai". by Edward Fosmire. Khan Academy. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "Meenakshi Temple". Cultural India. Retrieved 15 November 2023.

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