Madurai meenakshi temple has four major gopuras which stands in the four directions. The temple has four rajagopurams, there are five towers on top of the sanctum. Meenakshi temple, also referred to as meenakshi amman or minakshisundareshwara temple, is a historic hindu temple located on the southern bank of the vaigai river in the temple city of madurai, tamil nadu, india. History the history of meenakshi temple dates back to the 1st century c. Madurai meenakshi temple by sivakumar thangavelu issuu. 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. The meenakshi temple is the physical center of the city of madurai as well as its economic, mythical, and spiritual heart. Meenakshi amman temple madurai history, architecture. Madurai meenakshi temple architecture meenakshi temple is situated in the heart of the city of madurai. 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. Madurai meenakshi temple history, timings, golu, dress. The temple which has five entrances covers an area 847 feet 254. It is dedicated to parvati who is known as meenakshi and her consort, shiva, named here as sundareswarar.
Madurai meenakshi amman temple history in tamil pdf 21. Pdf the goddess meenakshi and her temple at madurai1. The temple walls, the city streets and finally the city walls were built around the temple in concentric squares. Minakshisundareshvara temple building, madurai, tamil. Built sometime between the year 1623 and 1655, the wonderful architecture of the place is renowned globally. Meenakshi temple madurai india, ancient hindu architecture. The temple complex is divided into a number of concentric quadrangular enclosures contained by high masonary walls.
Though most of the present structure was built between 1623. Madurai is one of the ancient cities of south india with a glorious history. Now the deity is known as sundareswarar, meenakshi sundarar, somasundarar, kalyana sundarar, shanbaga sundarar, attavai shevagan, chockalingam, adiyarku nallan, adhiraveesi, vilayaduvan, abhideka chockar, azhagiya chockar, kadambavana chockar, puzhugu neidhu chockar. Madurai meenakshi temple is considered as the city center of the 2500yearold ancient city. The city of madurai has been constructed in the form of a lotus and is built around the temple. Madurai meenakshi temple guide timings,significance and.
The temple is square shaped and a series of concentric streets with names from tamil months surround the structure. It is famous for its world acclaimed meenakshi sundareswarar temple. A religious and mythological symbol dating back 2,500 years, the temples 14 towers are each covered. The pandya dynasty, with madurai as its capital, was known to the ancient greeks. Dravidian style of temples in south india temple architecture in south india has an incredibly long history and continuity of traditions. Tamil literary works of the first three centuries of the christian era mention about the layout of.
Indra, god of heaven who came to the earth to perform penance for lord siva, reached kadamba forest, the present madurai. The temple is at the center of the ancient temple city of madurai. Meenakshi sundareswarar temple or meenakshi amman temple or tirualavai is a historic hindu temple located in. The goddess meenakshi and her temple at madurai by johanna stuckey 20150802, 3. Please wear appropriate clothing, which covers shoulders and knees.
Madurai tourism 2020 tamil nadu top places, travel guide. Other articles where minakshisundareshvara temple is discussed. Brief history of madurai madurai, one of the oldest cities in southern india, is regarded as the cultural centre of tamil nadu. The meenakshi amman temple is the heart of the ancient city of madurai in tamil nadu, india. The meenakshi temple at madurai article khan academy. We have madurai meenakshi amman kovil timing, madurai meenakshi amman kovil history in tamil or madurai meenakshi amman kovil varalaru in tamil, madurai meenakshi amman kovil thiruvila in tamil. The most impressive and important of south indias temples, meenakshi temple in madurai dates back as far as 2,500 years. Interesting facts about meenakshi amman temple just fun. The meenakshi temple complex is one of the largest of its kind in india and undoubtedly one of the oldest. Ebooks, fantasy, fiction, graphic novels, historical fiction, history, horror. Thamizhanin meenakshi amman temple kku ulla nayakkan mandabam kattiyirukkan thamizhanukku iddhu oru avamana chinnak. Anat geva this thesis discusses the phenomenon of natural light that becomes the holy. But we have to believe that only greek and romans were. The sri meenakshi temple in madurai is the best temple in south india and, as a result, makes it on to everyones list of places to visit in south india.
Ancient records show that the madurai meenakshi temple was the center of the city from which the streets arose and spread in all directions. The meenakshi amman temple is located in center of madurai city. Meenakshi amman temple is a historic tamil hindu temple located on the southern bank of the vaigai river in the temple city, madurai, tamil nadu, india. This temple is dedicated to mother parvati, which is known as meenakshi and shiva, which is known as sundareswarar.
It is the main madurai temple situated in the city centre in east chitrai street with its high gopuras. Madurai meenakshi amman temple simple english wikipedia. The temple is in the center of 2,500yearold city of madurai and is a significant symbol for the tamil people. Dresses like shorts and sleeveless garments for both men and women are not suitable. The temple walls, the city streets and finally the. It is dedicated to lord shiva in the form of sundareswarar or beautiful lord and his consort, goddess parvati in the form of meenakshi. Temple, the fulcrum the meenakshi sundareswarar temple is clearly the geographic and ritual centre of the ancient city of madurai. Madurai meenakshi temple is one of the epitomes of the dravidian style of architecture. The story of the figure of meenakshi is also legendary.
Meenakshi temple also referred to as meenakshi amman or meenakshi sundareshwara 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 amman temple, madurai photos, history, timing. The historic madurai meenakshi amman temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2500 year old city of madurai. Meenakshi temple, also called meenakshi amman or minakshisundareshwara temple, is a historic hindu temple located in madurai, tamil nadu, india built by viswanatha nayak. The temple is the geographic and ritual center of the ancient city of madurai and one of the largest temple complexes in tamil nadu. The temple has a wide range of hindu gods carved on the walls. Madurai meenakshi temples history is as old as the history of the city itself. Explore southern indias vast cultural heritage, from british, french and jewish influences, to.
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. It describes a pandya king, malayadhvaja, who hoped for a son and heir. The goddess meenakshi and her temple at madurai by johanna stuckey 2015 0802, 3. Architectural layout and beauty of madurai meenakshi temple. The presiding lord of this sacred shrine was in the times of yore known as chockanathar, and chockalinga perumal. Meenakshi amman temple madurai history, architecture, timings. Here we have madurai meenakshi temple details in tamil language.
It is dedicated to parvati, known as meenakshi, and her consort, shiva, here named sundareswarar. The very first changes to the structure of the temple were made by nayak king of madurai vishwanatha nayaka in 1560, and was expanded further under the reign of tirumalai nayaka 162355 when a number of complexes were erected in the temple. The lord has been described as alavai iraivan in his songs. Apparently, the city was built around the shiva lingam thats inside its sanctum. Now the deity is known as sundareswarar, meenakshi sundarar, somasundarar, kalyana sundarar, shanbaga sundarar, attavai shevagan, chockalingam, adiyarku nallan, adhiraveesi, vilayaduvan, abhideka chockar, azhagiya chockar, kadambavana chockar, puzhugu. It was considered by foreigners as athens of the south.
This can also be termed as a new beginning of a new era in the history of the temple, when it was almost rebuilt. It is dedicated to meenakshi, a form of parvati, and her consort, sundareshwar, a form of shiva. Brief history of madurai fortune pandiyan hotel madurai. Madurai meenakshi amman temple is one of the masterpieces of dravidian architecture, designed based on the human body. Meenakshi amman temple history the history of madurai dates back thousands of years almost to 6th century b. According to legend, the sacred suyambulingam discovered by the king of gods indira at kadambavanam, was later enshrined by him in. Meenakshi sundareswarar temple or meenakshi amman temple is located in the holy city of madurai, tamil nadu, india.
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, nada brahman, golden lotus pond, ancient traditions. 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 meenakshi sundareswarar temple is clearly the geographic and ritual centre of the ancient city of madurai.
In a major fire at madurais meenakshi temple, over 30. The pandyans were also great patrons of architecture, and the famous meenakshi temple in madurai is a testimony to this. The temple is the first among the six abodes of murugan and is one of the most visited tourist spots in madurai, next only to the meenakshi amman temple. Meenakshi amman temple madurai, india atlas obscura. The historic meenakshi amman temple is located on the southern bank of the vaigai river, madurai, tamil nadu. Vishnu situated 21 km from the city of madurai, the history of madurai meenakshi amman temple. Madurai meenakshi temple history essay on short words. Sri meenakshi temple madurai, india location, facts.
Read this post for interesting facts about meenakshi temple madurai as well as all the important information you will need to plan your visit to this spectacular attraction. Get meenakshi temple information like history, architecture, importance with major interesting facts etc. 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. The meenakshi temple is dedicated to goddess meenakshi, the consort of lord siva. Meenakshi amman temple is a historic hindu temple situated on the south side of the vaigai river of madurai city of tamil nadu state of india. Madurai meenakshi sundareswarar temple architecture. A study of natural light in hindu temples in the southern region of tamilnadu, india 7 century ad to 17 century ad. Instead of such inconsistent ahistorical mythologies, scholars have attempted to determine the history of the temple from inscriptions found in and outside madurai. Madurai is renowned for its meenakshi amman temple which is one the most prominent religious sanctuaries among all hindu shrines. The entire temple occupies around 45 acres, with each side having an entrance of its own. The meenakshi temple is believed to be founded by indra king of devas while he was. Meenakshi amman temple or meenakshi sundareswarar temple is dedicated to lord parvati who is known as meenakshi and shiva who is known as sundareswara.
Meenakshi temple madurai history, architecture and. It is dedicated to goddess meenakshi, and sundareswarar history. There are many other ancient temples in madurai, including thiruparankundram. The fire officials say that the fire started at a toy. 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. Ruled by pandya kings for the longest time in its history, it is called as the lotus city as it was planned and built in the shape of a lotus. Madurai is known for meenakshi amman temple, dedicated to the goddess meenakshi with a sanctum for her consort, sundareshwarar. History of the meenakshi temple meenakshi temple finds mention in a time as old as the 7th century. The temple was restored to its pristine glory in the late 14th century when the hindu kings came back to power in madurai. A major fire broke out at tamil nadus madurai meenakshi amman temple complex last night. The temple complex covers 14 acres, and has 4,500 pillars and 14 towers its massive. Its importance radiates outward from the central shines through madurai to the entire tamilspeaking region in south india, and beyond. Kazimar big mosque is the oldest islamic place of worship in the city.
126 1494 1519 1559 32 638 150 1490 1014 902 672 252 969 410 1445 1206 908 1228 1565 136 490 928 594 1019 1042 610 381 1317 1275 743 776 1342 56