2. Meenakshi Amman
Temple
• Meenakshi Sundareswar Temple is dedicated to
Sundareswar (form of Lord Shiva) and Meenakshi (form
of Goddess Parvati). The term "Sundareswar" suggests
"the beautiful lord" and "Meenakshi" means "the fish-
eyed goddess“
• It is an ancient and one amongst the most important
temples of India. Located in the holy city of Madurai in
Tamil Nadu
3. Structure of The Temple
• The temple which has five entrances, covers an area 847 feet (254.1 meters) long and 792
feet (237.6 meters) wide in the North South direction, the circumference of the Adi
Veedhi which is the path within the great walls is 830 feet (249 meters) on the east west
and , measuring 730 feet (219 meters) from North South direction.
• If the devotees bathe in the waters of this pond of Golden Lotus on Amavasya (new
moon) day, the first day of the month, days of eclipse and other auspicious days and
worship the Lord, they will be blessed with all their aspirations for success.
4.
5. Interesting Facts About Meenakshi
Amman Temple
• There are an estimated 33,000 sculptures in the temple
• The annual 10-day Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival is celebrated during April and
May and attracts 1 million visitors
• Meenakshi Temple was on the list of top 30 nominees for the “New Seven Wonders
of the World”
• The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2,500 year old city of Madurai
• The Meenakshi Temple has been mentioned since antiquity in Tamil literature
6. Thousand Pillar Hall
• The mid-16th century Thousand Pillar Hall is in the northeast corner of
the complex and has two rows of pillars carved with images of yali
(mythological beast with body of lion and head of an elephant), commonly
used as the symbol of Nayak power. The 985 exquisitely carved columns
include a lady playing the vina, a dancing Ganesh, and a gypsy leading a
monkey. The hall was built in 1569 byAriyanatha Mudaliar, prime minister
and general of Viswanatha Nayak, the first Nayaka of Madurai (1559–1600),
and blends engineering skill and artistic vision.
7. • At the entrance of the hall is the statue of Ariyanatha Mudaliar seated on a
horse-back, flanking one side of the entrance to the temple. The statue is
periodically garlanded by worshippers. Each pillar in the hall is a carved
monument of the Dravidian sculpture. The more prominent among the
carved figures are those of Rati (wife of Kama), Karthikeya,Ganesha, Shiva
as a wandering mendicant and endless number of yalis (mythical figures of
lions).
8. Specialities About The Temple
• Golden Lotus Pond
Meenakshi Temple has a pond called Golden Lotus Pond, or Porthamarai
Kulam, in its premises. The most unusual thing about this pond is that the
lotus flowers which grow in it are golden in color.
9. • More than 33000 sculptures
The presence of an estimated 33000 sculptures in the temple is an interesting
thing about it. Meenakshi Temple houses the towering sculpture of the
Nataraja, which is enclosed in a massive altar made of silver. The temple has a
large number of pillars in the Hall of Thousand Pillars and each of these pillars
features a carved sculpture.
• Meenakshi Tirukalyanam Festival
Meenakshi Temple hosts the famous Meenakshi Tirukalyanam Festival in the
months of April and May every year. This grand event lasts for 10 days and has
as many as a million people visiting the temple during it.
