Meenakshi Amman
Temple – Greatness of Temple
Madurai Meenakshi is globally famous. Religious
and political history of Tamilnadu begins from here. Mother Meenakshi
sets an example of fair administration. Lord Shiva is all to all. A
temple worshipped by great saints. This is the sacred land where Lord
Shiva danced changing his legs. Indira and Varuna worshipped here. As
this the first of the 64 Shakti Peetas in the country, all pujas are first
dedicated to Mother Meenakshi and then to Lord Shiva.
This is the place where a heated argument took place in
the court of King Shenbaga Pandiyan about the meaning of a poem, the Lord
defending poet Tharumi and got him the golden purse. This is the place
that respected the freedom of expression through poet Nakkeeranar telling the
Lord face to face that a poetic mistake cannot be justified by showing his eye
on the forehead thus threatening his right.
Madurai is the place where Saivite Saint
Tirugnanasambandar established the glory of Saivism by defeating the Jains
through water and fire tests (Punal Vadam and Aunal Vadam). Lord came to
the rescue of an old lady Vandhi as her coolie to patch the breach in Vaigai
and received the cane blows from King Arimardhana Pandian. The temple is
ever active with some festivals each day with fragrance of divinity filling the
environment. A place of exquisite beauty of sculpture and painting making
the temple a treasure of arts related to divinity.
Praised as Shivarajadhani, capital of Shiva Kingdom, the
city planning of Madurai is unmatched. The temple has five entrances and
14 towers with the South Tower being the tallest. The Thousand Pillared
Mahamandapam is near the north tower. There are five musical
pillars. There are also many statues sounding music. This is the biggest
part of the temple. There are 985 pillars. The idol of Lord
Nataraja is in the centre of the Mandapam. Lord Shiva is a
swayambumurthy.
Of the five Sabhas where Lord performed his cosmic
dance, Madurai Sabha is known as Rajatha (silver) sabha where the Lord changed
the legs. This dance is called Sandhya Thandavam. The 7 feet tall
Mukkuruni Pillayar-Lord Vinayaka was found from the Mariamman
Theppakulam-tank. There are no fish or water creatures in the Pottramarai
tank, due a boon granted to a crane by Lord Shiva.
Multi-purpose information centre: The Department of
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) has established a
Multi-Purpose Information Centre at the temple at a cost of Rs. 5 lakh with a
view to disseminating information on all temples in the state in three
languages for the convenience of north Indian devotees and foreign
tourists. The centre is set up near the Amman Sannidhi entrance on the
eastern side of the temple. There will also be a topographical map, which
would provide the location of all important areas in the temple, near the South
tower entrance.
A person, fluent in Hindi and competent in handling
computers is being recruited to manage the centre. Information on puja
timings of all temples in the state besides logistical details and availability
of accommodation will be made available to the devotees. A touch screen
system providing all information on the Meenakshi temple such as its history,
significance, festivals and important events would be installed.
Silver doors for Palli Arai: The Nattukkottai
Nagarathar Sangam has come forward to install a door made out of pure silver
for the ‘Palli Arai’ of Mother Meenakshi. They bear the entire cost of
the door being made out of 70 kilograms. The Nattukkottai Nagarathar
Sangam is making the door themselves.