Meenakshi Amman
Temple – Social Services
Karunai Illam
Karunai Illam for girls runs by this temple. At present
50 are there. Books and other allied materials, Boarding, lodging, for girls
are provided by this temple. The benevolent temple provides education for those
children. Free dresses and medical facilities for all the inmates are provided
by the temple. A new building has been built for providing free education
shelter and dress to poor and girl children.
Free Marriage Scheme
Free weddings are performed at this temple for the
benefit of indigent Adi Dravidars, Adivasi and backward classes.
Under this scheme the couples undergoing free weddings are gifted new clothes,
Thirumangalyam and other presentation at a cost of Rs.3, 000. 20 guests
are also fed at temple’s cost. On 17.2.2002, grand free weddings were conducted
for 70 couples. On that day, the temple also bore the cost of the wedding of 72
couples in Chennai. So far 175 couples have benefitted from this scheme of free
weddings.
Those availing this benefit should be of
marriageable age and unmarried. Necessary documents should be brought from
Village Administrative Officers and submitted at the office. Application forms
for assistance under this scheme are available at the office of the temple.
Further details could be obtained from the temple office.
Special Entry for Physically Challenged
Persons who are physically / mentally challenged, aged
or terminally ill and who cannot able to walk will be allowed for Darshan
through special entrance at Sanctum. One dependant will be allowed along with
them.
Battery car is in service for physically challenged and
aged persons inside the temple premises at free of cost.
Joint prayers
To seek the blessings of the deities for the quick recovery
of patients at the emergency wards of the Government hospital, Madurai
joint prayers are conducted at 5.30 p.m. on every Fridays. These unique prayers
were inaugurated on 8.11.2001 under the chairmanship of Minister for Hindu
Religious and Charitable Endowment, Hon. P.C. Ramaswami in the presence of the
HR and CE Secretary Mr. P.A. Ramiah IAS and other officials.
On every Friday morning, representatives from the temple
would proceed to the government hospital and get a list of patients under
emergency care, their names, lagna, star and in the evenings in the presence of
City’s dignitaries and doctors from the hospital, stanzas for cure of illnesses
by Oduvar moorthies and then the names of the patients would be read and joint
prayers conducted.
After that archanas would be performed in the name
of patients in the sanctums of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. The
following morning, priests would proceed to the hospital and hand over the `Prasadam’
individually to the patients and they are consoled.
Moreover, patients at other hospitals and homes, who
send their names, stars, lagna and addresses; `Prasadam’ are dispatched by post
after archanas in their names. This joint prayers system had won the
appreciation of people from all over Tamil Nadu which is reflected in the
numerous letters that the temple authorities receive daily.
Services
Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple is involved in
many valuable community services like education, Annadhanam.
Parking Facilities
Parking facility is also available in Ellis Nagar
Parking area near Periyar Bus stand.
Cloak Room
Safety Cloak room facility is also available for the
devotees at all Tower entrances.
Spiritual & Moral Education Classes
As announced by the Hon. Chief Minister of Tamil
Nadu, spiritual and moral education classes are conducted for children every
Sunday from 4.00 p.m. to 5 p.m. More than 35 children are benefitting from
these classes. These classes were inaugurated by the Hon. C. Durairaj, Minister
for Local Administration on 2.3.3.2002.
This scheme was also extended to the Arulmighu Mariamman
temple at Theppakulam from 18.8.2002 on the advice of the Hon. Chief Minister.
There are about 35 children attending these classes.
Other Activities
In order to slake the thirst of devotees coming to the
temple, Reverse Osmosis plant had been set up at the entrance to each
towers and purified drinking water is made available to them.
To enable pilgrims from outside areas and
travellers to stay, two and three bedded rooms and air conditioned rooms are
available at affordable rates at `Birla Vishram’ travellers lodge on behalf of
the temple. This lodge is situated near the entrance to the West Gopuram.
In order to disseminate spiritual knowledge to
devotees a library with 1750 volumes is functioning in South Aadi Street.
On important days discourses are delivered by spiritual
leaders and college professors in the temple and satellite temples to promote
spiritual thinking among the devotees. Saiva religious training classes,
spiritual seminars, religious reawakening classes are conducted every year by
the Temple.
To provide an insight into the importance of the temple,
to understand the concept easily, to learn the history of the temple,
audio and video cassettes as well as a tourist map of the temples of Madurai
district, Thiruvilayadal Puranam, Thiruvadhavoor Thalapuranam, explanation of
Hinduism, Meenakshiammai Pillai Thamizh, Angayarkanni Anupoodhi, The Great
Temple of Madurai, Madurai through Ages and other works and pictures of Swamy
and Amman are available at the temple book stall.
Girls Higher Secondary School
Under the auspices of the Temple administration, a girl’s
higher secondary school called Arulmighu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Girls
Higher Secondary School is being run near Theppakulam, Madurai Since
7.6.1963. There are 1,266 students on roll here with a staff of 46, including
the head mistress and other employees.
The temple is running a mercy home where indigent
students are being provided lodging, food, clothing, text books, notes and
other requirements. At present there are 46 girls in the home.
Free marriages are performed at a cost of Rs.3, 000 for
poor couples with temple funds.
In order to offer archana in Tamil, books for this
purpose obtained from the office of Madurai Joint Commissioner had been
distributed to all priests in the temple and now archana is being conducted in
Tamil.
There are 18 guides authorized by the temple
administration to guide devotees from other States and foreign countries.
On the first day of every Tamil month, special prayers
with abhishegam are offered at the shrine of Sangam poets on the second
corridor of the Swami Sannidhi. Special prayers are also conducted on the birth
star days of the temple Adiyars and 63 Saints.