| Address: | Madurai Main, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625001 |
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| How to go: | It is good to reach out Madurai junction by rail. From station itself one can hire auto to visit all the places mentioned. https://maps.app.goo.gl/ucTwhW8iRxcshzmQ7 |
| Pros: | Communication throughout the city, mobile network, road condition, market availability |
| Cons: | Nothing such as a traveller. |
| What to visit ? | |
| Company: | Family, friends, solo |
| Minimum day/time to visit: | 2 days full (Including all nearby spot) |
| Locality: | City |
| Expenses: | 2000 rs max for solo traveller to visit this 5 temples |
| More Information: | Meenakshi Amma temple is one of the most famous temples in India due to its rich architectural and mythological value. The temple tells the story about the epic marriage of Lord Shiva as Sundareswarar Swamy and Parvati Mata as Meenakshi Amma. People now a days visit Madurai for one of the main reasons to visit Meenakshi Amma temple. Along with this, there are few others temples in the city which should not be missed out once you visit Madurai. Apart from that in this section I will talk about some famous food items which you must try once you visit this historic city. History behind forming the temple There are two mythological stories found in Purana related to Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. One is related to resolving sin of Devraj Indra and another story is Sundareswarar Meenakshi marriage. Hindu religion believes in Karma and afterlife. Devatas could not even get rig of that. Here comes the first story where main character was Devraj Indra. In Mahabharata there was a demon whose name was Vritrasura who was a brahmin. Vritra made the world frightened by his activities. Devraj Indra fought and killed Vritrasura by his vajra. This incident wrote karma for him and he was trapped by sin which made him restless and cursed. He tried to resolve it many times but in vain. One day as a human he was walking into a forest, where under a Kadamba tree he found a beautiful Shiva Linga. There was a pond of golden Lotus beside that tree. He went there to cleanse the Shiva Linga and offered that golden Lotus to him. That’s how he resolved his sin. The golden Lotus is still present in that pond even though it is said that later it was renovated by Pandya king. The temple first came in to being 3500 years ago and was mostly expanded during the regime of Thirumalai Nayak in 16th century. Before that the “Five Pandya” flourished from 12th to 14th century since when this myth began. This story is about the marriage of Lord Shiva as Sundareshwara and Mata Parvati as Meenakshi Amman. Pandya king Malayadhvaja Pandya and his wife Kaanchanamaalai did not have child for long. So, they used to perform a yaga named Puthra Kaameshti Yagam. One day during yaga they were blessed with 3 years of female child appeared from the fire of yaga. This child had three breasts in her body which distressed Pandya king Malayadhvaja and his wife Kaanchanamaalai. Also, they were prayed for a son who could continue the affairs of kingdom. So, they broke into tears and ask the reason to the god. A voice came from heaven told this is not an ordinary child, nurture her with love, make her queen of this dynasty. One day will come when she will meet her suitor here 3rd breasts will automatically disappear. The Pandya family kept her name Thadaathagai and crowned her in the right time. She started ruling Madurai. She was a very strong worrier, She wanted to conquer the world. So She started journey towards Kailash to defeat Lord Shiva with her troops and that was her final target. Nandi informed Lord Shiva about this. Hence he started preparing to face Thadaathagai. When she met Lord Shiva, She became shy and her 3rd breast fall down and that reminds her the voice from the heaven when she was born. And that could happen only when someone attach to Lord Shiva releasing her panchatatta. After that Lord Shiva came to Madurai as Someswara Swamy and married Thadaathagai whi was none other than Meenakshi amman another form of Mata Parvati. This auspicious marriage was happened woth the presence of Brahma, Lord Vishnu and all other Dev devi and sages. The master of ceremonies, the purohit, was Brahmadeva, who performed the marriage rituals and the yaga. Meenakshi's brother Lord Vishnu poured the ceremonial water to solemnise the marriage and this was celebrated with the blessing of all assembled and to the happiness of all the three worlds. Today we celebrate this marriage yearly with the name of Chithirai Thiruvizha festival which is celebrated in April. Inside the temple beside the pond you will get to see the famous paining of the entire marriage painted with natural colour. |
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