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search Meenakshi Amman koil Name: Meenakshi Amman koil Creator: Pandya Kings Date built: recent construction around 17th century AD Primary deity: Sundareshwara(Shiva) and Meenakshi(Parvati) Architecture: South Indian, Kovil Location: Madurai The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati located in the holy city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is commonly referred to as the Meenakshi temple. The main deity Sundareswarar means the Beautiful Lord and His divine wife Meenakshi means One who rules the world through her eyesight[citation needed] and Koil means temple in Tamil. The temple forms the heart and lifeline for the 2500 year old city of Madurai[1] that is believed to be the home for the classical language of Tamil language|Tamil. According to the Hindu legends, Lord Shiva with his divine group of followers appeared here in this city of Madurai, to marry the daughter of the Pandya ruler, Meenakshi, who is believed to be a form of Hindu goddess Parvati. This temple is one of the most sacred abodes of Parvathi, others being Kamakshi of Kanchipuram, Akilandeswari of Thiruvanaikaval and Vishalakshi of Varanasi. The temple has a stunning architecture and was a frontrunner in the election for the modern seven wonders of the world for its architectural importance.[2][3][4][5] The complex houses 12 magnificent gopurams or towers that are elaborately scultptured and painted. The temple is a significant symbol for Tamil people, and has been mentioned since antiquity in Tamil literature, though the present structure is believed to have been built only in the early 17th century. Contents [hide] 1 History 1.1 Mythology 1.2 Modern History 2 The temple structure 2.1 Shrines 2.2 The lake Potramarai 2.3 Thousand Pillar Hall 3 Festivals 4 References 5 External links

the form of a small kid in response to the great penance of Malayadwaja Pandya, the ruler of Madurai.[6] After growing up she starts ruleing the city and the Lord appears on earth and proposes to marry her. According to Hindu mythology, the marriage was supposed to be the biggest event on earth, with the whole earth gathering near Madurai. Lord Vishnu the divine brother of Meenakshi was traveling to preside over the marriage from his holy abode at Vaikuntam. Due to a divine play, He was tricked by god Indra and delayed on the way and the in the meanwhile marriage is presided over by a local god Koodal Azhaghar. This angers Lord Vishnu very much and he swears never to enter the city and settles in the outskirts at the beautiful hill of Alagar Koil. He was later convinced by other gods and he proceeded to bless the divine couple Shiva and Parvati. Both the marriage and the Vishnu's passification are still celebrated as the biggest festival in Madurai, name Azhakar Thiruvizha (the festival for the beautiful lord).[7] A detailed article on the divine marriage can be found here. The divine couple are believed to have ruled the region for a long time and it is not clear what happened to the place after they left. Another legend says that the Shiva's deity in the form of Linga was discovered by the god of heaven, Indra who built the original temple. This tradition is still followed in the temple with the deity is accompanied by a model of Indra's vehicle, during festive processions. Meenakshi deity at the temple [edit] Modern History The history of the original structure is not properly known, while the Tamil literature speaks about temple for the last couple of millennia. Thirugnanasambandar, the famous Hindu saint of Shaiva philosophy has mentioned this temple as early as the seventh century and describes the Lord as Aalavai Iraivan.[8] The temple was believed to have been sacked by the infamous Muslim invader Malik Kafur in the 1310[8] and all the ancient elements were destroyed. The initiative to rebuild the structure was taken by Arya Natha Mudaliyar , the Prime Minister of the first Nayak of Madurai (1559-1600 A.D.), the founder of 'Poligar System'. Then came the most valuable contributions of Thirumalai Nayak around the year 1623 to 1659. He took considerable interest in erecting the Vasantha Mandapa of the temple complex.

unusual sculpture of the Hindu god Nataraja. This famous Hindu marquee and a dancing form of Shiva that normally has his left foot raised, has his right foot raised in this temple. According to the legend, this is on the request of the Rajasekara Pandya king who asked the Lord to change His position, as he felt that always keeping a single foot raised will pose enormous stress on that, based on his personal experiments in dancing.[10] This massive Nataraja sculpture is enclosed in a huge silver altar and hence called Velli Ambalam (Silver abode). Outside the Shrine, lies huge scultptures carved of single stone and there is a shrine for a giant Ganesh temple, called the Mukuruny Vinayakar. This idol is believed to have been found during an excavation process to dig the temple lake.[9] The Meenkashi shrine is on the left of the Shiva shrine and is of scultpturally less valuable than the Shiva shrine. [edit] The lake Potramarai Potramarai Kulam, the sacred pond measuring 165 ft * 120 ft,[6] inside the temple is a very holy site for the devotees and people go around the lake before entering the main shrine. The etymology for the word means, the Pond with the Golden Lily and as the Lily that grows in it has a golden color. According to the legend, Lord Shiva promised to a stork that no fish or other marine life would grow here and thus no marine animals are found in the lake.[11] In the Tamil legends, the lake is supposed to be a judge for judging a worth of a new literature. Thus, authors place their works here and the poorly written works are supposed to sunk and the scholastic ones are supposed to float.[12][6]

number of events including the Ther Thiruvizhah(Chariot festival) and Theppa Thiruvizhah (Float festival) are celebrated. Apart from this, major Hindu festivals like Navrathri, Shivrathri are celebrated in a grand manner. Like most Shakti temples in Tamilnadu, the fridays during the Tamil months of Aadi (July 15 - Aug 17) and Thai (Jan 15 to Feb 15) are popularly celebrated with thousands of devotees thronging to the temple. A detailed description of the festivals at this temple can be found here. [edit] References ^ India heritage - Meenakshi temple, Madurai. ^ The top 77 nominees. ^ Meenakshi temple a world wonder?. ^ South India promotes temple as a living wonder. ^ Popular demand: Meenakshi temple in the race for 7 wonders. ^ a b c MAKING OF THE MAGNIFICENT TEMPLE DEDICATED TO MEENAKSHI SUNDERESWARAR. ^ "Madurai - Chitrai festival. ^ a b Official temple site. ^ a b Madurai.com - The meenakshi temple. ^ Velliambalam. ^ Temple theertham. ^ Sanga Thamizh. According to legend, the sacred Suyambulingam discovered by the king of Gods `Indiran' at Kadambavanam, was later enshrined by him in Madurai. The fact that the Lord is seen on the vehicle of `Indira' in this temple is said to be proof for this. Many historical evidences of the temple have been found dating back from early A.D Thirugnanasambandar the Hindu Saint has mentioned the temple in his songs which go back to early 7th century. The lord has been described as `Aalavai Iraivan' in his songs. The temple was almost completely destroyed in the year 1310 following the invasion of the Islamic coqueror Malikkapur. As kings who were followers of Islam were noted for their intolerance towards other religions, the invaders destroyed most of the ancient sculputures of the temple. The temple was restored to its pristine glory in the late 14th century when the Hindu Kings came back to power in Madurai. This can also be termed as a new beginning of a new era in the history of the temple, when it was almost rebuilt. The King Thirumalai Naicker played an important role in the construction of the new form of the temple. The enormous temple complex is dedicated to Shiva, known here as Sundareshvara and his consort Parvati or Meenakshi. The original temple was built by Kulasekara Pandya, but the entire credit for making the temple as splendid as it is today goes to the Nayaks. The Nayaks

[edit] History [edit] Mythology The divine marriage where brother Vishnu hands his sister Parvati to Shiva (from left, Vishnu, Meenkashi, Shiva)According to Hindu legend, the Lord Shiva came down to earth in the form of Sundareswarar to marry the goddess Meenakshi, who is a form of Parvati, Shiva's divine consort. Parvathi had earlier descended to earth in

[edit] Thousand Pillar Hall The Aiyaram Kaal Mandapam or thousand pillar hall is of very high sculptural importance that contains 985 (instead of 1000) magnificiently carved pillars and maintained by the Archaelogical Survey of India. The thousand pillar hall is supposed to have been built by Arya Natha Mudaliyar, the Prime Minister of the first Nayaka of Madurai (1559-1600 A.D.), the founder of 'Poligar System'. An equestrian statue of the Mudaliyar flanks one side of the steps leading to the 'mandapam'. Each pillar is sculptured and is a monument of the Dravidan sculpture. There is a Temple Art Museum in this 1000 pillars hall where you can see icons, photographs, drawings, etc., exhibiting the 1200 years old history. Just outside this mandapam ,towards the west, are the Musical Pillars. Each pillar when stuck, produces a different musical note. The kalyana [edit] The temple structure mandapa, to the south of the pillared hall, The temple is a massive structure is where the marriage of Shiva and Parvati measuring 254 by 237 meters. The temple is celebrated every year during the Chitirai is surrounded by 12 towers the tallest of Festival in mid- April. which, the famous Southern tower, rises to over 170 ft high.[9] [edit] Festivals The most important festival associated Meenakshi Temple Gopuram at dusk with the temple is the Meenakshi [edit] Shrines Thirukalyanam (The divine marriage of The Shiva shrine lies at the centre of the Meenkashi) that is celebrated in April complex, suggesting that the ritual every year. During that one month period, dominance of the goddess developed later. in which most Tamilnadu temples The Shiva shrine also consists of an celebrate their annual festivals, there are a

ruled Madurai from the 16th to the 18th century and left a majestic imprint of their rule in the Meenakshi - Sundareswarar Temple.

The temple complex is within a highwalled enclosure, at the core of which are the two sanctums for meenakshi and Sundareshwara, surrounded by a number of smaller shrines and grand pillared halls. Especially impressive are the 12 gopuras. Their soaring towers rise from solid granite bases, and are covered with stucco figures of dieties, mythical animals and monsters painted in vivid colours. Meenakshi Nayakkar Mandapam This big hall is adjacent to Ashta Shakthi Temple Towers Mandapam, consisting of 110 pillars There are 12 temple towers(Gopurams). carrying the figures of a peculiar animal The outer towers are the landmarks of with a lion's body , and an elephant's head Madurai. They are: called Yalli. East Tower (Nine Storeys). Height 161'3". Potramaraikulam (golden lotus tank) This Gopura has 1011 sudhai figures. This temple tank is an ancient tank where devotees take bath in the holy water. The South Tower (Nine Storeys). Height area around this tank was the meeting 170'6". This Tower has 1511 sudhai place of the TamilSangam - the ancient figures. academy of poets. The history of the sangam goes back to the days when gods West Tower (Nine Storeys). Height dallied with men. This academy judged 163'3". This Tower has 1124 sudhai the worth of any work of literature figures. presented before it by throwing it into the tank. Only those that did not sink were North Tower (Nine Storeys). Height considered worthy of attention. The tank is 160'6". This Tower has lesser figures of surrounded by a pillared corridor. Steps sudhai than other outer towers. lead down to the tank, enabling worshippers to take bathe in it. Gopura Pyramidal gates(gopuras) rise to a height of more than 50m. These towering gateways indicate the entrance to the temple complex at the four cardinal points, while lesser gopuras lead to the sanctums of the main dieties. Oonjal Mandapam The Oonjal (swing) Mandapam and Killikoontu (parrot cage) Mandapam are on the western side of the tank. Every Friday, the golden idols of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar are seated on the swing in the Oonjal Mandapam and hymns are sung as the deities gaily swing to and fro. The Stucco Work parrots in the Kilikoontu Mandapam have The figures of dieties on the tower are been trained to repeat Meenakshi's name. repaired, repainted and ritually But more interesting are the 28 pillars of reconsecrated every 12 years. the mandapam which exhibit some excellent Sculptures of figures from Hindu Ashta Shakthi Mandapam mythology. A visitor who enters the temple through the eastern gateway, first enters this Swami Sundareswarar Shrine Mandapam(Hall). It was built by Lord Sundareswarar (Shiva) the consort of Thirumalai Nayakar's wives Rudrapathi Goddess Meenakshi is to the north of Ammal and Tholimamai. In this hall food Kilikoontu Mandapam . On your way you was once distributed to the devotees who can worship a gigantic idol of Sri Ganesh came from far off places. Next to this hall called Mukkurini Pillaiyar. When the king is the Meenakshi Nayaka Mandapa, a Thirumalai Nayakar excavated a temple spacious columned hall used for shops and tank 3 km from Meenakshi temple he stores. This hall has a votive lamp-holder unearthed this idol of Vinayaka and with 1,008 lamps, which are lit on festive erected the same here. occasions and present a spectacular sight. The sculptures on the pillars here relate In the outer pragaram (corridor outside the some of Lord Shiva's Thiruvilayadals main shrine) there is stump of the (miracles) and also the story of kadamba tree, which is said to be a part of Meenakshi's birth and her life as the the same tree under which Indra princess of Madurai. worshipped Shiva linga. Also in the outer corridor there are the Kadambathadi The story descripted on the stones is as Mandapam and big hall called 'Velli follows: Ambalam'. Here, an idol of Nataraja (Shiva as the Lord of Dance) is seen. Malayadwaja Pandya, a king of Madurai , This idol of Nataraja is covered with silver was childless for a long time. He leaves. Hence this hall is named as Velli performed a number of yagnas (sacrifices Ambalam (Silver Hall).. made before a sacred fire) because he wanted an heir to his throne. On one occasion, a three-year-old girl came out of The Thousand Pillar Mandapam the fire and Malayadwaja adopted her. But It is the 'wonder of the palace'. Actually the girl had three breasts and this worried the number of pillars count to 985 Malayadwaja. However, a divine voice beautifully decorated columns. Each pillar assured him that the third breast would is sculptured and is a monument of the

disappear as soon as she met her consort. The girl grew into a brave and beautiful princess. she won many battles, but eventually lost her heart to Lord Shiva, when she met him on the battle-field in Kailas. As soon as she saw him, her third breast disappeared and she recognized her divine consort, for the princess was none other than Shiva's wife, Parvathi. After ruling over the Pandya kingdom for a while, they settled in the Madurai temple as Meenakshi and Sundareswarar.

Dravidan sculpture. There is a Temple Art Museum in this 1000 pillars hall where you can see icons, photographs, drawings, etc., exhibiting the 1200 years old history. There are so many other smaller and bigger mandapams in the temple.

Mother Annapurneshwari that could satisfy his hunger and Ganga his thirst, when they were summoned for the purpose by Lord Shiva. Sundareshwarar asked the dwarf to place his palms on the ground and directed a flow of water which is said to be the picturesque Vaigai river Just outside this mandapam ,towards the on the banks of which grew the charming west, are the Musical Pillars. Each pillar city of Madurai. when stuck, produces a different musical note. The kalyana mandapa, to the south This wonderful theme has been taken by of the pillared hall, is where the marriage the South Indian artits to create superb of Shiva and Parvati is celebrated every sculpture and paintings. They have found year during the Chitirai Festival in mid- the marriage of Shiva and Parvathi a April. traditional source of inspiration. Sixty four such legends relating to this marriage have been dedicated to the Goddess. The Vasantha Mandapam celebrated poem Tiruvilayadal Puranam This mandapam was built by Thirumalai describes that Sundara Pandya and his Nayakkar. Vasanthosavam - the Spring queen ruled the kingdom as mortal kings. festival-is celebrated in this mandapam in In course of time, they got a son who was Vaikasi (April/May). Its pillars contain named Ugra Pandya, later on to be called elaborate sculptures of Shiva, Meenakshi, as Lord Muruga. After crowning their son scenes from their wedding as well as the to take over the kingdom, they revealed figures of ten of the Nayak Kings and their their real identities as Lord Sundareshwara consorts. This is also called Pudhu and Goddess Meenakshi. Mandapam. Being in the heart of Tamilnadu, Madurai According to a mythological story, the has fostered through centuries, an Pandyan king Malayadhwaja and his essentially Dravidian and Tamil culture. It queen Kanchanamala performed the 'Putra was in Madurai that three successful Tamil Kameshti Yaga' for a child. At the academies, known as Sangams flourished suggestion of Shiva, his eternal consort under the benevolent royal support. Parvathi consented to become the child of Silappadhikaram, one of the early known the pious king. She rose effulgent from the literary compositions of the world, was sacrificial fire as a little girl, with breasts; composed at Madurai by Elango Adigal, a the third of which would disappear when celebrated ascetic and brother of Cheran Shiva set his eyes on her. The girl was Senguttavan, a Cheran king, where named Thadathangai and she was brought Kannagi sought justice for her husband up as a 'princess' under divine instructions. from the Pandyan king. Madurai is famed as one of the five traditional dance halls of Princess Thadathangai succeeded her Shiva where in his aspect as Nataraja, he father to the throne and led armies on is standing on the right foot, while in all successful campaigns of conquest. In her other four halls, he is standing on his left last campaign in North India, she foot. The famous hall ,is known as the challenged Shiva himself at Kailas, but 'Rajatha Sabha' {Silver Hall) or Vasantha when She saw the great Lord, She fell in Mandapam, as contrasted with love with him. The bridegroom followed 'Ponnambalam', the 'Hall of Gold' in her home, married her, took the name Chidambaram. Sundara Pandya and together they ruled Madurai. The most well known of Madurai is the Meenakshi Sundareshwarar twin temple, The legend says that the Lord performed the pivot around which the city has several miracles during his wedding. evolved. The Meenakshi temple complex There was nothing on the side of the is literally a city one of the largest of its bridegroom's party to match the regal kind in India, undoubtedly one of the splendour of the preparations made for his oldest. Various kings have renovated it, marriage; the story goes that on the adding convoluted corridors. It is believed wedding day, much to the astonishment of that most of the temple as it stands today, all, god Sundareshwara, the bridegroom owes its existence largely to the endeavour came only with a dwarf "Gundodhara'. of the Nayaks, who, descending from Meenakshi, with a view to show her Vijayanagar rulers, guided its destiny in husband that she was very rich and the 17th century. Shiva in his incarnation powerful than him, haughtily remarked as Sundareshwarar and his fish-eyed that the grand wedding arrangements spouse, Meenakshi, are enshrined in this would go waste since the bridegroom had twin temple. There are four massive not brought with him a large retinue gateways enclosing these two temples. befitting the occasion. God Facing the shrine of Sundareshwarar is the Sundareshwarar said that it would be lavishly embellished 'Pudu Mandapam', sufficient if they would be able to feed the also known as 'Vasantha.Mandapam'. On dwarf brought with him. To the each of the pillars, is represented Shiva in amazement of all, everything that Madurai his various manifestations. The attractive could produce in shape of things to eat and life-size statues of the ten Nayaka rulers drink was not enough to satisfy appetite of together with their consorts are installed Gundodhara, as the legend relates. here. To the south of the main shrine Gundodhara quickly consumed both dedicated to Shiva, is the temple of cooked and uncooked things and started Goddess Meenakshi. The structure with its asking for more. When there was nothing two concentric enclosures is about half the else left to eat, the dwarf began cry for size of the main shrine. The porch leading water to quench his thirst. All the water in to the temple is called "Ashta Shakti the wells reservoirs of the city had gone in Mandapam' on account of the eight Shakti the same way as the food. It was only Goddesses figured therein.

There are in all eleven towers to this temple, the largest and most beautiful being the one on the southern doorway. Rising to a height of about 70 metres, this impressive 'gopuram' is by far the most ornate and florid of the Dravidian towers. It has nine stories and crowded with grinning gargoyles and gryphons that perch on the ornate curved edges. The surface of the 'gopurams' on the southern door way is covered with plastic figures of deities and semi- divine characters, freely sculptured and drawn from Hindu mythology representing the appearance of a pulsating mass of masonry. With frequent renovations and additions being done down the centuries, there are more than 1,600 sculptured figures. An interesting incident is revealed by the local people which happened during the time of renovation work in 1923 A.D. While depicting the coronation of Meenakshi, the artist out of his own imagination included the figure of Mahatma Gandhi among the figures of audience. Some British officers who noticed it seem to have taken objection to it. It is understood that the figure of Gandhi was altered to depict a sage with a long beard. During the year 1960A.D., some of these figures were completely rebuilt and painted with gorgeous colours at great cost by Nattukottai Chettis. The northern 'gopuram' long known as "Mettai " is no there longer since a courageous Chetty endowed it with the plaster top; still it carried terracotta figures. No one enters or leaves the temple by the eastern tower which has become a taboo since a temple employee flung himself down from its top in the reign of Chokkanatha nayaka as a protest against an unjust levy. Visitors generally enter by the Ashta Lakshmi Mandapam. The entrance to the temple by way of Meenakshi Nayakan Mandapam and also the Pudhu Mandapam is packed with stalls and shops which sell all sorts of things and spoil the dignity and beauty of the structures. At the farther end of the mandapam is a door way surrounded by a brass frame covered with scores of oil lamps lighted daily. The high point of Meenakshi temple is its celebrated " Court of Thousand Pillars ". Built around the year 1560A.D ., it is a great work of structural engineering as well as sculpture and art. Every one of its thousand pillars is subjected to an amazing variety of ornate carvings. the sculptured figures of a nomadic tribe called Kuravi and his wife at the entrance itself are very interesting. There is an eye-catching sculpture of a main carrying a woman on his shoulders . From any point inside the Hall of pillars, it presents a magnificient view. The hall's other statues explore the entire range of human emotions. Some of the sculptures are immense, the stone gleaming with the antic lustre. In the corner is the statue of the fierce Bhadrakali. Small balls of butter are hurled at the deity by the devotees to appease her anger.

The monolith figure of Rati(goddess of love) is a marvellous sculpture. The slightly elongated Pandyan beauty wears large earings. Her arms, neck, waist, bosom and feet are encrusted with swirls over thighs, calf muscles and ankles. She has long hair done in a loose knot. She sits astride a swan. The foot of the flag shaft is guilded with gold and faces the shrine directly. The thousand pillar mandapam is supposed to have been built by Arya Natha Mudaliyar , the Prime Minister of the first Nayaka of Madurai (1559-1600 A.D.) and the founder of 'Poligar System'. An equestrian statue of the Mudaliyar flanks one side of the steps leading to the 'mandapam'. Except the inner shrines, probably no part of the temple is older than the 16th century. The general plan of the sanctuary is typical of the gigantic South Indian temples with vast quadrangular enclosures and lofty 'gopurams' overlooking the central shrine. Round about the temple, outside the higher walls, is a neat garden fenced with iron railings. Even a casual visitor is fascinated by the many paintings and sculptures in this shrine. The ceilings are decorated with large paintings showing Shaivite and Vaishnavite themes. There is a beautiful painting "of the marriage of Sundareswarar with Devi Meenakshi". Another beautiful painting is that of Harihara. In the outer corridor are the most popular musical pillars, five in number, each composed of twenty two slender rods carved out of a single rock of granite, which produce the 'Saptha Swaras' when gently tapped with a wooden rod. There is a spacious 'pushkarini' in front of the Meenakshi shrine called the Golden Lotus Tank or 'Ponthamaraikulam'. Beautifully paved stone steps on all the four sides are set to reach the placid water. The great tower , of the south reflected in the Golden Lily Tank is perhaps the best known view of the Meenakshi Sundareshwarar temple. According to mythology, Indra from Devaloka entered this tank and it was filled with golden Lillies. It is said that the tank was also, used to judge the literary merit of the manuscripts of poets and authors. When placed on the water, the manuscripts would float supported by a plank if its value was considered worthy: otherwise it would sink to the bottom. This testing miraculous plank was called 'Sanga Palkki' (sanga plank) and can still be seen in the temple museum. This tradition amply substantiates the view that Madurai once a centre of learning and erudition. The Pandyan kings were great patrons of arts and letters. One of the first monarchs of the dynasty, Ugra Paruvaludi (128-140 A.D.) is gratefully ,remembered for the patronage he extended to poet Tiruvalluvar. For about ten years after shifting to Madurai, Tirumala Nayaka devoted most of his time in improving defences and fortifications. He built the portions of Meenakshi temple that had been destroyed. He added the Pudumandapam, in front of the main temple. One of the greatest structures of its kind, it took seven

years to complete the master sculptor Sumantimurthi. During this time, Nilakanta Dikshitar, the famous poet was Nayaka's Minister and adviser. The construction of these 'mandapams' resulted in some interesting incidents which are worth mentioning. According to tradition, it is stated that when the chief sculptor was carving out of a pillar a figure of the principal queen of the Nayaka, a small stone piece chipped away from the thigh portion of the figure making an ugly depression. When the matter was reported to Minister Dikshitar, he is said to have asked the sculptor to ignore the damage and proceed further. After the idol was finished, Nayaka came to know the story and suspected the Minister, as his queen really had a similar mole on her thigh. Deciding to punish Dikshitar by blinding his eyes he sent word to him to come to the palace. But the Minister scented the intention of the king and he himself blinded the eyes by applying burning camphor to his eyes. Nayaka rushed to Dikshitar and expressed his remorse and sorrow. Nilakanta Dikshitar is said to have composed a Sanskrit poem of 107 stanzas called 'Anandasagara Sthavanam' in praise of the Goddess and by her grace he got back his vision to the joy of every one. Another incident is equally interesting. Tirumala Nayaka took considerable interest during the erection of the Vasantha Mandapa. According to the story, it is said that Sundaramurthi Achari, the master Architect was so deeply engrossed in creating a relief sculpture of an elephant eating sugarcane. The Nayaka who was standing nearby rolled some betel leaves and arecanuts and handed them over to the sculptor. Without knowing who gave the betel leaves, the sculptor mechanically took them and began chewing without seeing around. After a while, he realised that Nayaka himself gave the betel leaves. Deeply affected by the mistake, he damaged his two fingers which received the betel leaves. Moved by his devotion to his master, Nayaka consoled him and gave him valuable presents. Nayaka's architectural masterpiece was his own palace. Even in its present remnants show, what a marvellous building it should have been when it was completed in April 1636 A.D., when the Nayaka moved into it. The Jesuit Fathers of that time who visited Nayaka in this palace, have said that the new palace built compared well with the ancient monuments of Thebes in ancient Greece. There is a tradition that Chokkanatha Nayaka, his grandson, dismantled portions of the palace and its golden decorations and other ornamental structures and transferred them to Tiruchirapally. The great palace was allowed to be neglected and go to ruin. In 1886 A.D., when Lord Napier was the British Governor of Madras, he ordered to preserve this palace as a historical monument. Some of the wars of Tirumala Nayaka are chronicled in a brilliant Tamil ballad called 'Ramappayam Annanain' and are sung in the rural areas. Tirumala Nayaka has immortalised himself more through his

mighty buildings and monuments than by the victories in war. Many festivals are celebrated in the Meenakshi temple which is known as the 'Temple of feasts'. The numerous festivals celebrated at the shrine almost around the year, represent the ideas and thoughts of the cultured and progressive people of that region in the field of philosophy, religion, science and art Madurai From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. (help, get involved!) This article has been tagged since September 2006. Coordinates: 9.91 N 78.10 E Madurai Madurai State - District(s) Tamil Nadu - Madurai district Coordinates 9.91 N 78.10 E Area - Elevation 109 .0111222 km - 100.58 m Time zone IST (UTC+5:30) Population (2001) - Density 904,665 [1] - app. 51,000/km Mayor Thenmozhi Gopinathan[1] Codes - Postal - Telephone - Vehicle - 6250xx - +91-452 - TN58,TN59 Madurai pronunciation (helpinfo) ( in Tamil; IPA: [mdrj]) is a city[citation needed] and a municipal corporation with a population of more than 1.1 million as per year 2001 Indian Census Records, shows an average of 9% growth in a year then should be about 1.7 million in 2007[citation needed] people. It is situated on the banks of River Vaigai in Madurai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. At the time of the 2001 census it was the third largest city in the state of Tamil Nadu after Chennai and Coimbatore. Madurai boasts of a cultural heritage that goes back 2500 years and has functioned as an important commercial center even as early as 550 AD. Madurai was the capital city of the Pandya kings of South India. Today the city of Madurai is the administrative capital of Madurai district. Contents [hide] 1 History 1.1 Pandyas 1.2 Muslim Rule 1.3 Nayak Rule 1.4 British Rule 2 Administration 3 Geography 4 Demographics 5 People and culture 6 City architecture 7 Transport 8 Education 9 Economy

10 Industrial development 11 Present problems 11.1 Intellectual Exodus 11.2 Lack of initiatives 12 The way ahead 12.1 New Thrust for IT 13 Notes 14 References 15 External links

[edit] History Madurai, one of India's oldest cities, boasts of a history dating back to Sangam period of the pre-Christian era. It was home to the ancient Tamil Sangam (The Academy of Tamil Learning), and hosted the literary conclave that produced the first Tamil epic Silappathikaaram and other literary masterpieces. Megasthenes, the ancient Greek diplomat and envoy to India in 3rd century BC, had written in glowing terms about Madurai in Indica, his much celebrated account on India. Madurai reached its height of glory during the rule of the Cholas, and finally the Pandyas in the 13th century. [edit] Pandyas The Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple, which stands today as one of India's cultural and architectural landmarks, was originally built by the Pandya King Kulasekaran. The ancient city of Madurai was then developed in a Lotus like formation with the temple at the center and streets and main thoroughfares layered one after the other in a concentric fashion. It is important to note that these streets were named after months in the Tamil calendar. For example, the first layer is named after the Tamil month of Aadi and the streets are named North, South, East, and West Aadi Streets. Next to Aadi street is Chithirai street. Legend has it that on the day the city was to be named, Lord Shiva blessed the land and its people while divine nectar showered on the city from his matted locks. The city hence came to be known as "Madhurapuri" meaning "The Land of Divine Nectar". The city has often been referred to as "Athens of the East" thanks to the beautiful architecture of all the ancient monuments and to meticulous urban planning.

[edit] Nayak Rule Vijayanagar rulers appointed Governors known as Nayaks or Nayyakars to administer this newly annexed territory. By 1545 the Nayaks became more autonomous, establishing the Madurai Nayak dynasty ruling up to 1740s. The temple was reopened and the Nayaks, most notably Thirumalai Nayak, contributed much to the rebuilding of the temple that had almost been destroyed during the Muslim rule. The Nayaks made lasting contributions to the city's architecture such as the Raja Gopuram of the Meenakshi Temple, and the Thirumalai Nayak Palace. After the Vijayanagar empire collapsed in 1565, the Nayak dynasty continued to rule Madurai for about two centuries. Rani Mangammal (1689-1704) was other notable ruler who made large contributions to the city's structures. During her reign Shivaji Bhonsle, the great Maratha Ruler, invaded the south; and so did Chikka Deva Raya of Mysore and other Muslim rulers, resulting in chaos and instability all around. Rani Mangammal stood up against these invasions. Though her rule lasted no more than two decades, she will forever be cherished by the people of Madurai for the prudence, determination and courage she exhibited during a particularly troublesome period, with very little support from outside. The kingdom began to break up after her rule as her successors were weak rulers, and invasions of Madurai recommenced. [edit] British Rule Madurai soon started slipping into the hands of the British East India Company. By 1801, the whole of Madurai district, which then was made up of Dindigul, Palani, Kodaikkanal, Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai was brought under the control of British East India Company. Madurai was the birthplace of American academic Vida Dutton Scudder. American missionary Henry Martyn Scudder came to Madurai in 1846.

Service. Mr. T. Udhayachandar is the amusement parks. The city has plenty of current District collector. Movie Halls, numbering about 50. This is a large number for a city of Madurai's size. A recent attraction is the Madurai Bench Recently, many Movie Halls have closed of Madras High Court in Ulaganeri, down due to High ticket rates. Madurai Madurai, the only location outside of once had a rich tradition of Carnatic Chennai to have such a setup. music, boasting of several stalwarts. Singer par excellence, M S Subbulakshmi [3](Madurai Subramaniya Iyer [edit] Geography Subbulakshmi) was born in Madurai and learnt music here until she moved to Flower seller in Madurai marketMadurai Madras. One however does not see much is located at 9.93 N 78.12 E.[3] It has an activity in Carnatic music these days in average elevation of 136 metres (446 feet). Madurai. Madurai is famous for the Jil Jil Jigarthanda, Paruthi Pal, and sugar cane juice. Jigarthanda is a delicious drink made of algae, milk and sugar. Paruthi pal is yet another drink made of cotton seeds, flour of raw rice, coconut and jaggery. There is also a special 'fruit mixture' drink that is sold here, mostly near the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Some of the famous restaurants in Madurai are the Modern Restaurant (since 1956), Arya Bhavan and the latest Madurai Meenakshi Bhavan. The Modern Restaurant is the Population decline:[2] scrumptious chili parotha, which is spicy shredded bits of parotha garnished with Year Population Type Source green chilies, lemon, and cilantro. Another 1991 940,989 census official favorite joint is Murugan Idli Shop that 2001 902,913 census official serves steaming hot idlis and a variety of 2006 905,645 calculation chutneys to go with it. One great distinction about Madurai's road side food The population decline in the last decade joints is that they are available almost all may be accounted for the city's stagnant or the time, including nights. no industrial development. Due to the software boom, educated youngsters of the Madurai is also well known for its fragrant city have no option but to migrate to the Jasmine flowers. Jasmine is known as cities like Chennai and Bangalore for Malli or Malligai in Tamil. Madurai Malli lucrative jobs. Successive state is an important horticultural produce. The governments took no action to develop the buds are transported every day to major city's industry, and even closed some cities in India, like Mumbai. companies like Madura Coats. Recent trends assure the spread of the IT and industrial investments pouring in from the [edit] City architecture public and private sectors targeting the The City of Madurai was originally built highly educated youth. around the Meenakshi temple.[5][6][7] Rectangular streets named after the Tamil Tamil is the lingua franca of Madurai and months of Aadi, Chithirai and Maasi is understood by almost everyone. Tamil surround the temple, symbolizing the spoken in Madurai is relatively pure, and structure of the cosmos. Though there are devoid of influences from other languages. numerous other temples in Madurai, The Sourashtra language is spoken by which is why it is known as the "Temple members of the transmigrant Sourashtra City", the Meenakshi temple's community which maintains a significant architectural splendor outdoes all of them. presence in the city. Other languages such The Temple Complex in itself is as Telugu, Urudu and Hindi are also breathtaking, given the fort-like walls spoken by few migrants in the city. pierced with lofty Gopurams (Towers), English is understood by almost all over an area of 640,000 square feet educated and youngsters. (60,000 m). The gopurams are adorned with figures of Hindu Gods, animals and mythological creatures. Upon entering the [edit] People and culture temple, one gets to view the spectacular Image:Women Madurai.jpg "Potraamaraikkulam", meaning the Farmers in MaduraiThe people of Madurai Golden Lotus Pond, surrounded by are amicable, hospitable, and deeply corridors depicting murals from the respect and value their tradition. They lead "Thiruvilaiyaadal Puraanam". The a relaxed and casual lifestyle, and are not "Ayirangaal Mandapam" (Thousand seen as very ambitious. Though Salwar Pillared Hall) is another exhibit of Kameez, a North-Indian ethnic wear for impressive craftsmanship whose pillars women, has made deep inroads into the feature sculptural work beyond city's populace, only Tradition-lovers comparison. Madurai has many other prefer Thavani or Dhavani, also called as famous temples. Some of them are: Half Saree, and Saree, a traditional Indian Thirupparankundram, Pazhamuthircholai, wear. But in recent days most of them two of the six temple shrines of Lord have started wearing dresses like jeans and Murugan (son of Lord Shiva according to skirts. Tamil beliefs); Azhagarkovil, a prominent Vaishnavaite shrine, Aappudaiyaar temple Maduraiites like to entertain themselves and Koodalazhagar temple. by watching movies and visiting [edit] Demographics As of 2001 India census,GRIndia Madurai had a population of 902,913. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Madurai has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 74%. In Madurai, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. There are 968 fmales per 1,000 males.[4]

Today, Madurai stands on the banks of the river Vaigai. The city is well known for its spiritual hill Thiruparankundram which abodes lord Subramaniya. Apart from this the ancient city is also surrounded by three Meenakshi Amman Temple in Gopuram at small prominent hills which are called the dusk Anaimalai, Pasumalai and Nagamalai Temple gopuram in Madurai from their supposed resemblance to an [edit] Muslim Rule elephant, a cow and a snake respectively. On the death of Maaravaramban Kulasekara Pandyan I in 1308, a succession dispute led to conflict between [edit] Administration his sons, Sundara Pandya and Vira Pandya. Vira Pandya took refuge under Vegetable vendor in MaduraiIn the postthe Delhi Sultanate. In 1311 AD Madurai Independence era, Madurai District, was invaded by Malik Kafur, the general headquartered at Madurai City, was one of of Alauddin Khilji who ruled the Delhi the largest districts of Tamil Nadu. It was Sultanate. Subsequently, the sanctum also the administrative headquarters of the sanctorum of the Meenakshi Temple was neighboring Ramanathapuram District. closed and the main deity was shifted to However, in 1984, the then huge Madurai the Ardhamandapam.[2] Madurai district was bifurcated into Madurai and remained under the control of Muslim Dindigul District for administrative rulers for the next fifty years. However, in convenience. Again, in 1997, it was 1371, the Vijayanagar rulers of Hampi bifurcated into Madurai and Theni raided the city and annexed it to their District. Like all other districts of India, it Kingdom. is administered by a District Collector, a person from the Indian Administrative

Present-day Madurai extends on both sides of the River Vaigai. The parts of the city adjoining the temple in the southern banks of Vaigai are bustling commercial hubs where one can find everything from basic necessities to electronic gadgets. As a result, they are congested and offer little scope for further expansion. However, across the river, is where one would find the chic, modern and young face of Madurai with its relatively spacious roads and structures with plenty of room for expansion and development. The Madurai Collectorate, Madurai District Court, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai Corporation Building, Madurai Race Course, Government Offices, and many schools, colleges and companies are located in the northern part of the city. [edit] Transport Madurai is well connected by air, rail and road. The railway station is one of the busiest in India, with trains from every major city in India,[citation needed] and has computerized reservation counters. Madurai Division has repeatedly got the award for best maintained station in Southern Railway.[8] Madurai has five bus stands, which cater to the needs of the people: Centralized Bus terminus at Maattuthavani (North), Palanganatham (South), Arapalayam (West), Periyar (Central) and Anna Bus stand (East). The major bus stand is at Maattuthavani, from where many buses operate round the clock. Madurai Airport is approximately 13 kilometers from the Madurai Railway station, and currently has connectivity to Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and hyderabad. Jet Airways, Air Deccan, Paramount Airways and Indian Airlines are the major operators.

The city also has its share of Engineering Colleges, Polytechnics, Paramedical and Nursing Colleges. This city boasts one of the oldest and premier Engineering colleges of Tamil Nadu, Thiagarajar College of Engineering (TCE) situated in Thiruparankundram. Other private engineering colleges in Madurai are the Sethu Institute of Technology, K.L.N College Of Engineering situated in Pottapalayam, the Yadava College of Arts & Science in Natham Road, Raja College of Engineering and Technology, Vickram College of Engineerg and PTR College of Engineering, the Kamaraj College of Engineering & Technology situated in Kaligudi (8 km from Virudhunagar). Schools in Madurai include Dolphin Matriculation higher secondary school, Rotary Laharry Mat.hr.sec.school, TVS higher seondary school, S.D.H.Jainvidyalaya, SBOA, Seventh Day Adventist, Mary Ann Matriculation Higher Secondary School, VHN Higher Secondary School, TVS Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Jeevana, Mahatma Montessori Matriculation Higher Secondary School and VMJ Higher Secondary School. Sethupathi Higher Secondary School is over 100 years old, and has alumni spread over the world. Sethupathi HSS also hails the fame of Subramania Bharathi, a famous Tamil poet, who worked as a teacher in this school. There is also the OCPM School, which is over 200 years old.

company, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; BPO sector has already been established in Madurai. SAMTRACK was the first successful BPO company to get established in Madurai way back in 2000.Technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials has also quite recently started operation in this temple city. The State and Union Governments, acknowledging the fact that there has been little industrial development in Madurai district, have adopted a multi-pronged approach to give a much-needed fillip to industrial growth.

[edit] Economy Madurai's economy was chiefly agrarian. Textiles and tourism contribute significantly to the local economy. Madurai is famous for "Sungadi", a finecount, zari-bordered, fabric painted cotton saree. However, in the past few years, overt dependence on monsoons, and international competition and cheaper [edit] Education imports have dented the performance of Madurai is a major center of higher agriculture and textile sectors respectively. learning, and home to some of India's oldest institutions including the Madurai has a thriving flower industry, Thiagarajar College of Arts and Science in Jasmine in particular. "Madurai Malli" Madurai, American and Madura Colleges. Jasmine is well known across tamilnadu The city has a Medical College, Madurai and beyond for its enchanting fragrance. Medical College (MMC) set up in 1954, The cultivation of jasmine is done at the an Agricultural College and a Law foothills of Kodaikanal near Madurai, with College. The Madurai Kamaraj University its red soil which retains water. The situated in Nagamalai Pudukottai, Madurai flowers are in good demand in other parts was set up in 1966 with 18 schools, which of India like Salem, Mumbai, Bangalore, in turn is made up of 72 departments. It Delhi, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, pioneered the concept of Distance Kolkata and Hyderabad. They are also Education throughout India, and its exported to Middle East and Singapore Directorate of Distance Education where they are used in perfumes. currently boasts of a student strength of about 130,000. Several other Arts and Science colleges are present in and around [edit] Industrial development the city, affiliated to the Madurai Kamaraj Madurai has long been a laggard in University. industrial development as compared to other parts of Tamil Nadu and India. The Madurai is also home to Lady Doak only major industries that are in Madurai College, which is located at Chinna are TVS, India,& [Hi-Tech Arai Limited] Chokikulam. Established in 1948, this is manufacturer of automobile and the oldest college for women in south automobile parts; TVS India. The undergraduate, postgraduate Srichakra,manufacturer of tyres and tubes and research college offers degrees in fro two wheelers;Fenner, manufacturer of Sciences, Humanities, Languages, solid woven PVC conveyor belting; Business Management Studies and TAFE, manufacturer of tractors and farm Information Technology. atima College equipments and Madura Coats, which is located near Koodal Nagar is also manufacturer of textiles. Honeywell, a a well known college for women. diversified technology and manufacturing

The Government has set up industrial estates in different parts of the city to push industrial growth in identified key areas, thus building entrepreneurs and creating new jobs. The following industrial estates are currently operational: [edit] The way ahead Madurai has the infrastructure for a city its SIDCO Industrial Estate, K.Pudur size and it does have much room for SIDCO Industrial Estate, Kappalur expansion. Madurai has a very newly Hoisery Estate, Urangaanpatti modernised airport with connectivity to Electrical and Electronics Industrial Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and Estate, Kappalur hyderabad. The city has a robust public Automobile Industrial Estate, Kappalur transportation system, and a very good To reduce unemployment and to promote intra- and inter-state bus and railway equitable growth of small-scale industries systems. The railway station is among the in all areas, District Industries Centers busiest stations in TamilNadu and is the (DIC) were formed through out the highest revenue generator. country. DIC's primary objective is to provide aspiring and budding A sudden importance to Infrastructure has entrepreneurs all necessary assistance. In been well augmented by construction of Madurai, it was formed in 1979. DIC many bridges across the vaigai river to conducts workshops periodically to connect Madurai at various points. There motivate students of Engineering are flyovers that are constructed to Colleges, Polytechnics and Industrial overcome hour long traffic-jams. The Training Institutes and how they can put Golden Quadrilateral and the four lane their entrepreneurial skills to work. DIC highway to madras makes Madurai one of also organizes programs to promote the most well connected cities in india. entrepreneurship among women. Though the old city and the parts adjoining the Meenakshi Temple are very [edit] Present problems congested, the later developed parts of the Slow development until recently. Now on city, across the Vaigai have witnessed course for massive development Unlike planned development. The city's many other historical cities that have been prospective growth corridors are: Melur reduced to small towns, hamlets and ruins Road, Azhagarkovil Road, TPK Road, in the modern age, Madurai still remains a Dindigul Road, Natham Roads, and the "city" and a major regional hub of very recently laid out Ring Road. commerce. However, it is a concerning fact that it has failed to achieve the Madurai is also home to the Aravind Eye progress it should have and its city ranking Care System which is an international eyehas sunk in the past few decades. Not only care hospital, research and training has it failed to attract new domestic and institute that provides quality and foreign investments, but it has also failed affordable eye health care to all, and an to capitalize on its inherent strengths. organisation which develops high-volume, low-cost service models for deployment in India and developing nations. Aravind has [edit] Intellectual Exodus pioneered a system of vertical integration Though there is no dearth of talent in in healthcare by conducting in-house Madurai, thanks to the Engineering and training of doctors and paramedicals, Science colleges in the city, it has not been developing comprehensive hospital design able to retain the pool of qualified standards, and manufacturing intra-ocular professionals. During the years following lenses, pharmaceuticals and sutures for the Information Technology boom that use in cataract surgery. The Aravind eye swept across the country, the city saw an hospital was founded by Padmashree Dr. exodus of professionals to other urban G. Venkataswamy. centers[citation needed], such as Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai, which offered According to a recent task force report them better job prospects. This continues released by the Confederation of Indian to this day. Industries (CII), Madurai district has the potential to become a "manufacturing hub" and can be promoted as a knowledge [edit] Lack of initiatives gateway and tourism corridor of southern Tamil Nadu.

Many squarely blame the state government for limiting industrial development to northern Tamil Nadu, Chennai and its adjacent districts in particular, and cite this as the reason southern Tamil Nadu is industrially underdeveloped. One Tamil political party suggested even bifurcating the state on this grounds. While this claim may not be totally invalid, the main reason Madurai is industrially underdeveloped lies in the fact that there is a definite lack of initiative and poor self-esteem amongst the local populace. The elite and professionals who ought to guide their fellow citizens into the new economy shrug away from their responsibilities, and worse, move to other cities looking for greener pastures and settle down there. But the emergence of the Honeywell's Research Lab tied to the Thigarajar Enginnering College has been instrumental in IT development of the city.

[edit] New Thrust for IT Of late there are many software firms eyeing to establish themselves in the city. Already there are a handful of IT companies that have established themselves incuding few BPO firms, Honeywell IT and R&D operations among them. TCS has built its Disaster Recovery centre here and has future plans to unveil a new development centre here. Syntel has plans to start operations from madurai by the 1st Quarter of 2008. Infosys COO Kris Gopalakrishnan has shown great interests in starting a Development centre here. RR Industries has proposed a Rs. 4,500 crore IT Township in Madurai. The district administration has identified two sites on several acres of land, one near the Madurai Kamaraj University at Nagamalai Pudukottai and the other on the city outskirts, for setting up the muchawaited IT Park. A TIDEL Park has also been signed off and the work for this park is to be started shortly. The Madurai Corporation has identified 29.93 acres of land for establishing the Tidel park in the city. The Tidel park will be an Elcot undertaking. NASSCOM, CII and MADITSSIA have joined hands to conduct the "Madurai.com", a move to showcause Madurai as an ideal IT destination