In
one of the largest temple complexes in India, from her rambling maze-like
palace the Goddess Meenakshi presides over the ancient city of Madurai-the
Athens of South India. But for older than the city itself is the nucleus of
the temple. Far older than that, the faith that the Meenakshi temple
signifies.
The grandeur of the Meenakshi temple has remained undiminished for the past
two thousand years. This sprawling and awe-inspiring temple complex is not
only a marvel of architecture but also a veritable treasure trove of Indian
culture and civilization. It is also one of the largest temple complexes in
India.
The 'city of virtue' is one of the most ancient heritage sites of India
truly reflective of the cultural ethos of India. Madurai is closely
associated with the literary wealth of Classical and Modern Tamil. The
crowning glory of this historic city is the sprawling Meenakshi
Sundareswarar temple. Four of the 6 major streams of the indigenous system
of beliefs as codified by Sankaracharya (i.e. Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism
and the worship of Skanda) meet in this historic city during festive
occasions when the entire region is transformed into a vast space of
celebration.
The Gopuram !
This magnificent temple complex sprawls over an area of 6 hectares. It also
has 12 gopurams or gateways, ranging in height from 45 to 50 m, the tallest
being the southern one. The southern gateway is beautifully proportioned and
is nine stories high. Like the other gopurams, it is also crowded with the
images
of gods, goddesses, gargoyles, and gryphons. Like the statues of classical
Greece, the people who follow the ancient Dravidian culture of South India
also paint their gods in brilliant colors. Thus, one can experience a myriad
of colors atop these gateways.
Accessibility !
Madurai has daily flights from Madras (Chennai) and four times a week from
Bangalore. It is an important railway junction on the Southern Railway
network. It is connected, through Madras (Chennai), to major centers in
India. It is also connected to the major towns and cities in Tamil Nadu by
bus.
Meenakshi
Temple
