Meenakshi temple is the most exquisite example of the dravidian architecture. For instance, the kadamba tree at the madurai meenakshi sundareswarar temple is the sthala vriksham. Madurai is known for meenakshi amman temple, dedicated to the goddess meenakshi with a sanctum for her consort, sundareshwarar. See more ideas about temple, madurai and hindu temple. The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2,500yearold city. It is one of the few temples in tamil nadu to have four entrances facing four directions. Containing two separate sanctuaries one dedicated to sundareswara and the other to his consort, meenakshi, the temple is a massive structure and is enclosed by four walls with four large gopurams.
Dresses like shorts and sleeveless garments for both men and women are not suitable. Meenakshi temple is a historic hindu temple located on the southern bank of the vaigai river. The meenakshi temple at madurai built by the nayak rulers is the most beautiful example of 17th century style of temple architecture. Meenakshis shrine is located to the southwest of sundareswarars shrine. 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. Temple architecture of high standard developed in almost all regions during ancient india. Minakshisundareshvara temple building, madurai, tamil. Meenakshi sundareswarar temple or meenakshi amman temple or tirualavai is a historic hindu temple located in the south side of river vaigai in the temple city of madurai. It is a vast temple of lord shiva and goddess parvati.
The pandyans were also great patrons of architecture, and the famous meenakshi temple in madurai is a testimony to this. Meenakshi temple an architectural marvel in madurai. Meenakshi amman temple, madurai photos, history, timing. It is a master piece and was the center of activity for the promotion of art and culture in madurai. Meenakshi temple, also called meenakshi amman or minakshisundareshwara temple, is a historic hindu temple located in madurai, tamil nadu, india built by viswanatha nayak. Indian temple architecture evolution, type, design layout. I have recently visited the place and was left with extremely rich experience of ancient indian architecture and culture. Meenakshi amman temple madurai, india atlas obscura. Meenakshi temple also referred to as meenakshi amman or meenakshi sundareshwara temple, is a historic hindu temple located on the southern bank of the vaigai river in the temple city of madurai, tamil nadu, india. It literally means wombhouse and is a cave like sanctum. Meenakshi sundareswarar temple or meenakshi amman temple or tirualavai is a historic hindu temple located in.
Please wear appropriate clothing, which covers shoulders and knees. The temple is square shaped and a series of concentric streets with names from tamil months surround the structure. The meenakshi temple complex is one of the largest of its kind in india and undoubtedly one of the oldest. All the informations listed here is purely based on my personal experience of the city and temple. It is the best temple in which both god and goddess are worshipped together. It is dedicated to meenakshi, a form of parvati, and her consort, sundareshwar, a form of shiva. In this post i will talk about sree meenakshi amman temple in madurai city of tamilnadu, india. The unfinished gopuram that is the gate way of the temple complex of madurai is a 16 century element, which stands as an architectural excellence of nayak style. It is the main attraction of the city and pilgrims come to the place in the search of spirituality and peace.
Meenakshi temple is primarily dedicated to parvati, known as meenakshi, and her spouse, shiva. The temple is at the center of the ancient temple city of madurai. Meenakshi amman temple is the holy temple of hindus located in the city of madurai in southern india. Kalyana mandapam renovation project f r p e ayyappa mandala pooja. The temple complex is divided into a number of concentric quadrangular enclosures contained by high masonry walls. The city was laid out, states lewandowski, in the shape of concentric squares and ringroads around them, with. Meenakshi temple, also referred to as meenakshi amman or minakshisundareshwara temple, is a historic hindu temple located on the southern bank of the vaigai river in the temple city of madurai, tamil nadu, india. Built sometime between the year 1623 and 1655, the wonderful architecture of the place is renowned globally. Vedic hindu temple architecture vaastu january 15, 2016 august 8, 20. It is dedicated to parvati who is known as meenakshi and her consort, shiva, named here as sundareswarar. The historic madurai meenakshi amman temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2500 year old city of madurai. Madurai meenakshi temple history, timings, golu, dress code.
Pdf design of pillars of meenakshi amman templea study. The distinct architectural style of temple construction in different parts was a result of geographical, climatic, ethnic, racial, historical and linguistic diversities. Apparently, the city was built around the shiva lingam thats inside its sanctum. Affordable and search from millions of royalty free images, photos and vectors. Meenakshi amman temple is a historic hindu temple located on the southern bank of the vaigai river in the temple city of madurai, tamil nadu, india it is dedicated to parvati, known as meenakshi, and her consort, shiva, here named sundareswarar ancient mythology has it that lord shiva came down in the form of sundareswarar to marry meenakshi, anincarnation of goddess parvati, who descended. Meenakshi amman temple is a historic tamil hindu temple located on the southern bank of the vaigai river in the temple city, madurai, tamil nadu, india.
Madura style or the art and architecture of the nayaks. About madurai meenakshi amman temple according to legend, the sacred suyambulingam discovered by the king of gods indira at kadambavanam, was later enshrined by him in madurai. Architectural layout and beauty of madurai meenakshi temple. The aadi, chittirai and the maasi, and veli streets surround the temple. Kandariya mahadeo temple at khajuraho is the epitome of temple architecture in central india. In architecture, pillar is a part of structure which also have a. Vishnu situated 21 km from the city of madurai, the history of madurai meenakshi amman temple. Among the ten gopurams of the temple, the famed southern tower is the tallest and rises to a height of 170 feet. Thirunavukkarasar 2004, appar tirumurai 6 pdf, online. It is believed that lord shiva assumed the form of sundareswarar the handsome one and married parvati meenakshi at the site where the temple is currently located. The nayaks ruled madurai from the 16th to the 18th century and left a majestic imprint of their rule in the meenakshi sundareswarar temple. Madurai tourism 2020 tamil nadu top places, travel guide.
It has been mentioned in the tamil classics that the temple. One of the most spectacular piece of south indian architecture, with due respect to the vijayanagara and pallava kingdoms, is the brihadeeswara temple in tanjavur. Interesting facts about meenakshi amman temple just fun. Sep 18, 2016 in this post i will talk about sree meenakshi amman temple in madurai city of tamilnadu, india. Meenakshi jain, senior fellow at the indian council of social science research, takes this challenge headon in her latest book flight of deities and rebirth of temples. In the morning, the meenakshi amman temple is open from 5. Anat geva this thesis discusses the phenomenon of natural light that becomes the holy. The madurai temple complex in itself is breathtaking, given the fort like walls pierced with lofty towers, surrounding an area of about 640000 square feet. The meenakshi amman temple is the heart of the ancient city of madurai in tamil nadu, india. Thirugnanasambandar, the famous hindu saint mentions this temple as early as the 7 th century. The temple complex covers 14 acres, and has 4,500 pillars and 14 towers its massive. The lakshmana temple of khajuraho, dedicated to vishnu, was built in 954 by the chandela king, dhanga. The meenakshi temple was designed in 1560 by vishwanatha nayak and built during the reign of tirumalai nayak, but its history goes back 2000 years to the time when madurai was a pandyan capital 7 th10 th centuries.
The astha shakti mandapan can be reached from the eastern gateway. Madurai meenakshi temple history, timings, golu, dress. In a temple there are many deities apart from the main deity. Meenakshi temple meenakshi amman temple, madurai images. Both the gopuram have similar style and architecture, likely built by a collaborating group of same artists. The temple has four entrances which face towards four directions, a feature quite rarely found in the temples of tamil nadu. The meenakshi temple is dedicated to goddess meenakshi, the consort of lord siva.
Madurai meenakshi amman temple history in tamil pdf 21. Madurai meenakshi sundareswarar temple architecture. Get meenakshi temple information like history, architecture, importance with major interesting facts etc. The aadi, chittirai and the maasi, and veli streets surround the temple the towers, or the gopurams for which this temple is known, are visible from a distance. According to susan lewandowski, the nayaka rulers followed the hindu texts on architecture called the shilpa shastras in redesigning the temple city plan and the meenakshi temple. Temple architecture in india ncert notes pdf download.
Meenakshi temple madurai india, ancient hindu architecture. Gopurams of meenakshi temple meenakshi temple is enclosed with gateway towers, also known as gopurams. Achieving an ordered chaos in temple towns of southern india by. Nrasimhavarman i, who took the epithet mamalla meaning great warrior, ruled for about 38 years beginning in 630 c. There are many other ancient temples in madurai, including thiruparankundram. The temple which has five entrances, covers an area 847 feet 254.
In this temple, you should not wear clothes that expose your shoulders or legs. Madurai meenakshi temple by sivakumar thangavelu issuu. One of the highlights at meenakshi temple, which nonhindus can see and you really shouldnt miss, is the night ceremony. Madurai meenakshi temple architecture meenakshi temple is situated in the heart of the city of madurai. Meenakshi amman temple sculpture religion and belief. Every night, an image of lord shiva in the form of sundareswarar is carried out from his shrine by temple priests, in procession in a chariot, to his wife meenakshi s shrine where hell spend the night. Aug 05, 2015 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 fact that the lord is seen on the vehicle of indira in this temple is said to be proof for this. Meenakshi temple madurai history, architecture and. It is one of the important old temples dedicated to lord murugakarthikeya and is located on a hillock approximately 8 km from the city.
Interesting facts about meenakshi amman temple just fun facts. Madurai meenakshi temple has four major gopuras which stands in the four directions. Invitation of theppam festival 2020 mariamman theppam fest 2020 odhuvar training classes. A presentation about meenakshi amman temple located in madurai. If tamil nadu is the seat of south indian temple architecture, the madurai meenakshi amman temple is its crowning glory.
Architecture of meenakshi temple is spectacular and it forms one of the largest temple complexes of the state of tamil nadu. Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions about meenakshi temple. Renowned for its astonishing architecture, meenakshi temple was nominated as one of the wonders of the world, but couldnt make it into the list of seven wonders of the world. Built under the guidance of the nayakars wife rudrapathi ammal and tholimamal, the scenes from meenakhshi ammans life as a princess is depicted on the pillars. The madurai meenakshi amman temple is now under the administration of the hr and ce department of tamil nadu. These three temple are the shore temple built at mahabalipuram by the pallava dynasty 700 ad. A religious and mythological symbol dating back 2,500 years, the temples 14 towers are each covered. It is a nagara temple placed on a high platform accessed by stairs. The temple built in dravidian architecture has four entrances that leads to the meenakshi amman shrine. Looking at it, one has to redefine the normal notions of size.
Meenakshi temple meenakshi temple of madurai, meenakshi. The meenakshi temple is a prime example of dravidian architecturea style of hindu architecture common in the southern states of india. Its stone basement has eight projecting faces with large niches for statuary and is further adorned with delicatelycarved floral and geometrical patterns. The temple, tirumala nayak palace, teppakulam tank an earthen embankment reservoir, and a 1,000pillared hall were rebuilt in the vijayanagar period 16th17th century after the total destruction of the city in 10. Meenakshi amman temple madurai history, architecture. Dravidian style of temples in south india temple architecture in south india has an incredibly long history and continuity of traditions. The book traces the journey of deities and pulls out historical references to outline how temples were built again and again despite being razed by muslim invaders. If the temple gave a small flier of all the images with short descriptions would make it even more enjoyable. Indian temple architecture evolution, type, design. A threestoried gopuram stands at the entrance of the shrine and on the outer sanctum, the golden flagstaff, thirumalai nayakar mandapam, brass images of dwarapalakas, and shrines of vinayaka can be seen.
Meenakshi amman temple madurai history, architecture, timings. The bestlooking buildings in the city are its most famous landmark, the meenakshi sundareswarar temple. The temple structure with its concentric squares and high walled enclosures is a lesson for students of architecture. A study of natural light in hindu temples in the southern region of tamilnadu, india 7 century ad to 17 century ad. Meenakshi amman temple madurai it is a hindu temple located in india. Mamallapuram, also known as mahabalipuram, was an important port town during indias early history and developed as a key center for artistic activity under the patronage of the pallava rulers. A vedic hindu temples architecture is a divine and yogic representation of a human being as shown in the figure. Meenakshi amman temple complex, pandyan architecture and madurai nayak architecture the madurai and tanjavur nayaks made great contributions to architectural style, the main characteristics of the style during this period being the elaborate mandapas of the hundredpillared and thousandpillared types, the high gopurams with stucco statues. Meenakshi amman temple is a historic hindu temple located in the southern bank of river vaigai in the temple city of madurai, tamil nadu, india.
Ancient indian temples are classified in three broad types. The historic meenakshi amman temple is located on the southern bank of the vaigai river, madurai, tamil nadu. The temple is at the center of the ancient temple city of madurai mentioned in the. It is dedicated to parvati, known as meenakshi, and her consort, shiva, here named sundareswarar. The temple was rebuilt by the hindu nayaka dynasty ruler vishwanatha nayak in the 16th and 17th century. Meenakshi amman temple sculpture religion and belief scribd. Apr 22, 2017 the pandyans were also great patrons of architecture, and the famous meenakshi temple in madurai is a testimony to this. Pdf temples are,according to the hindu conception are the abode of wisdom. The meenakshi temple at madurai article khan academy.
Other articles where minakshisundareshvara temple is discussed. Meenakshi temple built by pandya rulers this structure has been constructed in madurai in early 17th century 1623 ad prepared by ar. The most impressive and important of south indias temples, meenakshi temple in madurai dates back as far as 2,500 years. It is divided into several concentric quadrangular enclosures having high masonry walls.
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