Though I was born to a Bengali Hindu family, my parents allowed me to choose my path of faith from an early age. I saw them and their relatives praying to idols and framed calendar arts morning and evening every day. But I decided to take a different path, influenced by science. I followed atheism.
Neither my parents have forced me to believe their faith, nor have I ever tried to make them follow mine. Still, I was fascinated by mythological tales and studied books and stories from Hinduism to Christianity to Norse and Greek. I have enjoyed learning about them, and as an admirer of history and heritage, knowing people and their beliefs is equally important and helpful while exploring sites.
On one of my trips to Tamil Nadu, I decided to visit the ancient city of Madurai for some days. And there I came across one of the most beautiful and intricate temples I have ever seen–Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple. The design of the city centre, the temple architecture, the deep-rooted history it holds, and the friendly locals made me fall in love with Madurai forever. As an atheist, it is rare for me to have such a strong connection to a religious site, but the beauty and significance of this temple made it an exception.
About a kilometre south of the river Vaigai, the majestic Meenakshi temple lies in the heart of the famed temple city. Dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi, a form of Shakti, and Sundaraswarar, a form of Shiva, the temple finds its mention in the mid-6th century Tamil Sangam literature. On getting down at the Madurai railway junction, a road crossing of West Veli Street and a left turn to Town Hall Road, one can get the view of the ornate West Tower of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple, standing high amidst the busy market.
The temple has monuments that are present inside many concentric enclosures. Every layer is fortified with high walls. Four towering gateways in the outer walls allow entry from all directions for devotees. Madurai might have been destroyed around the 14th century. Then, according to Tamil tradition, King Viswanatha Nayaka rebuilt the city and the temple by adhering to the principles of the Shilpa Shastras. The city plan follows a concentric square design. Streets emerging from the temple, as described by early Tamil texts, appear like the petals of a lotus.
The Meenakshi temple complex covers an area of approximately 14 acres. Here, the courtyard appears like a square, with each side measuring almost 800 feet; it is better to describe it as a rectangle, with every side 50 feet longer. Out of the numerous shrines and mandapas, the most prominent ones are the two parallel shrines in the innermost courtyard. One is dedicated to Meenakshi; the other is to Sundaraswarar. Other features of the complex include a golden lotus sacred pool, a thousand-pillared hall choultry, and a kalyana mandapa. Visitors shall also notice small shrines for Hindu deities and scholars from Sangam history. There are religious schools, equipment sheds for holding the chariots used in periodic processions, and gardens. The temple is situated amid a commercial hub and traditional markets.
The Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple in Madurai is a significant religious and cultural site for Hindus. The temple is particularly notable for its celebration of the marriage of Meenakshi and Sundaraswarar, which serves as a symbolic representation of the sumangali concept, or the idea of an “auspicious married woman” who is the chief part of Tamilian life. The temple also holds an annual festive procession called “Meenakshi Thirukalyanam” around April to commemorate this event. Additionally, the temple is significant due to its relationship between the Shaivism and Vaishnavism traditions of Hinduism. Meenakshi, who has a central role in the Shaktism tradition, comes across as a dominant figure in the temple. Overall, the temple honours all three major traditions.
I have never been so excited to visit a temple. During my two-day stay at Madurai, I explored the complex many times, taking a detailed look at each gateway tower, the courtyard, the museum collections, and other gopuras. The colourful sculptures on the towers narrate legendary scenes from Hindu texts. There is an aura in the city, in the vicinity of the temple, and it reflects in its busy streets and markets. Over the centuries, the temple has been a centre of education in culture, literature, art, music, and dance.
When you plan your next trip to Tamil Nadu, make sure to include a visit to Madurai. The city offers much more than just the magnificent temple. Immerse yourself in its rich history, explore the Tamil culture, stroll through charming streets and soak up the aura of Madurai.
(Photo Credits: Kunal Aich – Author)
References:
worldkings.org. https://worldkings.org/news/world-top/top-30-houses-of-worship-with-stunning-architecture-in-the-world-p-23-meenakshi-temple-symbol-of-madurai-city
Featured image : https://www.khanacademy.org/
Kunal Aich
I’m an engineer by profession, a numismatist by hobby, and a history and archaeology enthusiast by passion. I’m currently associated with ILF in different roles of Cultural Researcher, Mapper, and Spark. Also a post-graduate History student of AMU Aligarh, I take much interest in South Indian Archaeology. I spend my leisure time traveling historical places all over India and the number counts to over 300.
