In last article, we covered first part of Shri Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, third temple in Pancha Sabhai temple series. In this article we are covering second part.
About the temple complex and the shrines in it:
The temple has four layered concentric closed courtyards (parikrama). There are two separate shrines for Lord Shiva and Goddess Meenakshi. Each of them has two parikramas, Mahamandap. The shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Meenakshi are surrounded by three enclosures and four minor towers. Goddess Meenakshi holds a green parrot in her right hand. The parrot is supposed to symbolize Andal, a vaishnava saint. Surrounding the sanctum sanctorum we have a mandap known as Kheeli Koonda (Kheeli - parrot, koonda - cage) Mandap or a parrot cage mandap.
The rajagopurams are five tiered. At every entrance to the shrine we have shrines of Vinayaka and Subramanya. As the idol is of Emerald, Goddess Meenakshi is also known as Maragadavalli. The eyes of Goddess Meenakshi are large and beautiful and resemble the fish. Her other names are Pankajavalli, Kalyanasundari, Periyanayaki, Gnanambika.
Lord Sundaresha shrine is at the center of the complex. It also has a gold plated shikhar (tower of sanctum). Lord Shiva shrine has five gopurams which are either 4 or 5 tiers on the outer wall and one 3 tiers at center of the sanctum sanctorum. There four sculptures of Lord Shiva have episodes from various puranas. Inside this complex we have the shrine of Nataraja. This mandap is known as Rajata Sabha (velliy-ambalam i.e. silver sabha). Goddess Meenakshi shrine is to the southwest of Lord Shiva shrine. There is a lingam of Sundareshwarar which is swayambhu. The lingam got the name during the wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar. There is a tall idol of Ganesha outside Sundareshwarar shrine. It is known as Mukkuruni Vinayaka. This deity was found during the 17th century excavation in a nearby temple tank.
Mandaps in temple complex:
1. Kheeli koonda (parrot cage) mandap.
2. Kambatadi: It has a seated Nandi inside it. Various manifestations of Lord Shiva are sculpted and painted. Paintings of Lord Shiva and Kali are found here. A golden dhwajastambha with 32 sections surrounded by various Gods, Durga and Siddhas.
3.Veeravasantraya Mandap - it is very large with huge corridors
4. Kalyana Mandap - It is to the south of Veeravasantraya Mandapam. Here Shiva-Parvati marriage is celebrated during Chitra festival
5. Oonjal Mandap - It is on the western side of the temple
6. Kolu Mandap - It is also on the western side of Meenakshi shrine
7. Noorukal Mandapam (mandap with 100 pillars). It was constructed by Meenakshi Nayakar in 1708. This mandap has all zodiac signs engraved in it. There is a sculpture of Lord Shiva as hunter and Meenakshi as his wife.
8. Muthupillai Mandapam - Also known as eruttu (darkness) mandapam. On the koshta of Lord Shiva shrine, we come across Lord Dakshnimurti, Lingodbhavar and Durga Mandap.
9. Celestial wedding hall. This lies to the south of Veeravasantrayar Mandapam. A golden chariot is kept in this mandap.
10. Mangayarkanni mandap,
11.Servaikarrar mandap,
12. Muthurayar mandap
13. Nagara mandap,
14. Puthu mandap (new hall) was built by Thirumalai Nayakar. It is situated opposite to east rajagopuram. We come across sculptures of 10 famous Nayakars and a lot of other sculptures.
15. Theradi Mandap - it is on the east masi street.
16. Ashtashakti mandap - also known as Ashtamatrika mandap. This houses the 8 forms of Goddess Shakti and are sculptured on the pillars of this mandap. At the entrance of the mandap we have idols of Vallabh Vinayaka and Lord Muruga. This is the first hall at the entrance to Meenakshi shrine.
17. Pancha Pada mandap.
Hall of 1000 pillars. It is near Meenakshi amman temple. It is at the junction of east adi street. According to Puran, once Meenakshi was challenged to a sword fight which she ignored by laughing at him. A dwarf insisted that he could defeat anyone else to fight with him. She asked her army chief to fight with the dwarf which the chief lost. She understood the magical power of the dwarf and challenged him to build a hall with 1000 pillars in a day. If he does that she will build a similar one. Dwarf studied the structure and started building by bringing the rocks from a nearby mountain. By dawn he had built 985 pillars. Meenakshi threw her earring into the sky which covered the sun. When the dwarf got up the time limit was over. As he could not complete 1000 pillars he accepted defeat and burnt himself into ashes. We have only 985 pillars in the hall instead of 1000. This hall houses the sculptures of Rati, Karthikeya, Ganesha, Lord Shiva as a mendicant, number of yalis (mythical lion), a lady playing veena, Nardana Ganapati, and a gypsy leading a monkey.
Musical Pillar: There are five pillars, each carved from a single stone. When struck they produce musical notes, pleasing to the ears (heavenly notes), beyond the north tower. Each pillar has 22 similar pillars with intricate features, sculptures and idols. The entrance of the temple is covered with rectangular rocks. There are certain rocks with lotus flowers carved on them. When tapped they sound hollow. It is believed there are secret passages and cellars connected to these rocks.
Painting of special lingam - This is on the ceiling of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar temple. When we view this from any angle, we find the spout of the lingam towards us.
Goddess Meenakshi is also addressed as Pacchai (green) devi, Maragada valli, Abhiram valli.
There are sixteen main shiva kshetra, out of these Chidambaram, Kashi, Kalahasti and Madurai are considered to be more important. It is believed that one gets salvation by hearing the name of these four kshetras. As Goddess Meenakshi reigns as queen in Madurai, devotees are not allowed to have darshan during the abhishek of God mother. But they are allowed to have darshan after the alankar is completed.
Kshetra Puran:
A Pandya king performed putrakameshthi yadnya as he had no child. At that time Umadevi manifested from the fire and gave him a female child with three breasts. A celestial voice stated that the third breast will fall on its own when the husband of the child comes to his palace. After the death of the king the kingdom was ruled by the princess. Hence it was known as Kanninadu. The princess did Digvijay (i.e. she captured adjoining kingdoms) and reached Kailash. The moment she saw Lord Shiva one of her breasts fell down. The sages, rishis and devas present at Kailash came to know that the princess was none other than Parvati devi. They performed marriage. From that very moment she was known as Meenakshi.
MoorthyNayanar: He is one of the 63 Nayanmars who were born in a trader community. His job was to prepare sandalwood paste in a temple in Madurai. A king from adjoining Karnataka once captured Madurai. He prevented Nayanar from doing his duty. Nayanar used his forearm to grind the sandalwood into sandalwood paste so that he could continue his service to the Lord. Lord Shiva gave darshan to him and stated that he will rule Madurai as a king. The ruling king at that time in Madurai had no son. After his death, according to the tradition an elephant was paraded in the kingdom with a garland in its trunk to choose a king. After moving through the streets of Madurai the elephant chose Nayanar and he became a king. He rules Madurai in the attire of a shiva yogi instead of the usual dress of the king.
Lord Shiva as Siddha: In the parikrama, around Shiva’s shrine, near Durga shrine, Lord Shiva graces as a Siddha. Lord Shiva was once roaming in the streets of Madurai as a siddha purush performing miracles. When the king came to know about this he ordered his guards to present the siddha in his court. But Lord Shiva refused to accede to the orders of the king but instead stated that the King should come to meet him as it was his request. Anticipating the King's arrival, the siddha sat in Yoganishtha near the Durga shrine. The king wanted to test whether he was a true siddha. He asked the siddha to make a stone elephant, that the king was carrying in his hand, to eat sugarcane. Lord Shiva instructed the stone elephant to eat the sugarcane by signaling with his eyes. He also made the elephant pull the pearl necklace worn by the king. The king begged for forgiveness and got a child boon.
Secret of the parrot in Goddess Meenakshi shrine: When Indra came to Madurai to get rid of his sin he found a lot of parrots hovering around the shiva linga known as Chokkanadar reciting Lord Shiva’s name. Immediately he felt that Lord Shiva was present there and he worshiped Lord Shiva (shiva linga) and got rid of his curse. By this act of Indra, the parrots got importance at this place. It is believed that the parrots repeat the prayers of the devotees to Goddess Meenakshi from her hand.
Importance of puja being performed 8 times: It is believed that Goddess Meenakshi manifests 8 times in a day in different forms at this place. She manifests as 1. Mahashodashi 2. Bhuvana 3. Matangi 4. Panchadashakshi 5. Bala 6. Shyamala 7. Shodakshi 8 Meenakshi. Hence she is worshiped 8 times in a day.
Puja is performed eight times in a day with a accompaniment of musical instrument
Important festival is Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar wedding known as Thirukalyanam, held in April
The following is a list of festivals held according to Tamil month
Chithirai - 12 days. First day flag hoisting, 8th day coronation of Meenakshi, 9th day Goddess Meenakshi’s procession, 10th day wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwarar, 11th day chariot festival, 12th day teertha festival, on this day Lord and Goddess go around masi street
Vaikasi - 10 day festival on the moola nakshatra, procession of 63 Nayanmars
Aani - 10 days Oonjal festival, 10th day fruit puja is performed, abhishekam of Nataraja and Shivakami on Uttara nakshatra, procession of pancha sabha Nataraja murti
Adi - 10 days festival known as mulaikottu festival only for devi and she is taken in procession along Adi street accompanied by musical instruments
Avani - 18 days festival. 6 days are devoted for Lord Chandrasekharar and the remaining 12 days for the panchamurti. On the seventh day, the coronation of Sundareshwarar. During these days the 10 miracles performed by Lord Shiva are enacted by Shiva acharya.
Purattasi - Navaratri festival. Kalpa puja and Lakshaarchana are performed daily for Devi. On all the 10 days cultural festivals are held.
Aippasi - Skanda shashthi festival for 6 days. A special festival on the day of Diwali. On Purva Phalguni nakshatra special swinging Meenakshi Amman festival is held
Karthigai - 10 days of light (Deepam) festival. Lord Shiva’s procession is taken in Adi streets. On the day of krittika nakshatra 1 lakh lamps are lit.
Margazhi - 9 days oil anointing ceremony. Procession of Goddess Meenakshi along Chitra street. Arudra darshan festival. Procession of Pancha sabha Nataraja murti along masi street. On ashtami, procession of Lord Shiva and Goddess Meenakshi in a bullock cart. A special festival known as Thiruvempavai festival for 10 days
Thai - float festival for 12 days. Procession of Lord and Goddess Meenakshi along Chitra street.
Masi - Mandala puja for 48 days. 6 days for Vinayaka. 6 days for Karthikeya, 3 days for Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, 6 days for Chandrasekhar. During this period the procession of deity is taken out. Panchamukhi festival will be held for 10 days. Silent festival will be held for 9 days of which 3 days for Chandrasekhar, 3 days for Lord Shiva and 3 days for Chandikeshwar. On the 10th day the flag will be lowered and accounts will be read.
Panguni - summer and spring festival for 9 days. Procession of Lord Shiva and Meenakshi is held along Chitrai street. Uttaram festival.
Religious significance:
Lord Nataraja is enclosed in a huge silver Ambalam (altar) known as Velli Ambalam (silver abode)
Here Nataraja has his right leg raised instead of the usual left leg
Temple timing: 5 to 12.30 , evening 4 to 10 pm
Address: Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Kovil, Madurai 625001, Tamil Nadu
Courtesy: tamil blog
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