Famous Temples in India

Architecture

Origin of Name - Meenakashi is an avatar of Goddess Parvathi – the consort of Shiva. The name “Minakshi” means fish eyed and is derived from the words “mina” meaning "fish" and “aksi” meaning "eyes". The lady Goddess Meenakshi is the principal deity of the temple and not Sundareswarar (Shiva). As per legend Madurai is the actual place where the wedding of Shiva and Meenakshi took place. The Meenakshi temple complex is one of the largest and certainly one of the most ancient in the world. The temple is facing East direction and built in Dravidian style of architecture.

The temple has four Rajagopurams or majestic towers, there are five towers on top of the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord, three on top of the sanctum sanctorum of the Goddess and two golden towers or gopurams, all which have been exquisitely designed and sculptured. All fourteen towers have been segregated based on the stages they are,

Nine tier gopurams – four

Seven tier Chittirai gopuram – one

Five tier gopurams – five

Three tier gopurams – two

Golden gopurams – two

RAJA GOPURAMS - (NINE TIER GOPURAMS)

1. EAST RAJA GOPURAM -

• This twer waso constructed by Maravarman Sundarapandian the Pandian king (1216 - 1238). 
• The tower is 153.3 feet in height, and the base measurers 111.3 feet by 65.6 feet.
• This bears 1011 episodes from puranams sculptured on it.
• The tower on top of the sanctum sanctorm of the God (east).

2. SOUTH RAJA GOPURAM -

• It was constructed in the year 1559 by Siramalai Sevanthi Murthy Chetti.
• It is the tallest of the temple towers measuring 160.9 feet in height, with a base area of 108 feet by 67 feet.
• 1511 mythological figures are seen on it.

3. NORTH RAJA GOPURAM -

• Construction of this tower was started by Krishna Veerappanaicker (1564 - 1572) and completed by the family of Amaravathi Pudur Vayinagaram Nagappa Chetti in 1878.
• This gopuram remaied unfinished for a number of years and was therefore called Mottai gopuram meaning a tower without a roof.
• This is 152 feet in height and the length of the base is 111.6 feet with a width of 66.6 feet.
• This houses 404 carvings depicting mythological stories.

4. THE WEST RAJA GOPURAM -

• This was constructed by King Parakrama Pandian during his reign between 1315 and 1347.
• This has a height of 154.6 feet with a base length of 101 feet and a width of 63.6 feet.
• This tower houses 1124 sculptures of mythological importance.

THE TOWERS OF SWAMI SHRINE - There are five towers above the sanctum of the Lord.

1. Swami shrine gopuram (three tiers) -

• Built by King Kulasekarapandian (1168 – 1175).
• Of all the towers of the temple,this is the most ancient.
• This is situated at the entrance to the Swami Sannidhi near the Lords flag staff mandapam.

2. Gopura Nayaka Gopuram, also called Swami Sannidhi gopuram (five tiers) -

• It was constructed by a person named Vasuvappan in 1372.
• It is situated between the flag post of the Swami Sannidhi and the Thirukalyana Mandapam or marriage hall.
• Standing 66 feet tall, it has a base area of 42 feet x 33 feet.
• It has 280 mythological figures on it.

3. The Mukkuruni Vinayagar gopuram or Nadukkattu gopuram or Idaikattu gopuram (five tier) -

• It was constructed by Siramalai Sevanthi Murthy Chetti in 1559.
• It is situated opposite to the shrine of the Mukkuruni vinayagar which is situated in the passage that leads from the Amman sannithi to the Swami Sannithi.
• It is 69 feet in height with a base area of 44 feet x 33 feet.
• 112 mythological figures are sculptured on it.

4. Wooden gopuram (timber) or the Swami Sannithi west gopuram -

• It was constructed by Mallappan in the year 1374.
• It is situated in west end of the second corridor of the swami sannithi.
• It is 72 feet in height with a base area of 48 feet x 31 feet.
• 340 mythological figures are seen on it.

5. Sinnamottai gopuram (small roofless gopuram) or Swami Sannithi North Gopuram (five tiers) -

• It was constructed by Sevanthivellappa Chetti in 1560.
• This tower is also situated on top the second corridor of the Swami Sannithi on the north side near the Kalyanasundareswarar Sannithi.
• There are 184 sculptures on it.

AMMAN SANNITHI GOPURAMS - There are five towers above the sanctum of the lord.

1. Amman sannithi gopuram (three-tier) -

• It was constructed by Anandathandava Nambi between 1227 and 1228.
• It is seen on top of the entrance of the Amman Sannithi at the west end of the Killikoondu mandapam.

2. Kadahagopuram or Amman Sannithi West gopuram -

• This was constructed in the year 1570 by a person called Veerathummasi.
• It is seen on top of the first corridor surrounding the Amman sannithi in the west end.
• It is about 64.6 feet tall, with a base area of 50 feet x 28.6 feet.
• There are 228 mythological figures on it.

3. Chittira gopuram or Amman Sannithi gopuram -

• It was constructed by Kallathiappan Mudaliar in the year 1569.
• It is situated inbetween the Meenakshi Naicker mandapam and the Muthupillai mandapam in the Amman sannithi. 
• As it contains 730 aesthetic sculptures of exquisite refinement it is also called the Chittira gopuram.
• It 177 feet in height and has a base area of 78 feet x 38 feet.

Both the Meenakshi and Sundareswarar shrines have gold plated Vimanam (tower over sanctum). There are about 44 stone inscriptions on the walls of the corridors of the Sundareswarar shrine and that of Meenakshi Amma shrine.

Asta Shakti Mandapam (hall) - Built by Thirumalai Nayakar's wives Rudrapathi Ammal and Tholimamai. The another mandapa is Meenakshi Nayaka mandapa, a spacious columned hall used for shops and stores. This hall has a dedicated lamp-holder with 1,008 lamps, which are lit and decorated on festive occasions.

Sangili Mandapam - Killikoondu (parrat cage) it is seen on the Western side of the Pottramarai Kulam and was constructed by Abisheka Pandaram in 1623. Since this mandapam has sculptures of Yalis or dragon like forms it is also called Yali mandapam. Another name for it is sangili mandapam. There are aesthetic sculptures of the Pandavas and Dharupathy and also the drawings of the scenes from Thiruvilayadal. The Sithivinayagar shrine and Kumar shrine of the temple are situated here.

Kolu Mandapam - This mandapam which situated in the second corridor of the Amman Sannithi at the Western side. It was constructed by Krishna Veerappa Naicker (1564-1572). The Kolu (rows of idols and toys) is kept here during the Navarathiri festival.

Arukal mandapam - It was constructed by Mavali Vanathiar in 1452 and is situated opposite the Meenakshi Amman sanctum sanctorum. It was here that the anthology Meenakshi Pillai Tamil composed by Kumaragurubarar was presented for the first time. The Pattabishekam (crowning) Goddess Meenakshi takes place here during the Chittirai festival.

Velliambala Mandapam(literally silver stage hall) - This mandapam in the forecourt of the Swami Sannidhi was built by Krishna Veerappa Nayakkar (1564-1672). The idol of Lord Shiva in the posture of dancing, changing his legs is carved here in bronze and stone. This is one of the five sabhas (stages) in Tamilnadu and is called Rasatha sabha.

The mandapam of 63 saints - This mandapam built in 1569 by one Ariyanatha Mudaliyar is situated in the front corridor of the Swami sannidhi in the south row. This mandapam houses the sacred icon of Shekkizhar Swamigal and 63 Nayanmars.

Vanniyadi Nadarajar Mandapam - This mandapam situated between the shrines of Maha Lakshmi and Bairavar to the North of the first corridor of Swami Sannidhi and is the venue of Rathna Sabha of Lord Shiva. This was built in the year 1563 by Sellaponmanickam.

Pechchiyakkal mandapam - This mandapam situated opposite the sanctum of the swamy to the East of the celestial wedding hall has 28 pillars. This mandapam was built by Pechchiyakkal, a woman vendor of curd in 1659 and was constructed by Pittu Chokku Pandaram.

The sculpture of Nandi Nandapam - The small mandapam housing the statue of Nandi, opposite the flag post of the temple, facing the shrine was carved out of a single rock. It was built by Kambavarayar.

The Vasantha mandapam for celebrating vasanthorsavam (spring festival) and Kilikoondu Mandapam (corridor of parrots) - Thirumalai Nayak. The corridors of the temple tank and Meenatchi Nayakar Mandapam were built by Rani Mangammal.

The thousand pillar mandapam is regared as the 'wonder of the palace'. There are around 985 beautifully decorated columns. Each pillar is beautifully sculptured and presents the glory of the Dravidan sculpture. There are five musical stone pillars in the temple. One who knows musical notes can play on them with stones. A single pillar is separated in to columns or smaller tender pillars. When they are tapped or struck with stones they emit different musical notes like musical instruments.

The sacred temple tank Porthamarai Kulam (“Pond with the golden lotus”) also know as Adhi theertham, is 50 Meters by 37 Meters in size. According to legend, Shiva promised a stork that no fish or other marine life would grow here and thus no marine animals are found in the tank. The huge Golden Lotus in the pond is said to have bloomed for Indra as a wish from Shiva. Temple walls and pillars stone is granite marble conglomerate slate limestone and the idol of the goddess is carved in emerald hued stone.