The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple is the spiritual and physical centre of Madurai. The old city was laid out in concentric streets around it, and its sculpted gopurams — covered with thousands of brightly painted figures — are among the most recognisable sights in India.
Significance
The temple is dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort Sundareswarar, a form of Lord Shiva. In Madurai, the Goddess is the principal deity — devotees traditionally have darshan of Meenakshi first. Her celestial wedding to Sundareswarar is celebrated every year during Chithirai Thiruvizha, when the whole city joins the festivities.
The present temple largely dates from the Nayak period, though the site is far older and is praised in ancient Tamil literature. Highlights include the Porthamarai Kulam (the golden lotus tank) and the Hall of a Thousand Pillars.
Visiting
Meenakshi Amman is the starting point for most pilgrimages in southern Tamil Nadu — including our Madurai temple tour, the Madurai – Rameswaram tour and the Madurai – Rameswaram – Kanyakumari tour.
