rajimurali

The four towered koodal -Thiruvilayadal -19

2020-05-28T11:02:00.002+05:30

The Four Towered Koodal (Thiruvilayadal -19)

Varunan was furious that his attempt had failed,he called the seven clouds and commanded them to suck all the water and pour them on Madurai with thunder.

As the thunder clouds roared the gems on the head of Adhiseshan spilled ;the four elephants which guarded the direction trembled ;rain drops fell in the size of pumpkin ;darknes enguifed the earth.

Abisheka Pandian went to the temple and appealed to the lord .Lord Shiva sent four clouds from his braided crest to surround Madurai and cover it protectively to ward off the seven destructive clouds .They became the four towers of Madurai.

Varuna was ashamed of his powerlessness and went to the tank of the golden lotus.Then his stomach ailment subsided.

After dipping into the tank he worshipped the Lord thanking him for curing his ailment .He also wanted to be cured of the ailment of cycle of birth due to karma and impurities .

Because of the four clouds from Lord Shiva's crest becoming towers Madurai was known as 'Nan Mada Koodal'.

Thiruvilayadal 18. Varuna's Ocean Dries Up

2020-03-16T19:38:00.000+05:30

Thiruvilayadal 18. Varuna's Ocean Dries Up

Abisheka Pandian started special worship in the month of Chitirai,when the moon transited the star Chitirai.Because of this worship ,the usual worship of Devendran was delayed .He was depressed at this .Varuna ,who was suffering from unbearable stomach ailment asked if the Shivalingam had the power to cure his ailment .

Even the agony of rebirths cycle which could not be cured by Brahma and Vishnu could be cured by Lord Shiva ;then why should he doubt the Lords power to cure his ailments? He may test the Lord miraculous powers.To provoke the Lord to cure his stomach ailment he commaned the sea to destroy Madurai completely .The sea rose in fury as though the world was at an end .People went to Abisheka Pandian seeking safety.As they appealed to the Lord ,the Lord Shiva sent four clouds from his crest to suck the seas; the sea was completely drained .Then all the people thankfully rejoiced and worshipped the Lord.

Tiruvilayadal 17. The Selling of Rubies

2020-03-16T17:39:00.000+05:30

Thiruvilayadal 17. The Selling of Rubies

Veerapandian's concubines bore him many wicked children .After a long time ,his wife bore him a child .On his hunting expedition ,the king was killed by a tiger.And the children of the concubines swindled the wealth and hid them.

To make a crown for the son of Veerapandian ,there were not enough gems for the crown .So they appealed to Lord Somasundara.When the young prince was taken to the temple ,the Lord appeared in the guise of gem merchant.

He spread a black cloth and placed a red ruby in the middle and eight other gems on the eight direction;then facing north he worshipped and gave them to the prince ,asking them to name the prince ,Abisheka pandian and disappeared.

Then they realized that it was the Lord Himself who came to them .They praised him worshipfully .Soon the stolen and hidden treasures were restored.

Thiruvilayadal -16 Meaning of He Vedas

2020-03-08T10:30:00.002+05:30

Thiruvilayadal-16 .Meaning of He Vedas

During the Kreta Yuga ,the Pranavas sprang from the voice of Shiva;The Vedas sprang from pranava ,Sages like Kanva and Kakkar in the Naimisa forest were despaired about the meaning of the Vedas .Sage Arabattar guided them to go to Lord Somasundara of Madurai on the south of the temple seated as Dhakshina murthy .He alone knew the substance of the vedas.

All the sages reached Madurai and worshipped Dhakshinamurthy who appeared like a youth of 16.He removed their doubts and explained the meaning of the vedas .He took the sages to the sivalingam and said that that form was the meaning of Vedas .Vedas were not different from Sivalingam .Then he expounded the origin of Pranavam ,the vedas and the Agamas,Gnana kandam ,Karma kandam,Vaithegam,Vaithega saivam.He then stroked their spines with his hand and disappeared into the Sivalinga.

Thiruvilayadal -15 The Meru beaten with Chendu (weapon)

2020-03-08T10:16:00.000+05:30

Thiruvilayadal -15. The Meru beaten with chendu

Ugrakumar Pandian was performing Monday austerities (somavara) regularly and as instructed by Sage Agasthiyar and his wife Kanthimathi bore him a child ,Veerapandian .Again because of improper planetary movements ,famine resulted and the people suffered greatly.

Lord Somasundarar appeared in Pandian's dream and said that it was not possible to get the rains now .So ,he must go to the cave in Maha meru which contain inexhaustible wealth .He had to tame the arrogance of Meru by beating it with a Chendu.

Waking up,Ugrapandian accordingly with the four branches of his army challenged Meru.Meru was

lethargic .So he beat the Meru with the chendu .Meru trembled and its temples exploded .The Meru with eight shoulders and four heads and white umbrella bowed down to the Pandian.He said to the Pandian that he used to worship Lord Somasundara and Goddess Meenakshi regularly .But because of his attachment to a woman ,he went late to worship .So he was punished with chendu .How he would requite Pandian for having removed his sins by beating him with chendu.

Ugrapandian told him that he had come for gold .He showed a golden chamber under the shade of a mango tree and asked him to take as much as he wanted .Ugrapandian took a great lot of gold and returned to Madurai.On his return ,the kings of madhyam,viradam.manavam,telungam met him and lavishly honoured him and entertained him.

With the wealth gained ,Pandian helped restore happiness to his people .Soon planetary movements were orderly .Rains blessed the lands which became prosperous .Then Ugrapandian crowned his son veerapandian and attained to the feet of God.

Thiruvilayadal-14. The wheel thrown at Indra's head

2020-03-03T17:23:00.000+05:30

The wheel thrown at Indra's head (Thiruvilayadal-14)

During the reign of Ugrakumar ,the planetary movements were not in proper order.So rains failed .In all the three Tamil lands people suffered from famine.The three kings reported this famine to sage Agasthiyar.He explained why it won't rain for twelve years ;as the sun was ahead of Mars and Venus behind it.They were asked to meet Indra .But how to reach Indra ?They had to perform fastingon Mondays and get the blessings of Lord Shiva .He gave them the details of performing austerities correctly.

The three kings went to the golden lotus tank at Madurai,bathed in it and worshipped Lord Somasundara and performed the austerities .They earned the boon of travelling through the sky.To receive them Indra prepared three thrones for them .Chera and Chola rested on the thrones alloted to them;but Pandian sat on the throne of equal status to Indra who felt upset .Indra gifted the other two kings generously .He then tried to make Pandian feel insulted .He offered the Pandian a very heavy pearl garland .Pandian wore it lightly without any strain .Surprised at this,Indra praised him as ''garland -bearing Pandian ''.Ugrakumar returned to Madurai.

By Indra's arrangement only the lands of Chera and Chola received rains.And the land of Pandian was deprived of rains.While hunting near 'Pothigai',Pandian saw the four rain clouds 'Putkala varthagam,angarittam,Dronam,Kalamugi'gracing on Podigai.The Pandian captured them and imprisoned them.

Because of this ,the Pandian and Indra were at war with each other .The Pandian threw the wheel at Indra's head ,who could not fight anymore ;so he sent a message of peace saying ,if the clouds were released ,he would bless the land with rains.At first ,Pandian did not trust him;but on receiving a hostage ,he released the clouds.As promised ,Indra arranged for rains,three time a month .And the land prospered.

Thiruvilayadal-13 .Drying up of the sea by the spear

2020-03-03T16:44:00.000+05:30

Drying up of the sea by the spear (Thiruvilayadal-13)

Ugrakumar ruled in accordance with the Royal dharma.He performed 90 aswametha yagas .Indra was jealous of him and asked Varuna to destroy the fertility of the land .''you will become the ocean that destroys the seven worlds at the end of time,and destroy Madurai''.Varuna decided to obey.Accordingly Varuna rose in fury at mid-night .But Lord Shiva appeared in the dream of Ugrakumar as a siddha and asked him to dry-up the furious sea by throwing his spear at it.

Ugrakumar woke up and carried out the command .And the ocean reduced itself to ankle deep level.Then Lord Shiva and Uma appeared on the bull in the sky on the bull mount and blessed him. Ugrakumar sang and worshipped him.

Ugrakumar receives the spear,the wheel and the chendu (weapon)Thiruvilayadal-12

2020-02-26T11:30:00.000+05:30

Ugrakumar receives the spear,the wheel and the chendu(weapon)

Soundara Pandian desired that Kanthimathi,daughter of Somasekaran of Manavoor should be married to Ugrakumar.That night the Lord appeared in the dream of Soma sekaran and asked him to take his daughter to Madurai and give her in marriage to Ugrakumar.

Somasekaran wa mightily pleased when pandian arrived at Manavoor .He welcomed him graciously .The marriage took place on an auspicious day as fixed by the wise.The couple lived a virtuous life.

One day,Soundara Pandian told Ugrakumar that Indra and Varuna are his enemies .And Meru was arrogant.He gave his son a wheel to shatter the head of Indra ,a Spear to dry up the seas and the chendu to beat the arrogance out of Meru .Then Ugrakumar was enthroned ;Soundara Pandian and Thadathagai then settled into the temple.

Ugrapandian's Birth (Thiruvilayadal-11)

2020-02-22T18:17:00.000+05:30

Ugrapandian's Birth (Thiruvilayadal-11)

Thadathagai desired that she should have a son to carry on the Royal line .Lord shiva made murugan ,who appeared from his third eye ,to be born to Thadathagai.Accordingly ,she became pregnant and had a child born to her .On a Monday,falling on Thiruvathirai asterism.

The child was named Ugrakumar .As he grew ,he distinguised himself in all the branches of learning with rare qualities and great prowess.He would one day bring the world under one rule,said the wise ones.Soundara Pandian wanted to get him married and then perform the coronation .On this he consulted his ministers.

Malayathuvasan recalled (Thiruvilayadal-10)

2020-02-22T18:02:00.003+05:30

Malayathuvasan recalled (Thiruvilayadal-10)

Lord Shiva as Soundara Pandian and Thadathagai with Kanchanamalai arrived at the tank.The priest there said it would be proper to bathe holding either the husband's hand ,the son's hand or the tail of a calf .Immediately ,Soundara Pandian contemplated on Malayathuvasan who was with Indra ;he appeared before Kanchanamala.Happily she took his hand and dipped into the water ,when they both went up to Shiva-loga in a celestial vehicle.

Beckoning the seven seas -9 (Sivan Thiruvilayadal -9)

2020-02-19T17:49:00.000+05:30

Beckoning the Seven Seas (Sivan Thiruvilayadal-9)

Lord Shiva ruled the land as Pandiyan.At that time Kanchanamalai invited Sage Gauthaman to learn from him which austerity would release one from the misery of rebirth.He replied that ''Kaayigam'' austerity was the best others being ''Manadham'' and ''Vasigam'' .Of these ,pilgrimage to holy places and bathing in purificatory holy waters (theertha yathirai).Since it is difficult to bathe in so many rivers ,the seas which received all the waters would be proper for purification .As Thadathagai informed the Lord of these,the Lord said''why one sea?,we will beckon all the seven seas''.As He intended,the seven seas arrived at a tank east of Madurai.

Food Vessel and Vaigai-8 (Sivan Thiruvilayadal-8)

2020-02-19T17:27:00.002+05:30

Food Vessel and Vaigai (Sivan Thiruvilayadal -8)

The Lord then fought of Anna Poorani;instantly four food vessels full of curd rice appeared .Gundothara was filled with food and bloated like a hillock.But was filled with thirst and drank up all the water from the water resources,like wells,lakes,rivers.Still his thirst was not quenched.

Then the Lord made the Ganga from his crest flow into a river .Gundothara drank of it and was quenched of his thirst.Then the river assumed the name 'Vaigai' as the Lord commanded him in those words .Then as Lord Somasundara He ruled the world with Thadathagai.

The Feasting of Gundotharan-7 (Thiruvilayadal-7)

2020-02-18T17:30:00.001+05:30

The Feasting of Gundotharan (Thiruvilayadal-7)

Even after the guests were feasted after the wedding ,so much of food remained unconsumed .Not even one thousandth was consumed .As Thadathagai mentioned this to the Lord,he smiled and created a fire in the stomach of Gundothara,who consumed not only the food,but also the vessels containing the food.Yet his hunger was not relieved .He consumed uncooked vegetables,milk etc.,.

Now Thadathagai expressed her worried wonder at this to the Lord Gundotharan despaired at the fire of hunger as if the fire that destroyed 'muppuram'had manifested in him.He was in great misery.

The Dance at the silver chamber(Thiruvilayadal-6)

2020-02-18T17:16:00.002+05:30

The Dance at the silver chamber (Thiruvilayadal-6)

The heavenly hosts,kings and sages were invited for the festive feasts.Sage Pathanjali and Sage Vyakrapadhar requested the Lord to replay his dance at the golden chamber once again at the silver chamber at Madurai.They said it would be most proper to partake of the feast after witnessing his dance .The silver dance chamber manifested at Madurai and the Lord danced signifying his relation with his Devi.The Sages were in great ecstacy,and the Lord granted them many boons.

Wedding-5(Thiruvilayadal-5)

2020-02-17T11:24:00.000+05:30

Wedding(Thiruvilayadal-5)

When Kanchanamalai was worried about Thadathagai's marriage,she replied that the marriage will take place in due time.In the mean time ,she wanted to establish her prowess on the eight directions of her land. she requested her mother not to worry about her marriage.

She conquered many lands with her four fold army and went to Thirukailayam ,fought and defeated Nandhi another Sivaganams.Lord shiva himself confronted her at the moment one of her breast disappeared and she was over come with shyness and returned to Madurai.And as the 'asariri' had prophesied earliar it was clear Lord Shiva himself was to be her husband ;and they were married with great jubilation for all.Brahma,Vishnu and host of celestial beings and sages attended the marriage .There was no end to the joy of the people of Madurai.

Some wondered who was the gainer the Lord ,Thadathagai or the city.Brahma himself performed the ceremony and the Lord gave appropriate gifts to the guests.And the Lord Himself ruled graciously as a model king to the people.

Thadathagai Pirattiyaar-4(Thiruvilayadal-4)

2020-02-17T10:38:00.000+05:30

Thadathagai Piratiyaar(Thiruvilayadal-4)

Malayathuvasan Kanchanamalai couple were without any issue.They performed Putra Kameshti Yagam.Goddess Uma as a three year old and three breasted girl appeared from the yaga and rested on the lap of Kanchanamalai.The King was worried about the physical peculiarity of the girl.But there was an 'asariri'(unbodied voice)announcing that one breast would disappear when she gets a husband .

She was named Thadathagai as ordered by Lord Shiva .She learnt military arts and use of various weapons.On one auspicious day,he performed a coronation ceremony for her.She ruled justly and without blemish after her father passed away.

As the land was ruled by a virgin(kanni)the Pandiyan land was called 'Kanni Nadu'.

The founding of Madurai-3(Thiruvilayadal-3)

2020-02-15T17:40:00.000+05:30

The founding of Madurai-3(Thiruvilayadal-3)

Dhanajayan ,a merchant living in Manavoor,the city of Kulasekara Pandian,one day worshipped Lord Chockalingam in Kadambavanam(Madurai).

As he was worshipping there.He spoke of his vision to the Pandian,who was brooding over it.That night Lord Somasundarar appeared in his dream as a siddha and advied him to convert the forest into a city .The king gathered experts to construct a marvelous temple.While he performed the shanthi ceremony,Lord Somasundarar allowed the Manna from the crescent moon to mingle with ganga water in his crest to flow on.Because it was sweet (madhuram)the place acquired the name Madurai.Before he died ,Kulasekara Pandian crowned his son,Malayathuvasa Pandian.

Lifting the curse off the white elephant -2 (Thiruvilayadal-2)

2020-02-15T17:18:00.002+05:30

Lifting the curse off the white elephant-2(Thiruvilayadal-2)

Sage Duruvasa once gifted a alotu to Indra who was going in a procession on his white elephant.The lotus was aquired by Duruvasa by his Siva worship.It dropped from the head of Lord Shiva.

Because of his arrogance of prosperity ,Indra casually received it with one hand and placed it on the elephant's head.It threw the lotus down and trampled on it.

Duruvasa cursed him that his head would be shattered by a Pandiyan ,the elephant would become wild.They both begged to be forgiven and released from the curse.So he relented and reduced the force of the curse:that the elephant would be restored to normalcy after hundred years and that was meant for the head would be shifted to the roll of hair on the head.

The white elephant came down to earth to Kadambavanam (Madurai)where it worshipped Lord Somasundarar who granted it a boon.The elephant requested the Lord to accept it as the ninth elephant along with the inseparable eight elephants.He told the elephant to bear Indra who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva .Bearing Indra was equivalent of bearing the Lord.And so the elephant went westward,and created a sacred well in his own name.

It created a town called 'Iyravathapuram'and constructed a Sivalingam calling it 'Indreswarar' and worhipped it .Later ,Indra took back the elephant.

Divine playfulness-1(Thiruvilayadal-1)

2020-02-14T17:19:00.001+05:30

Divine Playfulness-1 (Thiruvilayadal-1)

1.Indra Obsolved of his Sin

During the Kretha Yuga ,Devendran was engrossed in sensual delights of song,dance and dalliance with women in his paradise.Because of these engagements,he failed to respect the Devaguru (Vyazha bagawan).This neglect resulted in the Devaguru's departure from the place ;as a consequence the prosperity dwindled and famine threatened.

Indra could not find his Guru.He went to Brahma Deva who advised him to adopt Viswaroopan,son of the Asura Guru Thuvatta.Indra requested Viswaroopan to perform a sacrifice (Yaga)for his sake.What he uttered and what he willed inwardly were different.The utterence was voiced as ''Let the Devas prosper'',but inwardly his intended desire was Asuras to prosper and Devas to famish .Indra sensed this through his divine intuition .So he clipped three of his (Viswaroopan's) heads which became the birds 'kadai' ,'kuruvi' , 'sichili' and flew off.This is a heinous act and a sin (hatti)to be expiated.The Devas are said to have freed him from the sin by distributing it over trees,oli,water,and women.The news of the killing of Viswaroopan reached his father .He was seized with uncontrollable fury.He performed a yaga and created a huge heartless monster 'Vridhra sooran' from the yaga.Thuvattu commanded him to kill Indra .Indra was defeated in the battle .Later,with the weapon made from the backbone given by Thatheesi,he went to war with Vridhra sooran who hid in the sea as though performing penance.

On Indra's request Sage Agasthya drained the sea by drinking it off .Vridhra sooran was exposed and was beheaded ,and his blood filled the ocean.Again,Indra was seized by a sin of Brahmahatti.

As advised by Vyazha Bagawan ,he came to earth and went on pilgrimage to Thirukadavoor,Kasi,Kanchi and reached Kadamba forest (Kadambavanam)where he constructed a dome and worshipped Lord Somasundarar ecstatically and was released from the sins.

Then he returned to heaven with Indrani and ruled thereafter,Thus worshipping Lord Somasundaram at Madurai,he was absolved of all his sins.

Ancient Legends of Miraculous Episodes and Divine playfulness

2020-02-12T11:05:00.001+05:30

Ancient Legends of Miraculous Episodes and Divine Playfulness (Sree Meenakshi Temple)

Introduction:

Import: The purport of the ancient legendary tale of the miraculous episodes of the divine play(Thiru-vilayadal-puranam)is to show that Madurai,its kings,its people who worshipped Lord Somasundarar are divinely protected .Madurai was blessed with the sancity of place,holywater resources and Murthi-worthiness(Murthi-sthalam-theertham).As the favourite seat of the Lord,it is the scene of 64 miraculous episodes.

Author:

Sage Paranjothi is the author of these episodes.He composed them 350 years ago.He was the son of Meenakshi Sundara Desikar of Chola kingdom at Thirumaraikaadu,distinguished in both Sanskrit and Tamil at a very early age.His verses embodied the important ideas of Saiva scriptures ,Saiva siddhanta philosophy.Sangam Literature with graceful diction and substance and composition.

A tradition says that Goddess Meenakshi appeared in his dream once and required of him to narrate the miraculous episodes of Lord Siva at Madurai.The text was presented before a board of learned poets.He had also composed Vedharanya Purana,Thiruvilayadal Potri kalivenba,Madurai Pathitru pathu Andhadhi.

Origin of Legends:

The sanskrit haalasya mahatmiyam is its original which contains all such miraculous episodes of Lord Siva.These are referred to here and there in the works like Thevaram,Thiruvasagam,Kalladam,Silappathikaram etc... This work has been adapted to suite conventions and tradition of the Tamils.

Sage Paranjothi's Thiruvilayadal Puranam ,perumbputra Puliyur Nambi's Thiruvala vaaiyudayar Thiruvilayadal Puranam and Kathambavana Puranam,Sundara Pandiam were all composed to narrate the miraculous episodes of Lord Shiva .Both Paranjothi's and Perumbpatra Puliyur Nambi's works were known as Thiruvilayadal Puranam.

It is believed that Lord Shiva narrated the Sankara Sangithai to Goddess Uma .Having heard it Lord Muruga gave it to Sage Agasthiya .In it was mentioned the Holy city of Madurai with triple blessings of Sanctity of place ,Sacred waters and multi worthiness .As the favoured seat of Lord Siva it was blessed with 64 of his miraculous playful episodes.

Adi veedhies (Sree Meenakshi Temple)

2020-02-10T17:54:00.000+05:30

Adi Veedhies (Sree Meenakshi Temple)

By crossing the Muthu veerapa Mandapam and Meenakshi Naicker Mandapam.We can reach the south Adi Veethi(street).

In the courtyard at the eastern end of the temple elephants and camels are kept.Proceeding west ,we find several office housed in small buildings.The temple library Thevaram school,Thiruppugal sabha,Temple employees Association ,Deivaneri

kazhagam,Panniruthirumurai mandram,Dhandapani Thiruppugal Sangam are all here.

The Southern outer tower of the temple is the tallest of all its towers .It is 170 feet high it base 108 feet long and 67 feet broad .All the 1511 sculptural figures in this tower are very big.Panoramic view of the city can be seen rom the top of south tower.

There are two gigantic forms of the yali on both the sides of this tower .The diameter of each eye of these creatures is itself 2.5 feet.From this we can guess the statue of the other parts.

This tower was built in 1559 by Sevvanthimoorthy Chettiar of Siramalai

In the West Adi Street on the south of the west tower there is a cattle form and on its north there is the office of the Sivaganga Devasthanam.

Any one coming from the Madurai Railway Junction catches sight of the west tower at first.It is 154 feet high with a base 101 feet by 64 feet.There are 1124 sculptures in it.This was built by Parakrama Pandyan who ruled Madurai during 1315 to 1347.

At the eastern side of the northern wall of this tower there is a stone with two songs engraved on it .Any ordinary person posseissing Tamil knowledge can read them.

In the North Adi street ,there is a Thiruppugal Mandapam.This was built in 1952.Beside this ,there is the Thiruvalluvar Kazhagam housed in a beautiful mandapam.This society was started in 1941 by Thirukkural Attavandanam.This society was Das this building is used for religious meetings and discourses.

The Northern tower is called Mottai Gopuram meaning a bald or unfinished tower,This was built by Krishna Veerappa Naicker (1564-1572).For some reason or another its plastering was left incomplete .Later ,the plastering was done by the Nagarathars and Abisheka Pandaram.

The nine -storeyed tower is 152 feet high with a base 111 feet by 66 feet.There are only 404 sculptures in it.This small number also seems to have been a reason for the tower being called mottai gopuram

At the western side outside this tower is the temple of ''Mottai Gopura Muniyandi''.This deity is chiefly worshipped on tuesdays and fridays.At those times,the North tower also is decorated with flower strings.

Kambathadi Mandapam-2(Sree Meenakshi Temple)

2020-02-05T18:35:00.000+05:30

Kambathadi Mandapam--2(Sree Meenakshi Temple)

On the fifth,chakradharar (the Lord having wheel in his arm),Rishabaroodar (the lord riding the bull)Ardhanareeswarar (the Lord with a woman's form on half the body ie.,half image is masculine and the other half faminine,with appropriate naments for adorning each half ).Siva is represented having a male earring in the right lobe and a female earring in the left.The conception is that both purusha and prakriti are necessary for creation.

Near to this pillar there is another depicting and image of Siva called Harihara Sankaranarayana.God's left half is Vishnu and the right half Siva .Accordingly on the left side we see the conch,pearl necklace and other vaishnavite marks and the brilliant carvings of the features of Vishnu.On the right are the snake and other marks of Siva .The moral is the oneness of both Hari and Hara and sunthesis between Vaishnavism and Saivism.

The figures of Jalandra Anugrahar (God of Grace) and Dakshinamurti is a very important shrine in every siva temple .The deity always faces the south.It is a yogic pose of Lord Siva himself as Dakshinamurti.Siva is a Guru of yoga,music and other sciences.The teacher to say that Siva married sakti,the daughter of King Daksha .During an elaborate yagna performed by Daksha he did not invite his daughter and son in law ie.,Sakthi and Siva ,Sakthi took it to heart and went to yagna though uninvited Her father took me notice of her and did not show to her customary signs of welcome.Feeling insulted she threw herself into the sacrificial fire and burnt herself away.A t this siva become furious and brought out Veerabadra from his matted hair and got Daksha killed after this Siva promised not to marry again and went into the forest.Where he engaged himself in deed meditation beneath a banyan tree.The Yogi pose of meditation of Siva is worshipped as Dakshinamurthi.The artitic featuring of siva in meditation is superb that one feels that one's ego has vanished for time being.Here lies the beauty of sculpture which helps meditation by the devotee by a realistic symbol are on the sixth pillar.

Gajahara murti is shown in another pillar .The elephant was a demon sent by sages of daruka forest of kill Siva for seducing their wives as Bikshadanar.Siva killed the elephant and opened its ear and Lord Siva garlanding Chandeeswarar are seen on the seventh pillar.On the eighth pillar are engraved the figures of Bikhadanar,Rudhrar,Kirasha,Archunar and Somaskandhar.

Apart from these ,the ten Vishnu Avatars (births of lord Vishnu)are engraved at the bottom of some pillars .In another pillar engraved a figure of depicting that Siva as labourer to help an old lady who sold rice cakes when the floods on the river Vaigai.

These pillars surrounded the Nandi Mandapam.The deftness of the architect is lavishly displayed in installing the Mandapam .It is note worthy that the top stone on the four pillar is a single piece.

On the eastern side of the Kambathadi Mandapam ,the commanding figures of Agni Veerabadrar and Agora Veerabadrar are seen on two pillars in the northern portion .On the other two pillars in the northern portion,Oorthava Thandavar (Dancing Lord Siva )and Badra kali(the angered Goddess Parvathi)their skill and power.Each is animated by a sense of Motion and rhythm and their numerous limbs and eloborate ornaments and attributes make them probably the greatest triumph of technical skill in stone cutting to be found within the temple walls''The most remarkable of these figures is that of Siva in the form of Sabhapathi exhibiting a rare type of dance which is referred to as Urdhava Thandava and represents the god with his right leg raised straight up so as to reach the top of his ear.

Siva as Siddhar giving sugarcane to the stone elephant as puddu mandapam.

Siva appearing as a Prophet and performing a series of meaningles miracles in Madurai.On hearing the Pandya king sent messengers to bring before him,He refused his orders.There upon the king himself went out to look for the illustrious stranger king asked his name .The God said Agntya Siddha which means the omniponent spirit and the king then asked him sarcastically ,If he could make a stone elephant which stood hard by eat sugarcane and stretched out a piece of cane towards the life less figure .To his amazement the stone elephant lifted its trunk and advancing towards him with fierce gesturestore from off his necklace of pearl and swallowed it together with sugarcane.Seeing the King's attendants made a rush at the prophet ,with the object of chasing himfor his violence but he looked at them in peculiar manner and they the immediately became powerless.The king then perceived that the God was amusing himself at Siva's feet and implored forgiveness.

Infront of the entrance to the Swami temple,on the southern side ,the idol of Anugraha Vinayagar and on the north is that of Palaniandavar.

Kambathadi Mandapam--1 (Sree Meenakshi Temple)

2020-02-04T11:58:00.000+05:30

Kambathadi Mandapam (Sree Meenakshi Temple)

Perhaps the most beautiful places of architecture of Sree Meenakhi Temple are found in teh kambathadi mandapam in the outer prakaram in front of the idol of Lord Sundareswarar,Each one of these pieces is so fine that one cannot but appreciate it,The artistic heart will simply merge with these master pieces.

The various features of God are graphically ,depicted on the eight black stone pillars around the Nandhi mandapam ,Bali peedam (alter for offerings a Thiruvatchi frame of lamps)and the Golden flag post.

Sree Meenakhi's wedding scene is found on one of these pillar.The majestic appearance of the bridegroom (Lord Siva) the shyness and the sweet smile expressed in the eyes and lips of the bride (sree Meenakshi)and the manner in which Lord Vishnu give away the bride are very realistic.

On all the four sides of each pillar we find admirable artistic work,on the pillar having the wedding scene the figures of Lord Siva is standing in a chariot about to kill the giants who are represented in the opposite pillar.Siva assumed this form to kill three demons of Tripura and to destroy their magic cities,During this campaign the earth is said to have served as the chariot ,the sun and the moon as its wheels ,the four vedas as the horses and the Upanishads as the guiding rein,the right legs is firmly placed on the pedestal and the left is bent in an attitude 'expressive of great energy' and of Lord Somasundarar find a place.

To the right of this pillar,there is another ,having the scene in which Lord Siva kill the God of death for saving His devotee Markandeya.Ther is also the figure of Suga Asanar on this pillar.

On the third pillar we see dancing pose of Lord Siva (Natarajar)and Kamadhaganar the Lord's burning of the god of passion

On the fourth the scences of Lord Siva riding on hot bull,Ravana lifting Kailas(The Himalayas),the mot artistic conception in stone is to be seen where Siva and Parvathi are neither abode the Kailas Mountain.This fine conception indicates that once Ravana ,the king of Lanka had a desire to decorate his capital with Mount Kailas without realising the mountain on his shoulders.All knowing siva knew what was happening at the bottom and pressed his toe so that entire weight of the mountain fell on the shoulder of Ravana .Ravana realised his folly and prayed to Lord Siva ,with his veena(harp)for mercy and the figures of chandrasekar (lord siva wearing moon)and also seen that siva appears as coming out from a Lingam (Lingodhbavamurthi)and brahma has taken the form of swan and Vishnu that of a boar boring the earth.The Lingapurana narrates the story connected with this fine carving as follows.

Once Brahma and Vishnu got into a dispute regerding their respective greatness .As they could not decide the point they referred the matter to siva .Siva as the umpire put them to a test and said that he who could find out the top and bottom of the Jyothirlingam of Siva would be greater of the two .Brahma immediately got on his swan and went upwards to see the top while vishnu took the form of a boar and bored down wards to find the bottom.Centuries passed ,but the neither returned .At last Brahma could find a petal of ketaka flower thrown centuries back from the crest of Siva and claimed to have seen the top the Jyothirlingam. But the omniscient Lord Siva knew the truth behind it and cursed Brahma .never to be worshipped by anybody in any temple and debarred the ketaka flower which abetted the false hood of Brahma .As unfit thereafter for worship of Siva .Till now it is doubtful whether Brahma has got any temple of his own .The Ketaka flower is not used in the worship of Siva.

Musical Pillars (Sree Meenakshi Temple)

2020-02-03T18:22:00.000+05:30

Musical Pillars (Sree Meenakshi Temple)

Beyond the north tower in the Adi street ,there are five stone pillars.Each pillar has been carved out of a single stone. Each has little pillars ,chiselled exquisitely.Each of these little pillars ,produces characteristic sound which struck.Hence these are called Musical pillars ,such pillars are seen in the thousand pillar mandapam also.

Near the pillars at the beginning of the east Adi street there is a Mandapam with sixteen pillars .The mandapam is called Tattu Chutur Mandapam.This was built in 1772 by Venkateswara Mudaliar.The feats of Saint Manickavasagar painted here.

Crossing this Mandapam we come to the Swamy Sannathi at the eastern end of which stands East tower.This is the oldest of the big towers.It was built by Maravarma Sundara Pandyan (1216-36).Hence it is also called Sundara Pandyan Tower.It is 153 feet high with it base 111 feet,65 feet.There are 1011 sculptures in it.

It is said that during reign of Vijayaranga Chockanathar (1706-32).South of east tower,in a chitrai street is a small temple in which Madurai,Veera swamy is installed.

Between this temple and the Ashta Sakthi Mandapam described at the beginning of the narration is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi,the father of the Nation and a god among human beings.

The Adi streets enable the devotees to go round both the Amman and the Swamy deities at the same time .High wall stand on the edges of these streets.They laid an appearance of fort walls .

The Mandapam in the Adi streets werebuilt by Rani Mangamma who ruled Madurai from 1680 to 1706.

Thirukkalyan Mandapam(Sree Meenakshi Temple)

2020-02-03T10:37:00.000+05:30

Thirukkalyan Mandapam(Sree Meenakshi Temple)

we next come to the Thirukkalyan Mandapam (Marriage Hall).Here we see dais where the marriage ceremony of sree Meenakhi is performed every year during the chitra festival(April-May).

This dais and the black stone mandapam were built by Vijayaranga chockanathar.His figure has been engraved on the first pillar on the southern side ,facing north.

On the southern and northern walls,the origin of the universe and the living beings is painted within big circles.

There is a hall,97 feet by 47 feet providing space for the carvings and On the top portion of this hall there are wooden carvings and paintings .The pictures of vynagaram venkatachalam chettiar and Nagappa chettiar who built this hall are also among them.The roof of this hall is covered with copper plates.