The Meenakshi Temple :
It is the elegant twin temple of Sundareswarar and Meenakshi
and the life of Madurai City revolves around this temple. The construction
process of the temple began 2000 years ago. Contributions from different rulers
and special contribution from Thirumalai Naicker, made
this complex to extend by leaps and bounds over an area of 65000 sq.m and people
rightly call this temple complex as a City of its own.
Four Nine tier Gopurams, One Seven tier Chittirai gopuram, Five numbers
of Five Tier Gopurams, Two Three Tier Gopurams and Two Golden Gopurams
are the majestic towers of the temple. Because Golden Lotus
for Indira’s Puja blossomed in the tank inside the temple, it is called as
Golden Lotus Tank [Pon Thamarai Kulam]. The Hall
of Thousand Pillar of the Thirumalai Naicker period is called
as Ayiram kaal Mandapam in Tamil. The architectural excellence
of this hall is that the pillars viewed from any angle will be on a straight line.
The musical pillars carved out of stone decorate the corridors of the outer courts.
Temple is open between 5.00 am and 12.30pm :: 4.00pm to 9.30pm.
Koodal Alagar : This is a temple in the heart of the City,
dedicated to Lord Vishnu and one of the 108 Divya Desams. Koodal
is another name for Madurai and Azhaghar means The beautiful
hence he is called Koodal Azhagar. Koodal Azhagar in three postures:
in Sitting posture as Koodal Azhagar , in Standing Posture as Sri Surya Narayanan,
and Sri Ranganatha in Reclining Posture[ Lying down] are in three separate
Sanctum Sanctorums one above the other. Convenient steps have been
provided to reach all the floors. The shadows of Ashtanga vimanam ( tower )
do not fall on the ground. Lord Azhagar is taken on procession for a dip in the
Vaigai River on the Chitra Paurnami Day [ Full Moon Day – Apr-May]
is the most colourful festival that brings the entire Madurai Town to Stand
Still. A 10 day float Festival is celebrated in the month of Masi [Feb-Mar]
on the Masi Magam[star] day.
Mariamman Theppakulam : It is also called as Vandiyur
Mariamman Teppakulam just 2 kms from Meenakshi Temple in the Town.
Well laid out Underground water Channels connect this Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam.
It has 12 step Ghats on all four sides of the 16 acre Teppakulam measuring almost
300 meters by 300 meters in size. It is said that, this pit was dug to fetch sand
to build Thirumalai Nayakar Palace. The pit was later converted with brick work
as a Holy tank and Thirumalai Nayakar Built the Vandiyur Mariamman Temple too
on the northern side of the tank. In the middle of the tank there is a Mandapam
called Maiya Mandapam [center Mandapam] with a small Vinayagar
Temple and a Garden. The Float Festival at Mariamman Teppkulam
one of the most colourful temple festival, annually held in the month of Thai
[Jan-Feb] to mark the birth anniversary of King Thirumalai Nayak. Goddess Meenakshi
and Lord Sundareswarar are seated on an illuminated Float [Theppam]
colorfully decorated with flowers and the Theppam moves around
the tank with the traditional musical treat in the background, watched by thousands
of devotees.

Thiruparangundram : It is 8 kms from Madurai
Junction. Cave shrines are calculated as 8th century creation of the Pandiyans
and the temple of the later Nayaks. One of the Six Special Abodes of Lord
Murugan dedicated to Lord Subrahmanya is located here. The
Sanctum Sanctorum is carved out of a single rock and the temple is believed to be
in existence for many centuries. The walls and the pillars are carved with Sculptures
that still fascinates the visitors.
Azhagar Koil : This Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu called as Azhagar
Kovil is located here, just 18 kms from Madurai Town. Ruins of an ancient
fortified town can be seen around this temple even today. Temple underwent renovations
and additions during the timeline of its existence. It is said that Ydishtra and
Arjuna visited this temple during Mahabaratha period. Koorathazhwar, a disciple
of Vaishnavite saint Ramunaja regained his lost vision here. The temple
has the shrine of 2000 year Sudharsana-Chakra worshipped by thousands of devotees.
Skandapuranam, Thirumurugatrupadai of Poet Nakkeerar and Arunagiri Nathar’s Thirupugazh
reveres this holy shrine.
Solai Malai Temple [Pazhamuthir Solai] : This
temple is on the hillock reachable by a 3 km trekking on the Azhagar Malai from
Azhagar Temple. This is the
only one among Murugan’s Aru Padai Veedu temples, where He graces
the devotees with His consorts Valli and Deivanai. The wedding
festival is celebrated along with Skanda Sashti festival. Pazhamudircholai
is a temple located about 16 kilometres north of Madurai atop a hillock covered
with dense forests. One of the six important abodes [Arupadai Veedu] and close to
the famous Azhagar Kovil [Lord Vishnu] . Divine Poet Avvaiyar, while
relaxing under the Naval Tree, encountered Lord Murugan in the form of Shepherd
Boy on that tree, who played a prank with her to make her realize that Materialism
should be removed from the mind to visualize the truth and seek God.
It is also said that the actual temple was Azhagar kovil relocated as Pazhamuthirsolai
by the then ruler of Madurai – Thirumalai Naicker of the Nayaks dynasty.
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