The grandeur of the Meenakshi temple has remained undiminished for the past two thousand years. This sprawling and awe-inspiring temple complex is not only a marvel of architecture but also a veritable treasure trove of Indian culture and civilization. It is also one of the largest temple complexes in India.

Architecture

The basic structure of temples in India is a room or the Garbha Griha (sanctum sanctorum) where the idol of the main deity is kept. The temple is approached by a flight of steps and is often built on a platform. A porch covers the entrance to the temples, which is supported by carved pillars. A prominent roof called the shikhara surmounts the top of the Garbha Griha. Gradually, as time went by, small temples grew into temple complexes.

Temple architecture in India is broadly divided into the northern and southern styles, classified by the form and shape of the shikhara and the distinctiveness of its decoration. The shikhara of the temples in south India tend to be made up of distinct horizontal levels that diminish to form a rough pyramid. Each level is decorated with miniature temple rooftops. Some south Indian temples like the Meenakshi temple also have tall shikharas over the elaborate gateways or gopurams, to add to the overall symmetry of the temple complex. The shikhara of the temples in north and central India, in contrast, resembles an upturned cone that is decorated with miniature conical shikharas.

The shikhara of the Meenakshi temple and its gopurams are not only high as if reaching the skies above, but are decorated with images of gods, goddesses, and mythical figures. The temple also has many long corridors and the elaborate pillars within these corridors too are elaborately carved with mythological figures and scenes.

The Meenakshi temple complex is literally a city-one of the largest of its kind in India and undoubtedly one of the oldest. Various kings have renovated it, adding convoluted corridors here, larger-than-life sculptures there, polishing and honing an abode suitable for Meenakshi, one of the many forms of goddess Parvati (consort of Lord Shiva). Stonewalls and towers of the Meenakshi temple rise out of the teeming streets of Madurai's city center. From her rambling maze-like palace, the Goddess Meenakshi presides. It is said that her image (all three and a half feet of it that's tucked into the ancient and dark sanctuary, lit by a steady glow from an oil lamp) is carved out of a single emerald.

Facts File

Built By : Pandya rulers

Location : Madurai (Tamil Nadu)

How to Reach

Madurai has daily flights from Madras (Chennai) and four times a week from Bangalore. It is an important railway junction on the Southern Railway network. It is connected, through Madras (Chennai), to major centers in India. It is also connected to the major towns and cities in Tamil Nadu by bus.