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MADURAI TOURIST PLACES:

MUKTEESHWARAR TEMPLE :

MUKTEESHWARAR TEMPLE – TEPPAKULAM MADURAI

(PANCHBHOOTHA STHALAM RELATED TO AIR = VAYU)



In Chapter 44 of the Brahmanda Purana, Shiva and Brahma had a heated argument , So violent was Shiva's anger that, even Parvathi his consort could not bear to be near him. On Parvathi’s complaint that it was not possible for her to live with him anymore, Shiva decided to deposit this anger of his in to the womb of Anasuya the wife of Rishi Atri. To them Sage Durvasa was born as a son, who being born out of the anger of Shiva was always hot tempered.

The Vishnu purana states that, Sage Durvasa Wandering on earth came by a Vidyadhari ( a nymph of Vayu or Air) who was wearing a heavenly floral garland. On the sages request the nymph gave the garland of flowers to Durvasa, who on reaching the heavens, gave the flowers to Indra on Airavata (white elephant, Indra's Vehicle). Not knowing what to do Indra placed the garland on the head of Airavata. So fragrant was the flowers in the garland, that it attracted bees. Irritated, Airavata picked the garland with its trunk, threw it on the ground and stamped on it. Enraged, that his gift was treated so callously, sage Durvasa cursed both Indra and Airavata to be born on earth. Airavata was to lose its white colour and roam the wilderness on earth for 100 years as an ordinary elephant.

After 100 years of wandering in the forest Airavatha got mukthi from the curse of Durvasa and prayed to Lord Mukteeshwara before departing to the heavenly abode, hence the place is also Known as Iravadanallur( tamil) or Airavathanallur, as per the Temple records even today.

This story is based on the 2nd chapter of the 64 chapters of THIRUVILAYADAL PURANAM “Miracles of Lord Shiva” or Games played by Lord Shiva with his devotees including Parvathi, written by Sage Paranjyothi.

The Temple of Muktheeshwarar is built on the banks of the River Vaigai, in a place called Vandiyur opposite to the Teppakulam (Temple pond) of Meenakshi Amman. The temple is in itself in existence for more than a 1000 years. But has been renovated many times by including the Nayakars of Madurai.

The lord is known as Muktheeshwarar or Airavateshwar (Airavathanathar) and the goddess is called Maragadavalli. Maragadam in tamil refers to emerald.


MEENAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE:



Who built the Meenakshi Amman temple?

                King Thirumalai Nayakar of the dynasty of Nayaks, had wished to build a pond (Teppakulam ) for Goddess Meenakshi. The land chosen for this purpose was the front of Muktheeshwarar Temple. Being on the Banks of Vaigai river the sand excavated was used for construction of the Meenakshi temple. Hence the temple could not be extended to add a Rajagopuram . The gopuram constructed in the centre of the Tank looks like the Rajagopuram from inside the temple and the eastern side of the pond. However, this seems to be a folklore as there is enough space where many Gopuram’s could have been built, but was never built. 

What is special about Meenakshi Temple?

The temple has a big compound starting with the Bali Peedam , and the Nandi Mandapam. A mid-sized but One of the most decorated Nandi in temples in Tamilnadu. The Nandi is sculpted with designed harness around its mouth to its head,(Mukkan Kayaru), with capped horns, two necklaces of bells, a decorated square pedestal with extended designed tapestry around its body with dangling floral paterns.
The Dhwaja Sthambam is missing or not installed. 

This outer prahara leads into a 20 pillared hall through 3 stepped stairs, which seems to be of modern construction. This pillared hall leads to the Mukha Mandapam again through few steps, designed with 6 pillars. In the four corners, pillar’s with diagonal extensions with Simha Yali’s from the Nayak period and two pillars in the centre.

The Mukha Mandapam leads to an Ardha Mandapam and the Garbhagriha or sanctum sanctorum. The lingam is a very amazing but small one of 2 feet’s from the ground with a Square, Chaturanga Avudayar or Pindika, which indicates the Significance or importance of the Goddess Parvathi as Meenakshi in the town. The Vimanam is also chaturangam.


Well known for Muktheeswarar Devine power, it's festival like Thepathiruvizha, Prathosam, Karthigai deepam, Koglu.




This temple has a wonder - in the last quarter of every year the sun light from Thepagulam center mahal falls directly on the statue of Lord Siva for 6 continues days at morning 6 am.. this special wonder Pooja is the great marvel of this temple.


Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple was built by King Kulasekara Pandya (1190-1216 CE). He built the main Portions of the three-storeyed gopura at the entrance of Sundareswarar Shrine and the central portion of the Goddess Meenakshi Shrine are some of the earliest surviving parts of the temple. The traditional texts call him a poet-saint king, additionally credit him with a poem called Ambikai Malai, as well as shrines (koil) each for Natarajar and Surya near the main temple, Ayyanar in the east, Vinayagar in the south, Kariamalperumal in the west and Kali in the north. He also built a Mahamandapam.


Kulasekara Pandya was also a poet and he composed a poem on Meenakshi named Ambikai Malai.[Maravarman Sundara Pandyan built a gopura in 1231, then called Avanivendaraman, later rebuilt, expanded and named as Sundara Pandya Thirukkopuram.


Chitra gopuram (W), also known as Muttalakkum Vayil, was built by Maravarman Sundara Pandyan II (1238-1251). This gopuram is named after the frescoes and reliefs that depict secular and religious themes of Hindu culture.


GOLDEN LOTUS POND:



According to the old history God Indra bathed in this pond in order to purify himself of his sin and worshipped Lord Siva with Golden Lotus flowers picked from this tank.The tank is surrounded by spacious corridors.

On th pillars of the northern corridor are figures of 24 poets of the Third Tamil Sangam.Figures of Dananjayan,the merchant who discovered the main shrine in the forest kadambavanam and of Kulesekara Pandyan who built the temple and the city are also seen on two pillars in this corridor.

On the walls of the northern and eastern corridors are numerous paintings depicting scenes from Thiruvilayadal Puranam.From the eastern corridor we can see the golden domes over the sanctum sanctorum of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar.The verses of Thirukkural are inscribed on marble slabs embedded in the wall of the southern corridor.

In keeping with the boons granted by the Lord to a stork, upto this date no fish nor other life is found in this miraculous sacred pond. Since this theertam was created before all other theerthams it is called Adhi Theertham and because it is much greater importance than all other theerthams, it is also called Parama Theertham as Gnana Theertham because it confers prosperity on all who bathe in it.

As it grants heavenly abode it is also called Mukthi Theertham and as Sivaganga because the water from Ganga from the head of Lord Siva confluences with it and as Uthama Theertham because of its purity than any other theertham.

If the devotees bathe in the waters of this pond of Golden Lotus on Amavasya (new moon) day, the first day of the month, days of eclipse and other auspicious days and worship the Lord, they will be blessed with all their aspirations for success.


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