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In one of the largest temple complexes in India,
from her rambling maze-like palace the Goddess Meenakshi presides
over the ancient city of Madurai-the Athens of South India. But for
older than the city itself is the nucleus of the temple. Far older
than that, the faith that the Meenakshi temple signifies.
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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.
The 'city of virtue' is one of the most ancient heritage sites of
India truly reflective of the cultural ethos of India. Madurai is
closely associated with the literary wealth of Classical and Modern
Tamil. The crowning glory of this historic city is the sprawling
Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple. Four of the 6 major streams of the
indigenous system of beliefs as codified by Sankaracharya (i.e.
Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and the worship of Skanda) meet in
this historic city during festive occasions when the entire region
is transformed into a vast space of celebration.
The Gopuram !
This magnificent temple complex sprawls over an area of 6 hectares.
It also has 12 gopurams or gateways, ranging in height from 45 to 50
m, the tallest being the southern one. The southern gateway is
beautifully proportioned and is nine stories high. Like the other
gopurams, it is also crowded with the images of gods, goddesses,
gargoyles, and gryphons. Like the statues of classical Greece, the
people who follow the ancient Dravidian culture of South India also
paint their gods in brilliant colors. Thus, one can experience a
myriad of colors atop these gateways.
Accessibility !
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.
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