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Amman Temple (Amman sannathi) Sree Meenakshi Temple

Amman Temple (Amman Sannathi)






From the Parrot cage Mandapam one can go into Sree Meenakshi's sanctum sanctorum.There is a small tower at this entrance .It is three  storeyed tower ,forty feet high.Its base is 27 feet long and 20 feet broad.There are 476 sculptures in this tower.This tower can be seen only from the eastern side of the Golden Lily Tank.This tower is called Vembathur.Tower after its builder,Ananda Thandava nambi of Vembathur,Inside the tower's gate there are two paintings on wooden planks one depicts Sree  Meenakshi's wedding  and other Her crowing. 


Non hindus are not allowed to go beyond the tower entrance.

Passing this entrance .We can see a flag -post,covered with golden leaves.At the south eastern corner of this outer Prakaram (path around the shrine),there are the statues of Thirumalai Naick and his two wives.



The kolu Mandapam is the western corner,During the Navarathri (nine nights)festival in the tamil month of purattasi (september-october) an idol of Sree Meenakshi is adorned nine forms and kept in this Marble Mandapam.



On this western side,there is a gate of a tower.this five storeyed tower can be seen from the west Adi veedhi also This Amman tower is 54 feet high .Its base is 50 feet long and 28 feet broad.There are  228 sculptures on this tower.

On the North East junction is the idol of 'Koodal Kumarar' songs from Tiruppugal.sung by saint Arunagirinatharare engraved on stones in this Sannadhi.At its eastern end there is an entrance to Swamy Sannadhi.



After completing the round of the other Prakaram ,we can go into the inner prakaram,through a platform with six pillars.Ther are two beautiful copper statues of the Dwara balakas (Gate keepers) at the entrance .Some songs of Meenakshi Ammai Pillai sung by sri.Kumarakuruparar are engraved on the walls behind these gate keepers.

Passing the entrance,we come to the Maha Mandapam (great hall).The Pillars and ceiling of this Mandapam have exquisite pieces of architecture. A bell wholly made of stone is hanging from the top.

On the western side of this Maha Mandapam,we find sree Meenakshi's  sanctum sanctorum.This fish eyed  idol,shines in all it glory.Her eyes shows
Her blessings on the devotees standing on both sides in deep prayer.

At the South western corner of inner prakaram is Lord Vinayagar's temple and the North eastern corner is that of Muthukumarar.

The Marble bedroom (Palli Arai) of sree Meenakshi is also situated in this prakaram.East of this,there is a gate way leading to the  second prakaram of Lord Sundareswarar.This prakaram can also be reached by coming back to the Parrot Cage Mandapam and entering through the tower gate at the north, (Generally  in all temples of Lord Siva the idol of the Lord is worshipped first and then that of the Amman, however in Sree Meenakshi Temple  The Amman ,is worshipped first perhaps to bring out the preference of ladies).

The five storeyed tower was built in 1559 by sevvandhi moorthy Chettiar of Siramalai.It is 69 feet high with a base of 44 feet by 63 feet.There are 112 fine sculptures in this tower.

Passing this entrance .we are faced with a Gigantic idol of Lord Vinayaga.This idol is said  to have been discovered when the Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam (tank) at the eastern end of the city was dug.

On the day Vinayaga Chadurthi (worship of Lord Vinayaga)a big Kozukkattai (boiled rice cake) made out of three 'kurunies' equal to 18 measures is offered to this Vinayagar.Hence this Vinayagar is called Mukkuruni Pillayar.The idol can also be seen from the southern outer tower of the temple.



The outer wall of this prakaram(pathway)is 420 feet length wise and 310 feet breadthwise ; The inner wall  is 250 long and 158 feet broad.

There is a five storeyed tower on the western side to this Prakaram.This was built in 1374 by one Mallappan .It is 72 feet high with a base of 48 feet by 31 feet.There are 40 sculptures in this tower.

Passing this tower.We come to the corner where the figures of the forty nine poets of the 'Kadai Sangam ' (Last society)of Madurai.

On the Northen side ,there is mandapam where weekly mass prayers are held.Adjoining this mandapam is a five storeyed tower .This tower was built by Sevvan Thivelappa Chettiar in 1560.It is  71 feet with a base of 45 feet long and 34 feet broad .There are 18 sculptures in this tower .There is the emblem of the Risabam' (the lord's bull) on the top of this tower.A Legend says that Lord Sundara opened the door of this for a chola king affixed his (Risaba ) emblem.

At the north eastern corner, we find the mandapa nayagam (Main Mandapam supported by a  hundred pillars .This is called the Main Mandapam )because of the exquisite pieces of architecture found in it.A fine idol of Sree Nataraja (Lord Siva in a dancing pose) installed here.This mandapam was built by Chinnappa Naicker in 1526.



Opposite this mandapam at the south eastern corner there is the Gnanasambandhar Temple.Here we find the statues of Mangayarakarasi,Kulachirayar,Koonpandian,Sambandar,Appar ,Sundarar and Manickavasagar.This mandapam was built by  Krishna Veerappa Naicker.













Comments

  1. ARUMUGAM.R25 January 2020 at 09:55

    Tamilanin sirpakalaikku santraka ullathu madurai meenakshi aman temple.

    ReplyDelete

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