Meenakshi temple walls and towers

Madurai meenakshi temple walls and towers

Maravarman sundarapandyan (1216 A.D.)built the present outer walls of sree meenakhi temple.They are called sundaramaran Thirumadhil after him.He also erected the Eastern tower opposite the swami shrine in memory of the many victories in battle.

The outer walls of the Amman (Goddess)temple and the sannathi mandapam (pavilion opposite the idol)were also built by sundarapandyan.This pavilion is therefore named Sundarapandyan Mandapam.The three storeyed tower in the Amman sannadhi was built in 1228 A.D. by Ananda Thandava Nambi.

The next century saw the construction of the nine storeyed western tower of Parakrama Pandyan,the nine storeyed eastern tower of swami -Temple by Vasuvappa and the western tower of the swami temple - Temple with five storeys opposite the main wetern across the Adi Veethi(path or street)Vasuvappa's tower stands east of the kambathadi pavilion.

In the fifteenth century,Vanadi Rayar renovated the big pavilion of the Swami Temple and the platform built by Kulasekaran. The big pavilion in the Amman Sannadhi Palli Arai( bedroom of divine couple) and the inner pragaram(pathway) were also his additions.

The southern tower is tallest of all the towers of  sri Meenakshi temple as a whole.It was built by Siramely Sevvanthi Chetty in 1559 A.D. The northern tower was built by Sevvanthi Velan both these towers have five storeys each.

The seven storeyed eastern tower of Meenakshi Temple was built by Kalathiappa Mudaliar son of Dalavoi Ariyanatha Mudaliar in 1570A.D. It is the highest of all the towers of the Amman temple.The western tower has constructed by Veera Thumasi in the same year.This is in the Adi Veedhi near the western tower Sundareswar Temple.