Parrot Cage Mandapam(Sree Meenakshi Temple)

Parrot Cage Mandapam (Sree Meenakshi Temple)

Next to the swing mandapam and just all the entrance to the Amman Sannathi is the Parrot Cage  Hall (kilikoodu mandapam).Some parrots kept in a big cage .Now this cage is in the entrance of the south.

These parrots provide delight to the children.The kids talk something to the parrots,Those creatures repeat the sounds .This gives pleasure to the younger generation.The parrot is a sacred bird and is often shown in company with other Gods and Goddessess.Particularly ,goddessess are always seen with a parrot in their left hand.Obviously it means presence of peace and happiness.

There are 28 pillars in this Mandapam . Each on of these excess in artistic beauty,on these pillars we  see the statues of the Pandavas,Vali,Sugreevan and other deities,yali is engraved in another pillar.A stone ball revoles in its mouth.This is indeed an admirable creation.

Opposite the  Amman Sannadhi,on one side of the Palipeedam (sacrificing altar)is the pillar having the  figure of Bheema (the Hercules among the pandavas).On the pillar of the other side is the figure of a semi-human animal.There two figures are posed in fighting attitude that is very realistic.

A reason is attributed ,for having kept these pillars  at the centre of the temple people ,should not swerve from justice put up hold it with prejudice just as the pointer of a 'scale  is at'the centre when the weights of the pans are equal.

A legend  has been woven about tee magnanimity and just mindedness of dharmaputra,the eldest of the Pandava brothers.

There was a forest ruled by a human-animal.The  human animal imposed a condition that anyone caught in the forest would become its prey.Once  Bhima the strongest of the pandavas went into the forest.The human -animal began to chase Bhima.Luckily Bhima ran fast and reached the Border.But human-animal caught him when one of his legs was in the boundary of the forest .o it claimed that Bhima should be come its slave.But Bhima argued that he need not be slave as he had come out of the forest.At last they agreed to abide by the decision of the just Dharma,the eldest of the Pandavas.

Dharma heard their case and decided that half of Bhima's body should go to the human -animal as one of his legs was in its territory when he was caught.The human -animal wondered at the just decision of Dharma though Bhima was his brother he was perfectly impartial .The  human animal become human and did not press it claim.

The miraculous deeds of Lord Siva are portrayed on the black places of rock  on these pillars .Thought the figures are tiny they excel in the artistic beauty .The deities of the Hindu pantheon are depicted in this paintings on canopy of this Mandapam.The scene of Sree Meenakshi's  wedding appearing in front of Her Sannadhi attracts everyone's eyes.