Musical Pillars (Sree Meenakshi Temple)

Beyond the north tower in the Adi street ,there are five stone pillars.Each pillar has been carved out of a single stone. Each has little pillars ,chiselled exquisitely.Each of these little pillars ,produces characteristic sound which struck.Hence these are called Musical pillars ,such pillars are seen in the thousand pillar mandapam also.

Near the pillars at the beginning of the east Adi street there is a Mandapam with sixteen pillars .The mandapam is called Tattu Chutur Mandapam.This was built in 1772 by Venkateswara Mudaliar.The feats of Saint Manickavasagar painted here.

Crossing this Mandapam we come to the Swamy Sannathi at the eastern end of which stands East tower.This is the oldest of the big towers.It was built by Maravarma Sundara Pandyan (1216-36).Hence it is also called Sundara Pandyan Tower.It is 153 feet high with it base 111 feet,65 feet.There are 1011 sculptures in it.

It is said that during reign of Vijayaranga Chockanathar (1706-32).South of east tower,in a chitrai street is a small temple in which Madurai,Veera swamy is installed.

Between this temple and the Ashta Sakthi Mandapam described at the beginning of the narration is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi,the father of the Nation and a god among human beings.

The Adi streets enable the devotees to go round both the Amman and the Swamy deities at the same time .High wall stand on the edges of these streets.They laid an appearance of fort walls .

The Mandapam in the Adi streets werebuilt by Rani Mangamma who ruled Madurai from 1680 to 1706.

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