Meenakshi Temple Tamil Nadu and Temples in South India - Madurai in southern Tamil Nadu is synonymous with Meenakshi Temple that is consecrated to Meenakshi, the consort of Lord Shiva. The Meenakshi Temple ranks among the major tourist attraction in Madurai and is counted among the biggest temple complexes in India.
Tour To Meenakshi Temple - The temple is skirted by five gopurams that captivate attention on the virtue of the stucco work. The southern gopuram is the tallest one and shoots up to a height of about 48 meters. There are many superb sculptures that are scattered throughout the temple complex. As with most of the temples in Tamil Nadu ,
Tour To Meenakshi Temple also has some legends associated with it. It is believed that when the last Tamil Academy met at Meenakshi Temple, the literary works were thrown into the water tank. The ones that kept floating were considered to be literary masterpieces. The hall of thousand pillars is a miniature museum that houses icons, photographs and illustrations.
Temples in South India - From outside, the temple looks like a fortified citadel that incorporates a complex of Mandapas, tanks, stores, shrines, and the twin temples of Shiva as Sundareshvara and Devi as Meenakshi. The stonewalls and the towers of the temple loom over the crowded streets of the city center. It is said the image of the presiding goddess is carved out of a single emerald. The sanctuary of Shiva has an assembly hall, an anteroom and a cellar which is topped by a small shikara which penetrates through the flat roof covering of the whole portion of the temple. The sanctuary of Meenakshi is half the size of Shiva's sanctuary. It is believed that the marriage of Lord Shiva and Meenakshi was actually solemnized in Madurai and the occasion is celebrated with gusto every summer.
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