The Wonders of Madurai Meenakshi Temple

Tags/Subheadings: LADIES FIRST, 64 MIRACLES, MUSICAL  PILLARS, 64 MIRACLES, 64 Sakthi kendras, MUSICAL  PILLARS, BUTTERED FOR 700 YEARS, 48 YEAR WONDER, Madura Vijayam, Mariamman teppakulam, AARTI TO MIRROR, KADAMBA TREE, STORY ABOUT THE QUEEN, PRICELESS JEWELRY

Blog by Santanam Swaminathan

·        Lord- Shiva blesses his devotees in three ways RUPA, ARUPA and RUPARUPA: Form, Formless and shapeless (form but not a shape - Linga). To express this principle there is a festival celebrated every year in Ani Uththiram (June) and Markazi Arudra day. The Nataraja idol is taken to a mandap and a circular mirror is placed in front of the idol. It reflects the idol. On that day Aarti/Deeparaadhana is done to Nataraja idol (RUPA), reflected image in the mirror (ARUPA) and the main god in Linga form in the sanctum sanctorum (RUPA ARUPA). A big principle is explained to the general public with demonstration. One feels like a science student attending a laboratory in the science class.

(There are 1,000 pillar mandaps in Madurai, Tiruvannamalai, Chidambaram, Tiruvarur, Tiruvanaikka, Tiruvarangam and Tirunelveli. If all the seven 1000 pillar mandaps are to be rebuilt today it will cost us millions of rupees.  Indians must realise the value of these world wonders and keep them intact for posterity. They are engineering marvels.)  Read more