MEENAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE

The Meenakshi temple complex is one of the most fascinating in the country. The restrictions spoil the visit a bit for non-Hindus (bring some small change to leave your things), but it is well worth it. One can easily spend two hours observing the devotees, the rituals and the architecture of the place. Four gigantic gopurams mark the entrances to the complex at the four cardinal points. The gopuram at the western entrance, 62 meters high, is the second largest in India (after Srirangam). The daily ceremony of 21h is not to be missed: Sundareswarar (Shiva) is taken to the shrine of his wife Meenakshi where he will spend the night. Music, percussions and religious songs give rhythm to this bewitching ceremony. The temple, a real city within a city, includes all the following places:

Mandapam Meenakshi Nayakkar. It is composed of 110 pillars bearing the figures of a chimera called Yalli, which has the body of a lion and the head of an elephant.

Mandapam Vasantha. Also called Pudhu, it was built by Thirumalai Nayakkar. It celebrates Vasanthosavam - the festival of Spring - in the month of Vaikasi (April and May). Its pillars bear intricate carvings of Shiva and Meenakshi, including scenes of their marriage; ten of these carvings are dedicated to Nayak kings and their wives.

Ashta Shakti mandapam. In this hall, built on the initiative of Thirumalai Nayak's wives, Rudrapathi Ammal and Tholimamai, food is distributed to devotees who come from far away. The carvings on the pillars of the mandapam tell the story of the beautiful princess of Madurai and her marriage to Lord Shiva.

Portamaraikulam or Golden Lotus Tank. This is the place where the Tamil literary society called Sangam used to meet to decide the merit of the literary works presented to it.

Mandapam Oonjal (swing) and the mandapam Kilikootu (parrot cage). Every Friday, the golden idols of Meenakshi and Sundareshwar are placed on the swing in the Oonjal mandapam and, while hymns are sung, the deities swing back and forth.

Sundareshwar Temple. This temple was built by Nayak Tirumalai. In the courtyard, the god Shiva is represented in the form of a lingam and, here too, entry is restricted to Hindus.

The temple museum is located in a hall(mandapam) with 985 richly carved pillars, each surpassing the other in beauty. Outside the mandapam, to the west, are the Musical Pillars: each pillar produces a different note.