MADURAI MEENAKSHI TEMPLE

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Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple was built by King Kulasekara Pandya (1190–1216 CE). He built the main Portions of the three-storeyed gopura at the entrance of Sundareswarar Shrine and the central portion of the Goddess Meenakshi Shrine are some of the earliest surviving parts of the temple. He also built a Mahamandapam.

This gopuram is named after the frescoes and reliefs that depict secular and religious themes of Hindu culture. Maravarman Sundara Pandyan II also added a pillared corridor to the Sundareswara shrine and the Sundara Pandyan Mandapam. The complex has numerous sculpted pillared halls such as Ayirakkal (1000-pillared hall), Kilikoondu-mandapam, Golu-mandapam and Pudu-mandapam. Its shrines are dedicated to Hindu deities and Shaivism scholars, with the vimanas above the garbhagrihas (sanctums) of Meenakshi and Sundaresvara gilded with gold.

Attractions In Madurai Meenakshi Temple:

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Meenakshi Temple is especially famous for the huge sculpture of the Nataraja, which is built on a silver altar. The temple has a 'Hall of Thousand Pillars' and each pillar is carved with various sculptures. Meenakshi Temple has a pond called 'Porthamarai Kulam' or 'The Golden Lotus Pond' in its complex.