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Meenakshi Temple
Main Gate of Meenakshi temple, Madurai
The Meenakshi Temple (Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple) is an historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi, a form of Shakti, and her consort, Sundareshwarar, a form of Shiva.
An aerial view of the compound from the top of the southern gopuram, looking north.
The north tower of the temple
Meenakshi temple has 14 colourful gopura (entrance towers). These are gateways to various shrines and mandapas.
The Airakkal Mandapa (Thousand Pillars Hall) of the Great Pagoda
Carved pillar - Female Musician playing an alapini vina or Kinnari vina in the Thousand Pillars Hall
The massive temple is enclosed by high walls entered through soaring gopuras, or gateway towers. Inside are colonnades, columned mandapas (halls, some of which were used for shops, storerooms, and stables), a sacred tank, lesser shrines, and, at the centre, the two main shrines to Sundareswarar and Meenakshi. The gopuras are some of the most elaborately decorated in India. Brightly painted, they are completely covered with figures of divinities, celestial beings, monster masks, guardians, and animal mounts. The tallest of the 14, the southern gopura, rises to more than 170 feet
View of the temple from the west-side tower
Looking up at the South Tower
Meenakshi Temple
Vishnu (left) gives away his sister and bride Meenakshi's hand into the waiting hand of groom Shiva. The temple commemorates this legend every year with a festive procession.
Thousand-Pillared Hall, 16th century
Another view...
Golden tower (shikhara) of the Madurai Meenakshi temple
The Meenakshi from behind the Temple Pool
Golden Lotus in the temple pool.
Meenakshi temple decorated for the Navarathri festival.
Navaratri is an annual Hindu festival observed in honor of the goddess Durga, an aspect of Adi Parashakti, the supreme goddess. It spans over nine nights and ten days
Temple at Madura photographed in 1860 by Francis Frith
281 notes
·
View notes
Text
Meenakshi Temple
Main Gate of Meenakshi temple, Madurai
The Meenakshi Temple (Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple) is an historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi, a form of Shakti, and her consort, Sundareshwarar, a form of Shiva.
An aerial view of the compound from the top of the southern gopuram, looking north.
The north tower of the temple
Meenakshi temple has 14 colourful gopura (entrance towers). These are gateways to various shrines and mandapas.
The Airakkal Mandapa (Thousand Pillars Hall) of the Great Pagoda
Carved pillar - Female Musician playing an alapini vina or Kinnari vina in the Thousand Pillars Hall
The massive temple is enclosed by high walls entered through soaring gopuras, or gateway towers. Inside are colonnades, columned mandapas (halls, some of which were used for shops, storerooms, and stables), a sacred tank, lesser shrines, and, at the centre, the two main shrines to Sundareswarar and Meenakshi. The gopuras are some of the most elaborately decorated in India. Brightly painted, they are completely covered with figures of divinities, celestial beings, monster masks, guardians, and animal mounts. The tallest of the 14, the southern gopura, rises to more than 170 feet
View of the temple from the west-side tower
Looking up at the South Tower
Meenakshi Temple
Vishnu (left) gives away his sister and bride Meenakshi's hand into the waiting hand of groom Shiva. The temple commemorates this legend every year with a festive procession.
Thousand-Pillared Hall, 16th century
Another view...
Golden tower (shikhara) of the Madurai Meenakshi temple
The Meenakshi from behind the Temple Pool
Golden Lotus in the temple pool.
Meenakshi temple decorated for the Navarathri festival.
Navaratri is an annual Hindu festival observed in honor of the goddess Durga, an aspect of Adi Parashakti, the supreme goddess. It spans over nine nights and ten days
Temple at Madura photographed in 1860 by Francis Frith
281 notes
·
View notes
