Madurai Meenakshi Temple

The original temple was built by Kulasekara Pandya, but the entire credit for making the temple as splendid as it is today goes to the Nayaks. The Nayaks ruled Madurai from the 16th to the 18th centuries and left a majestic imprint of their rule in the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple. Its twelve gouprams (towers) are replete with sculpted figures of gods and goddesses. The four tallest gopurams stand on the massive outer walls of the temple, one on each side. The Southern Gopuram is the tallest in the temple and the only one that may be climbed. From atop this 50 m. (160 ft.) high gopuram, one gets a complete view of the other gopurams as well as the two vimanas (roof above the shrine). 

Chitra Gopuram 
To the west of the Meenakshi Nayakkar Mandapam is the seven-storeyed Chitra gopuram, the tallest and most artistically sculpted inner tower. There are nearly 730 beautiful miniature sculptures on this tower. 

Mudali Mandapam 
The entrance through Chitra Gopuram leads to a narrow dark hall that is little more than a passage. This is the Mudali Mandapam and it has some unusual sculptures, Shiva as Bikshadanar ( mendicant ), statues of Mohini ( the charmer ) and a saint of the Tharuga forest, among others. 

Potramaraikulam 
Stone steps lead down from the colonnade to this ancient tank, enabling devotees to bathe in its holy water. The Potramaraikulam figures in the legend connected with the origin of the Madurai shrine and is, hence, as old as the temple itself. The 40 meters by 60 meters tank in itself, is also closely associated with that legendary Tamil literary institution known as the Sangam.

Rani Mangammal Mandapam 
On the western side of the Potramaraikulam is the small Rani Mangammal Mandapam, projecting over the steps of the tank. Rani Mangammal of the Nayak dynasty ruled over Madurai in the late 17th century, maintaining 
amicable relations with neighbouring sovereigns republic empires. After 15 years of tactful and diplomatic regin, she was tortured to death by her ungrateful and jealous generals. 

The mandapam has statues of the queen, her minister Ramappayyan & grandson, Vijayarangachochanathar. There are also several paintings dating from Rani Mangammal's time. The one on the ceiling is especially striking, depicting the scene at the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Thirukkalyanam (wedding) and capturing in paint all the gaiety which marks a South Indian wedding. Gods and goddesses, richly attired, sourround the divine couple, as Vishnu, the brother of the bride, holds here affectionately. Lord Brahma below performs the ceremony proper, uttering relevant mantras before the fire. 

Oonjal Mandapam 
Opposite the Rani Mangammal Mandapam is a black marble stone structure with an onnjal ( Swing ) hanging in the hall within. This is the Onnjal Mandapam, where the golden idols of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar are brought every Friday for a ceremonial swing. Special offerings are made and Tamil hymns sung by priests, as Meenakshi and Sundareswarar are rocked gaily to and fro. The idols are about 45 cm and 35 cm in height. They are both pieces of classical workmanship, dating to the 16 th century, and may have, therefore, been consecrated by the great Visvanatha Nayak. 

Kilikoondu Mandapam  Northwest of the Potramaraikulam is the Kilikoondu Mandapam ( parrot cage hall ). As the name indicates, there are caged parrots in the hall. But more interesting are its 28 huge monolithic pillars carrying life-size sculptures of various figures from the Hindu mythology-the Pandavas, Vali, Sugreeva and the inevitable yali of which the Vijayanagar kings were very fond, and which are found on at least a few pillars in almost every hall in the temple.  At the southern end of this hall is the shrine of the Sthala Vigneswara.

Ayirankkal Mandapam  To the east of the Sundareswarar sannadhi is a large courtyard with a number of  mandapams. The Veeravasantharayar Mandapam and the Ayrinkkal (a thousand  pillars) Mandapam are two of the biggest. The Veeravasantharayar Mandapam was built by Thirumalai Nayak’s elder brother, Muthuveerappa Nayakkar.

To its south are the Muthurama Aiyer, Kalyana Sundara Mudaliar and servaikarar mandapams. And to its north is the beautiful Ayirakkal Mandapam which Ferguson, the historian of Indian architecture, has described as "the wonder of the place".  In the Ayirankkal Mandapam are 985 pillars, each beautifully sculpted & supporting a roof of 73 meters by 76 meters. The entire gamut of emotions has been crystallized.  In stone in the images of gods, goddesses and men represented in this exuberant display of Dravidian sculpture. It is said that the large size of the many-pillared halls, mush favoured by the Nayak kings of the 16th century, necessitated the setting up of an elaborate stone-cutter’s ‘factory’ to ‘manufacture’ beams and pillars in an unending flow.  Today, the Ayirankkal Mandapam houses the Temple Art Museum, containing icons, drawings and photographs that trace the 1200 - year - old history of Indian temple architecture in the south. Much light is shed on the Hindu pantheon and related legends in this splendid museum.

Musical Pillars  There are 2 specimens of ingenious ‘musical pillars’ in the Ayirankkal Mandapam. There are five such pillars in North Adi Street also, near the Mottai Gopuram. Each musical pillar has a central column surrounded by groups of slender columns chiselled from the same stone. Each of these thin pillars produce a different musical note when struck.

Thattu Chuttur Mandapam 
Also known as the 16-Pillar Mandapam, this mandapam at the junction of the North and East Adi Streets, is an 18th century contribution by Venkateswara Mudaliar. The feats of saint Manickavasgar, who was renowned Prime Minister in the court of a Pandyan King before he became a saint, are painted here. 

Raja Gopuram 
Beyond the Pudhu Mandapam, farther east, is the unfinished Raja Gopuram, the huge temple tower with a base measuring almost 70m X 40m. Its monolithic pillars are each over 30 meters high. Thirumalai Nayak started his mammoth project, but the democratic emperor died before it was completed. 

The Meenakshi temple is open to public from 5 am-1 pm and from 4 am to 10 pm. Cameras may be taken into the complex on some payment of money in rupees. Foot wears are not allowed inside the temple. At 9.15 every night, melodious music accompanies Sundareswarar as he goes to rest beside Meenakshi.