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Mariamman Theppakulam
The Mariamman Theppakulam in Vandiyur - 5km south east of Meenakshi
Temple is one of the the huge Temple tank in south India. It was built in 1636 and was
commissioned by Thirumalai nayakar in 1646. The area of the tank and the island pavilion with a garden in the center is approximately equal to the area of Meenakshi Temple. |
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The length of the tank is 1000 feet and width is 950 feet. The mandapam
and temple in the center of the tank enshrines an
idol of Lord Vigneshwara, the elephant-faced god. It is said to have been found when the earth was being dug out from here to build the Tirumalai Nayakkar
Mahal. So the place attained sanctity and was converted into a Teppakulam (tank).
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The Float Festival is celebrated here on the Full Moon Day of the Tamil month of Thai - mid-Jan, to mid-Feb every year. The placid waters of the tank turn colorful when the mandapam is lit up and the temple deities are brought to it in decorated floats. Huge
trees with Nagalingam flowers can be found here. The tank is connected to river
Vaigai through
underground channels. The tank has total of 12 long stairs (steps) on all four
sides. |
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