Madurai Meenakshi Temple
Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple is located in the holy city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva (in the form of Sundareswarar or Beautiful Lord) and his consort, Goddess Parvati (in the form of Meenakshi ). The complex houses 14 magnificent Gopurams or towers including two golden Gopurams for the main deities, that are elaborately sculptured and painted .
Madurai is one of the 51 Shakti Peetams and the temple is the seat of Bhudha. The Golden Lotus Tank inside the temple is surrounded by spacious corridors, the walls of which are covered with paintings depicting the Lord's miracles. Adjacent to the tank are the Unjal Mandapam and the Kilikoottu Mandapam. The long rows of pillars here contain delicately-carved figures. There is a special Peetam in a six-pillared mandapam, where the coronation of all Nayak kings took place. The coronation of Meenakshi is also performed on this Peetam every year during the Chitrai festival. Goddess Meenakshi is believed to have been born as the daughter of a Pandya king, and Siva as Sundareswarar, married her.
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