Meenakshi Amman Temple

Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historic Hindu temple located in the southern banks of river Vaigai in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Parvati who known as Meenakshi and her consort, Shiva, named here as Sundereswarar. The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2500 year old city of Madurai. The complex houses 14 gateway towers called gopurams, ranging from 45-50m in height, the tallest being the southern tower, 5.19 meters (170ft) high, and two golden sculptured vimana, the shrine over sanctum of the main deities. The temple is a significant symbol for the Tamil people, and has been mentioned since antiquity in Tamil literature; though the present structure is built during 1623 to 1655 CE the temple attracts 15,000 visitors a day, around 25,000 during Fridays and gets annual revenue of sixty million. There is an estimated 33,000 sculptures in the temple and it was in the list of top 30 nominees of the " New Seven Wonders of the World". The annual 10 day Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival celebrated during April-May attracts 1 million visitors.

The marriage was supposed to be the biggest event on earth, with the whole earth gathering near Madurai. Vishnu, the brother of Meenakshi, prepared to travel from his holy abode at Vaikuntam to preside over the marriage. Due to a divine play, he was tricked by the Deva, Indra and delayed on the way. After the marriage, their pair ruled over Madurai for a long time and then assumed divine forms as Sundareswarar and Meenakshi who are presiding deities of the temple Following the tradition, every evening, before closing the temple, a ritual procession led by drummers and a brass ensemble carries the image of Sundareswara to Meenakshi's bedroom to consummate the union, to be taken back to his day setting the next morning in dawn The marriage is celebrated annually as Chitrai Tiruvizha (meaning Chittirai festival) in Madurai. During the period of Nayakar rule in Madurai, the ruler Thirumalai Nayakar linked the Azhakar Thiruvizha (meaning Azhakar festival ) and the Meenakshi wedding ceremony.