Thursday, December 24, 2009
at
2:53 AM
|
Festivals are celebrated in this temple thoughout the year. Some of the most popular festivals of the temple are Chitra festival, Avanimoola festival, Masi Mandala festival, Float festival, and Navarathri cultural festival.
Month of Chitrai (April):
The Chitra festival is celebrated for 12 days during the Tamil month of Chitrai (April in the English calendar) and begins with the flag hoisting on the first day. On the 8th day the coronation of Meenakshi Amman takes place. On the 9th day the Goddess is taken out in procession. On the 10th day the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar is performed, followed by car festival the next day, Theertha festival is celebrated on the 12th day with the Lord and Goddess going round Masi streets.
Month of Vaikasi (May):
The spring festival is hosted for ten days during this month. On the 10th day milk mango offerings would be offered to the deities. The Lord and Goddess would proceed to the New Mandapam stay there and be taken out in process. On the day of Moola star, the procession of 63 Saints would be conducted in the morning and at night Thirugnanasambandar would be taken out in procession.
Month of Aani (June):
Oonjal festival would be conducted for ten days during this month. On the `10th day, the triple fruit pooja would be performed. Abhishekam would be performed for Sivakami Amman and Arulmighu Nadarajar on the day of Uthiram. The Panchasabha Nadaraja Moorthy would be taken out in procession along the fur Masi streets.
Month of Aadi (July):
The Aadi Mulaikottu festival is celebrated for 10 days during this month. The festival would be confined to only to the Amman, who will be taken out in procession along Aadi streets. Spcial recitals of Nadaswaram would be the highlight of this festival.
Month of Aavani (August):
The Aavani festival would be conducted for 18 days. Six days of the festival would be devoted to Arulmighu Chandrasekarar and the balance 12 days would be for the Panchamoorthies. On the 7th day of the festival, coronation would be performed for Sundareswarar and on the 8th day the horse reins would be exchanged. On the 9th day the episode of Lord Sivaperuman carrying soil for earning pittu would be enacted while the theertham on the occasion of the joining of Avittam and Pooranai would be celebrated. On the same night, Arulmighu Thirupparankundram Subramaniyar and Thiruvadhavur Arulmighu Manickavasaka Peruman would bid farewe the festival of Chandrasekarar, procession would be taken out along the second corridor of Swami shrine. The Panchamoorthies would be taken around in processiion along Aavani Moola streets. During these days the ten miracles performed by the Lord of Madurai would be enacted by the Sivachariars.
Month of Purattasi (September):
The Navarathri festival would be celebrated for Amman in a grand manner during this month. Amman would appear in a separate dress and look every day and bless the devotees at the `kolu mandapam' in Amman Sannidhi. Kalpa pooja and Lakshacharna would be performed everyday for the Amman at the sanctum. On the 10th day the washing of hair ceremoney would be performed. On that Panchamoorthies would be taken out in procession within the temple premises. On all ten days of the festival cultural festivals would be hosted in a grand manner. The entire temple complex would be bathed in colour lamps and the dolls would be arranged in a manner to find a niche in the hearts of the devotees.
Month of Aipasi (October):
Kolattam festival would be conducted for six days during this month. For five days Amman would be taken out in procession along the Aadi streets while on the sixth day both Amman and Swamy would be taken out in procession. Women would dance striking short sticks together. It is during this month, that Pavithrotsavam would take place. Chandrasekarar would be taken in procession along the second corridor of Swamy Sannidhi.
Kanda Sashti fesival would be celebrated for six days at the Koodal Kumarar Sannidhi. Soorasamharam is not performed here. On the seventh day when Arulmighu Muthukumarar goes out in procession, `Pavadai Dharshan' would be conducted.
On the day of Deepavali festival, a durbar would be held for the employees of the temple.
On the days of Pooram in this month, the ceremony of hoisting and swinging Meenakshi Amman would be performed.
Month of Karthigai (November):
Deepam (lights) festival would be conducted for ten days during this month. Swamy would be taken out in procession along the Aadi streets. On the day of Karthigai one lakh lamps would be lit in the temple. On that day a bonfire would be lit in East Masi street,
Month of Marhazhi (December):
Oil anointing ceremony would be conducted for nine days in this month at the New Mandapam. Arulmighu Meenakshi Amman would be taken out in procession along the Chitra streets. On the day of Thiruvadhirai, Arudhr will take place. Pancha Sabha Nataraja Moorthigal would be taken in procession along the Masi streets.On the day of Ashtami the Lord and Goddess would ride the oxen vehicle and go round Kottai streets. Thiruvembavai festival would be conducted for ten days. Everyday, Arulmighu Manickavasagar would be taken out in procession along Aadi streets in the mornings. On the 10th rotating wheel and golden spring ceremonies would be conducted. In the mornings Thiruvembavai and Thirupalli Yezhutchi lyrics would be recited and there will be religious discourses by spiritual leaders. competitions would be conducted for school and college studens and prizes presented.
Month of Thai (January):
The float festival would be conducted for 12 days during the month. Swamy and Amman would be taken out in procession along the Chitra streets. On the 8th day the casting of net festival would be held while theertham festival and the pushing of the float would be held on the 10th day. On the 11th day harvesting of sheaves and on the 12th day the float festival would be conducted.
Month of Maasi (February):
The Maasi Mandala festival would be conducted for a mandalam (48 days). Six days of the festival is devoted to Arulmighu Vinayaka and six days for Arulmighu Kumar and three days for the triumvirate and six days for Chandrasekarar. The deities would be taken out in procession along the second corridor of Swamy Sannidhi. Panchamoorthy festival would be celebrated for ten days, when they will be taken out in procession along the Chitra streets. Theertham would be held on the day of Maham. Silent festival would be conducted for nine days of which three days would be for Chandrasekarar and an equal number of days for Swamy and Chandikeswarar. On the 10th day, the flag would be lowered and accounts read.
Month of Panguni (March):
The summer spring festival would be hosted for nine days at the Velliaymbala mandapam. Swamy and Amman would be taken in procession along Chitra streets. On the day of Panguni Uthiram, Swamy and Amman would proceed to Arulmighu Thiruvappudayar temple and bless those who excel in their religious belief by sprinkling `rasa vadham  | | 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. |
Posted by
tamilnatu turisum
Posted by
tamilnatu turisum
Posted by
tamilnatu turisum
Posted by
tamilnatu turisum
Meenakshi Temple, Madhurai, Tamil Nadu Preamble: A diamond is radiant and brilliant because of its facets. It reflects and refracts light to produce a spectacular show of color and light that makes it the most desirable of all the jewels. Hinduism is very much like that diamond, multifaceted, brilliant and reflects the human mind in all its glory. No one facet of Hinduism could account for all its grandeur. Hinduism is also very vast and fathomless. When we study Hinduism, we are like the five blind men who went to 'see' the elephant. We form our own idea of what Hinduism is all about and tend to be dogmatic about it. Some consider Hinduism to be all about the pantheon of Gods with extranumerary arms, anthropomorphic idols, and bestial featured curiosities. Others think of it as a cult of naked sadhus and saffron clad baldies jumping up and down in the airport lounges peddling books. Then there are the ashram-tycoons floating around in Rolls Royces and private jets professing the power of organized religion. None of this truly represents Hinduism but all are part of it. Our religion is this and much more. It may not even be called a religion, it represent a way of life that evolved over thousands of years and has gathered so much of human history, tradition, culture, and the greatness and meanness of the intellectual and the commoner. The schools are myriad and dogma rampant. There is intellectual Hinduism lashed out in voluminous books and dished out in erudite conferences and there is the practical Hinduism of the day-to-day life of the masses. A student of Hinduism is like a child let loose in a candy shop, attracted to the colorful and the catchy display and the flavor of the day. However, soon he will realize where the true sweetness lies and it may not be the best looking one. This is a birds-eye-view of Hinduism and you may not agree or accept everything that is said here. Hinduism lends itself to difference in views and thoughts and disagreements. There lies its strength. It has no barriers and all are welcome. In a nutshell: The universal guiding principles on which Hinduism is based are: Truth (Satyam), Compassion towards all (Ahimsa), Social norms (Dharma), Tolerance, Duty and Self-control. Who is the Authority? God alone is the authority. Since we cannot directly converse with God, His words are considered authority. The Shruthies or Vedas are a compilation of thoughts of the seers and sages who were in close communion with Nature or God. They are collected into the four, Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharvana Vedhas by the sage Vedha Vyasa. They are all very ancient and are handed down to us by generations of our forefathers memorizing the details and reproducing it for us. The Vedhas are in the Sanskrit language and they deal with nature, Gods, rituals, the nature of Self and the duties of Human beings. The end sections appended to each Vedha are the Vedhanta or the Upanishads, which extensively deals with the nature of God, creation and the attributes of the universe. There is no founder for Hinduism. No body could ascertain when it started and by who. It has evolved over the eons to the present state. There is no one “Bible” for Hinduism, as there are many “Bibles”. Some consider the Upanishads as their sourcebook and others The Bhagavat Githa or the Thirukkural and so on. There are many schools and many texts and claim any one as “The Book” and to discredit others is an exercise in foolishness. There are practicing Hindus all over the world, speaking different languages and living a Hindu life that is slightly different from others. When a spiritual idea becomes a religion, it loses some its open mindedness and becomes obsessed with self-preservation. The Hindu Gods: They are many. Some are women, some are men, some are animals and some have no form. Why are there hundreds of Gods? Think for a moment that there is only McDonalds and no other restaurant and they only serve cheeseburger. How would that be? Why are there churches of many denominations on a single street though they all worship the same God? It is a mere reflection of how human beings think. Each one has a different goal, needs and aspirations and so everyone needs a personal God to appeal to. In Hinduism, thought is free. As a matter of fact, even atheism is an integral part of Hindu Philosophy. Why do Hindus worship animals? We not only worship animals, but we also worship stones, rocks, mountains, rivers, the Sun, the planets, fire, water, wind, earth, space, the arts, the ancestors and other useless items. They are all part of our life and are benefactors and destroyers of our happiness. We are at their mercy, so we worship them. What is Hindu view of creation? There are many views. The earlier view is that the universe is a manifestation of God himself. What we see as matter and world are considered by some as Maya or illusion. Others consider them distinct from God. There is also a strong acceptance of the evolution of matter into living being. The later theory is that Brahma as a creator projected himself in the universe. He spent his Bhrahma day (4320 million human years) creating and his entire night dissolving or absorbing his creation. The creation and absorption cycle goes on and on. Each cycle is called a Kalpam. Reincarnation and Karma: Everything is created, dissolved and created again. When a living being dies, its soul continues to remain and appears in another form. According to the Law of Karma, man has several births and deaths. He is responsible for his action in the present life. Good deeds lead to better life in the next birth and vice versa. Deliverance from the cycle of birth and death through good deeds is Moksha or Heaven. Suffering in one's present life is because of misdeed in his previous births, i.e., ‘bad karma'. The name, “Hinduism”: The term Hinduism is of late coinage. When the invaders crossed the river Sindhu in northwest India , the terms Hindu and India were created. The names,“Vaideeka Dharma”(religion of the Vedas) and “Sanatana Dharma”(eternal religion) are more representative of our way of life. Similarly, India 's original name was Bharat or Baratha varsha (the land of Bharatha , the son of King Dhushyantha and Sakunthala who is the daughter of sage Viswamithra and Menaka). text can do justice to the Meenakshi temple. The gigantic temple complex, the statues exploring the entire range of human emotions, everything here is larger than life. The Meenakshi temple complex is a city temple - one of the largest and certainly one of the most ancient. According to legend Madurai is the actual site where the wedding between Shiva and Meenakshi took place. The soaring and exquisitely carved towers enclose the temple dedicated to Meenakashi. The south gateway contains the twin temples of Shiva and Meenakshi and is about nine storeys high.  The Origin Of The Meenakshi TempleThe Sri Meenakshi Sundareswara temple and Madurai city originated together. According to tradition, Indra once committed sin when he killed a demon, who was then performing penance. He could find no relief from remorse in his own kingdom. He came down to earth. While passing through a forest of Kadamba trees in Pandya land, he felt relieved of his burden. His servitors told him that there was a Shivalinga under a Kadamba tree and beside a lake. Certain that it was the Linga that had helped him; he worshipped it and built a small temple around it. It is believed that it is this Linga, which is till under worship in the Madurai temple. The shrine is called the "Indra Vimana". Once Dhananjaya, a merchant of Manavur, where the Pandyas had arrived after the second deluge in Kumari Kandam, having been overtaken by nightfall in Kadamba forest, spent the night in the Indra Vimana. When next morning he woke up, he was surprised to see signs of worship. Thinking that it must be the work of the Devas, he told the Pandya, Kulasekhara, in Manavur, of this. Meanwhile Lord Shiva had instructed Pandya in a dream to build a temple and a city at the spot Dhananjaya would indicate. Kulasekhara did so. Thus originated the temple and city. Earliest References Of The TempleParanjothi Munivar wrote the Tiruviayadal Puranam in the sixteenth century. It is regarded as the temple's Sthalapurana. An earlier work adds a few celestial sports not included in the latter. These are, or rather were painted on the walls around the Golden Lily Tank. Some of the painted wooden panels are in the Temple Museum. The earliest references available to any structure in this temple is a hymn of Sambhandar's, in the seventh century, which refers to the "Kapali Madil". The present inner walls of the Lords shrine bear this name today. In the early times the entire temple must have been confined to the area between these walls, and the structures must have been of brick and mortar. In the 14th century an invasion by Malik Kafur damaged the temple. In the same century Madurai was under Muslim rule for nearly fifty years. The temple authorities closed the sanctum, covered up the Linga, and set up another in the Ardhamandapa. When the city was liberated, the sanctum was opened, and, tradition says the flower garlands and the sandalwood paste placed on the Linga were as fresh as on the first day, and two oil lamps were still burning.
- Ashta Sakthi Mandapa
It is a convention in this temple, different from that followed in others, that the devotee offers worship first to Goddess Meenakshi. Therefore, while there are four other entrances into the temple, under huge Gopuras in the four cardinal directions, it is customary to enter not through any of them but through a Mandapa, with no tower above it. This entrance leads directly to the shrine of the Goddess.
This Mandapa is an impressive structure, with a hemispherical ceiling. It is 14m long and 5.5m wide. There are bas-reliefs all over the place. Over the entrance one of them depicts the marriage of Goddess Meenakshi with Lord Somasundara. The Mandapa derives its name, the "Ashta Sakthi", from the fact it contains sculptures of the eight Sakthis (also spelt as Shakti). Those of the four principal Nyanmars were added during renovation of the temple in 1960-63. - Samagam Meenakshi Naicker Mandapa
A smaller Mandapa connects the large one with another large one with another large hall, called the "Samagam Meenakshi Naicker Mandapa", after its builder, a minister of Vijayaranga Chokkanatha (1706-32), who erected in 1707. In former times the temple's elephants camels and bulls used to be stabled here. A brass "Tiruvatchi" holding a thousand and eight lamps stands here, 7.6m high. Marudu Pandya, one of the early opponents of the growing British power, installed it.
The Meenakshi Naicker Mandapa is a huge hall, 42.9m long and 33.5m wide. It contains 110 stone columns, each 6.7m high. There are yalis in the capital and delicate reliefs below. Some of the carvings are unfinished. - Mudali Pillai Mandapa
The Mudali Pillai Mandapa follows the Chitra Gopura. Added in 1613, it is 183m long and 7.6m wide. On its wall are many puranic scenes. It used to be without any natural light, but windows were added in the last renovation.  The Golden Lily Tank
The lovely and historic Golden Lily tank then comes into view. It is from its banks that most popular photographic views of the temple are taken, showing the gigantic south outer Gopura. The northern corridor leads directly to the shrine of the Goddess. On its pillars are the images of some of the Sangam poets, of Kulasekhara Pandya, the first builder of the temple, and of Dhananjaya, who figures in the traditional story of its origin. There is no fish in the tank.
The corridors around the tank are rightly called the "Chitra Mandapa", for the walls carry paintings of the divine sports of the Lord, as narrated in the "Tiruvilayadal Puranam". They have been renewed from time to time. A short while ago there were paintings on wooden panels affixed over an older series. They have since been removed to the Temple Museum in the thousand-pillared Mandapa, leaving some dilapidated murals to view. It is impossible to ascertain the date of these.
It was in the sixteenth century that the corridors and the steps leading down to the tank were constructed; the northern corridor and steps in 1562, those on the east in 1573, and those on the south five years later.- The Unjal And Kilikatti Mandapas
Two Mandapas, the Unjal and the Kilikatti, stand on the farther way to the shrine of the Goddess. On their ceilings are more paintings. A celebrated mural, opposite to the entrance of the shrine, depicts the marriage of Goddess Meenakshi. The Kilikatti Mandapa derives its name from the fact that there are parrots in a cage here. On its walls are carvings of the divine sports. The most ornamental of the temple's Mandapas, it was built in 1623.
A Gopura of three tiers stands over the entrance from this Mandapa into the shrine of the Goddess. Built in 1227 by Vambathura Ananda Tandava Nambi, it is named the Vambuthurar Gopura after him. The shrine consists of a square sanctum, an Ardhamandapa and a Mukhamandapa. In the niches on the walls of the shrine are images of Iccasakthi in the south, Kriyasakthi in the west, and Jnanasakthi in the north. There are shrines of Vinayaka and Subramanya in the outer Prakara. They probably belong to the fifteenth century. - The Historic Shrines In The Prakaras
There are a number of historic shrines in the Prakaras. Opposite to an entrance into the first from the Mahamandapa there is one of Lord Sabhapathi. This is the famous Velliambalam where one of the Lord's divine sports took place when, at the request of the sages, Patanjali and Vyagrapadha, He danced as Lord Nataraja.
In the second Prakara a shrine, now called that of the Sangam poets, contains images of many of them. In the same Prakara there is a shrine apparently dedicated to Kariyamanikka Perumal, but now empty. Also in the same Prakara there is a row of fourteen small shrines, called the "isvarams". Many of them contain Lingas.
|
Major Festivels Celebrated at Madurai- Teppam Festival At Madurai
The famous festivals held at Madurai, include Teppam festival, the annual Float Festival, wherein the images of Sri Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswara (also spelt as Sundreshwara) are mounted on floats, and taken to Mariamman Teppakkulam Tank, where for several days they are pulled back and forth across the water in the middle of the tank, on an illuminated raft embellished with flowers, before being taken back to the main temple. - Meenakshi Kalyanam At Madurai
The annual solemnization of the marriage of Meenakshi with Lord Sundareshwar (Shiva) is one of the most spectacular temple festivals at Madurai's famous Meenakshi temple in Tamil Nadu. Car processions of the goddess and the god are some of the colourful features of this festival.
Meenaskhi Kalyanam, the wedding festival of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwar is celebrated for twelve days from the second day of the lunar month (i.e. two days after the new moon). This is a spectacular festival celebrated in the month of Chaitra (April-May).
The festival is characterized with royal decorated umbrellas, fans and traditional instrumental music. Scenes from mythology are enacted and the deities of Lord Shiva, Goddess Shakti and Goddess Meenakshi are taken out in a colourful procession. Thousands of devotees from all over the country gather in the city of Madurai on this occasion.
|
How to Get there- Air
Madurai is connected by air with Mumbai and Chennai. Madurai airport is 10-km away from the city. - Rail
Madurai has direct rail connections to Bangalore, Coimbatore, Kollam, Chennai, Rameshwaram, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Tirupathi and Tuticorin. - Road
There are excellent roads connecting Madurai to all parts of South India. Madurai city has 5 Major Bus Stands- Periyar Bus Stand, Anna Bus Stand, Palanganatham Bus Stand, Arapalayam Bus Stand, Mattuthavani Bus Stand. From Madurai town buses, suburban buses, taxis, auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are available to reach the temple.
|
 | Related Tour Packages South India Temple Tour (PI 001) Duration : 14 Nights / 15 Days Places Covered : Chennai - Kanchipuram – Mamallapuram - Pondicherry – Trichy - Thanjavur - Madurai - Rameshwaram - Coimbatore - Ooty - Nagarhole - Mysore - Hassan - Bangalore | |
Temples in South India (PI 007) Duration : 10 Nights / 11 Days Places Covered : Chennai - Mamallapuram- Chidambaram- Trichy - Madurai - Kanya Kumari - Trivandrum | |
|
|
Posted by
tamilnatu turisum
Posted by
tamilnatu turisum
 present day city of Madurai is said to have been known as Kadambavanam, a forest. Lord Indra was worshipping Swayambhu, the Lingam in the forest which was noticed by Dhananjaya, a farmer. The Lingam was under the Kadamba tree. The reported about what he saw in Kadambavanam to King Kulasekara Pandiya. Thus the kind ordered to clear the forest in the place and to build a temple around the Lingam. With the temple as the center, a city was soon planned and developed. When the city was created it is said that a drop of honey fell on the town from the hair of Lord Shiva who appeared. Thus the city was named as Mathuram, meaning sweetness in Tamil, which is now changed to Madurai. Lord Shiva has performed about sixty-four wonders called "Thiruvilaiyadals" in the city of Madurai and thus Madurai occupies a very important place in the history. Megasthanes visited Madurai in the 3rd century BC and the place is said to be visited by many people from Rome and Greece and they were involved in the trade with the Pandiya Kings who were ruling over the place in those days.
|
Madurai is said to have flourished in the 10th century AD which was the time when the Pandiyas rule was captured by the Cholas. From 920 AD till the beginning of the 13th century, Madurai was ruled over the Cholas. The Madurai was captured again by the Pandiyas and they ruled the place from 1223 AD. It was the Pandian Kings who spread the language of Tamil and many master pieces in the Tamil language like “Silapathikaram” is said to have been created in the days. Malik Kafur, the general of Alauddin Khilji who was ruling over the region of Delhi had raided Madurai in the year 1311 for precious stones, jewels and gems. Then Madurai was raided by many other Muslim rulers. Madurai became a province of the Delhi Empire in the year 1323 which came under the rule of the Tughlaks. The Vijayanagar Dynasty of Hampi came in the year 1371 to capture Madurai. In those days, the Vijayanagar Empire Kings has appointed people who were called by the name Nayaks to rule their places. In return the Nayaks paid some fixed amount to the Kings. |  | When Krishna Deva Raya, one of the Kings of the Vijayanagar Empire died in the year 1530 AD, the Nayaks took over the territories and began to rule them. Thirumalai Nayak is one of the famous Nayaks who is still famous among the people in Madurai. He ruled over the place from 1623 to. 1659. The Thirumalai Nayak has created many magnificent structures in the city like the Raja Gopuram of the Meenakshi Amman Temple, The Thirumalai Nayakar's Palace and the Pudu Mandapam which are still places visited by the people. It was in the year 1781 that Madurai began to be ruled by the British and the first collector for Madurai was George Procter. In the early days Madurai and Dindugal were situated in the same district which was then separated. Today in the state of Tamil Nadu, Madurai stands as an important city that connects the Northern and the Southern Tamil Nadu with 15 State Assembly constituencies and two parliament constituencies. Another famous thing that attracts people in Madurai is the Jasmine flowers. It is being sent to the other parts of India and also exported to foreign countries |
| Manikkavasagar, the author of "The Thiruvaachakam" (the great Upanishad in Tamil), is said to have been born in Vadhavoora, a village seven miles from modern Madurai, on the banks of river Vaigai. He was the illustrious minister of Pandinaadu.
Once, Manikkavasagar was given money by the Pandiyan King to buy horses for the cavalry. But he used the money to renovate the dilapidated temple at Thiru-p-perunthurai. He knew that the cavalry is in urgent need of remounts. But, when he arrived at Thirupperunthurai, he saw that the temple was in more urgent need of renovation. So he diverted the money for the renovation of the temple, an act well within his powers of discretion. He was not misappropriating the state funds.If anyone was in the wrong, it was the king who was in the wrong. Manikkavasagar was put into prison.This was the reason why Lord Shiva chose to teach the king, the evanescent nature of faith in power based on an army. It was therefore that he made the howling jackals turn into cavalry horses. Lord Shiva reached Madurai with the horses. The king was pleased and he released Manikkavasagar.On the same day, (midnight) all the cavalry horses turned into howling jackals. The message reached the king through his soldiers.
Whereupon, the king threw Manikkavasagar into prison. Mundane justice was satisfied,the ends of the law of karma was fulfilled. But divine law had been forgotten by the king. Lord Shiva made the perenially dry Vaigai rise in devasting flood. The king had to be taught a lesson and Manikkavasagar too had to learn a lesson - an elementary lesson in the service of god. Pandiyan king ordered every family in Madurai to send one man for each family to help to throw embankments to contain the waters of Vaigai. Prisoners, who were the first people to be pressed into service in such emergencies even in those days would not have been spared by Pandiyan.
So, Manikkavasagar was there with his basket frantically throwing hods of mud into the hungry waters of the Vaigai. An old lady Vanthi, who used to sell "Pittu" could not send anyone from her family to throw embankments to contain the waters of Vaigai.The lady was a disciple of Lord Shiva . So, Lord Shiva planned to help the old lady and he appeared as a labourer infront of her.She, being a poor lady said that she will give him "Pittu" instead of money if he is ready to throw mud into Vaigai river. He accepted to carry mud in his head and throw it into the waters of Vaigai. He was very lazy used to sleep after eating "Pittu". The Pandiyan King came to know about Vanthi's servant through his soldiers. He ordered his Soldiers to bring him . Then the king started beating him on his back.Immediately, Lord Shiva, who was the servant of Vanthi disappeared after throwing a basket of mud into Vaigai. The king then realised that it was Lord Shiva who came as servant to rescue Manikkavasagar. Thus Lord Shiva taught the Pandiyan king - a much needed lesson in righteous kingship.
To commemorate this historical incident,'Avani Festival' is celebrated every year in the month of 'Avani'. This is another important festival next to 'Chithirai Festival'. | | | Lord Shiva performed "Thiruvilayadals" for poets who prayed to him for succour. Once the Pandiyan king had a doubt as to whether the scent from a woman's hair was natural or artificial. He announced a price of 1000 gold coins for anyone who clear his doubt. A poor poet named Tharumi prayed to Lord Shiva to make him get the award. The Lord gave a poem to the poet and asked him to take it to the King.
When this poem was read in the court, Poet Nakkeerar found fault with it and stopped the giving of the prize. Alas! Tharumi's grief grew and he again appealed to the Lord. He said he was not for not receiving the prize but he could not bear anyone finding fault with the Lord's poems.
Thereupon, Lord Shiva himself came to the court and challenged Nakkeerar. But Nakkeerar could not be cowed down. Though the divine poet asked him if the hair of Ganapoongodai,the consort of Lord Kalathinathar,whom Nakkeerar worshipped ,did not have the natural scent,the undaunted Nakkeerar asserted that it was so.
Suddenly the Lord opened the eye in his forehead (Netrikkan) which emitted fire and looked at Nakkeerar to show the poet who he was. Even then, Nakkeerar persisted in his statement. As he could not bear the scorching heat, emanating from the divine eye he jumped into the water of the Golden Lotus Tank. Then at the request of the other poets, the Lord took Nakkeerar out of the tank, forgave him and made him study under 'Agasthiar', the Tamil Sage. | | | Alauddin Khilji, who was the successful ruler in North India wanted to occupy Tamil Nadu. So he sent his Army Chief Malik Kafur to Madurai. He attacked Madurai in the year 1310. He easily won the battle as the then Pandiyan king Veerapandiyan lacked a powerful army. He also planned to destroy the Madurai temple after capturing the fort.
One of Malik Kafur's soldiers by name "Thiruvegambarayan" came to see the temple. He noticed eight elephant statues around the main Garpagraha. He asked a saint who was sitting in the "Siththar Sannidhi" about those elephants.The saint told him about the "Thiruvilayadals" of Lord Shiva.Once Lord Shiva came as "Siththar" and gave those elephants sugarcane. He asked the saint whether it will happen even today.
"Thiruvegambarayan" who felt surprised informed Malik Kafur about the elephant statues. Malik Kafur came to the temple to see those statues. Malik Kafur was given sugarcane by the saint to feed the elephants. To everyone's surprise the stone elephant stretched its trunk and ate the sugarcane. Malik Kafur was astonished. He said," Truly, god is present here only". He also ordered his soldiers to stop destructing the temple.
The temple was thus saved from demolition. When they attempted to know about the saint, he was not there.It was Lord Shiva who incarnated as the saint to rescue the temple. |
|
Silapathikaram is one of the five great epics written in Tamil language. This Master-piece was written by "Elangovadigal". The story of Kannagi plays an important role in history of Madurai. There lived a merchant by name "Maasaathuvaan" in Kaveripoompattinam. He had a son called "Kovalan". He was married to "Kannagi" who was the beautiful daughter of a merchant by name "Maanaikkan".
Later Kovalan fell in love with a dancer called "Madhavi". He became a spendthrift and soon he lost all his property. On the occasion of "Indira" festival in Kaveripoomopattinam, he had a dispute with Madhavi and he went back to Kannagi. In order to regain his property, he went to Madurai along with his wife kannagi to start a business. They were accompanied by "Kavunthiadigal". But she continued her journey after leaving the Kovalan and Kannagi in "Puranjery" where they were accompanied by "Madhari" who was a cowherds. She helped the couple in all ways. Kannagi gave her Jewelled anklet ("Silambu") to Kovalan and asked him to sell it so that he can start his new business. Kovalan went to market to sell one of Kannagi's anklets.
In the meantime, the queen of Pandiyan King Nedunchezhiyan, lost her anklets ("Silambu"). Actually, the court Jeweller had robbed the queen's anklets. Once the wicked jeweller happened to see Kovalan with Kannagi's anklets in the market. He seized the anklet from Kovalan and informed the king about it. The king sent guards to arrest Kovalan. Kovalan was accused of having stolen the queen's anklets and was killed as per the king's order.
When Kannagi came to know about the news, she went out into the town, with her eyes ablaze with anger, carrying the remaining anklet in her hand as proof of her husband's innocence. She made the king realise the truth by breaking her anklet which was made of Manickam. When Pandiyan king came to know that he had punished an innocent, he died in his throne by saying "Oh! I am the thief and he is not the thief". The queen also died at that spot. Kannagi burnt Madurai into ashes in consequence to the injustice caused to her husband Kovalan.
|
|
| Yaanai Malai
Yaanai malai is situated at a distance of 9 Kms east of Madurai. Since it appears as if an elephant is lying with its legs stretched, the mountain has been named so. It seems that a large number of elephants have lived in this forest area which is located around Kadambavanam, two thousand years back. So this mountain is called as "Yaanai Malai". Our historical legends say that Samanars lived in this forest. Caves were built in these mountains for their shelter. During the period when Samanars dominated the scene in Tamil Nadu, Jain Saints lived in the places around Madurai. These Jain Saints have lived in eight mountains.
Among them, the important mountains are Yaanai Malai, Naga Malai and Sunanga Malai. "Brahmi" Scripts are inscribed in the caves of Yaanai Malai.Archeologist say that these scripts are two thousand years old. The Pandiyan king "Nedunchadayan Paraanthagan" ruled Madurai in 8th Century A.D. He was a Saivite who later became a Vaishnavite. He was inspired by Periyalwar. "Maarankaari" who was the minister of Paaranthagan built a temple for "Narasinga Perumaan" in 770 A.D. in Yaana Malai. After his death, his younger brother "Maaran" built a entrance (Muga Mandapam) for the temple.
All these information are known from the inscriptions of Yaanai Malai. There is a belief that Samanars sent elephants,snakes and pigs to assault Lord Shiva. But Lord Shiva cursed them to become stones. According to "Thiruvilayaadal Puranam" when elephant was used as a weapon to attack Lord Shiva, he killed it with a bow called "Narasinga" (Narasinga Ambu). Vaishnavites captured Yaanai Malai from Samanars and made the quit Ys anai Malai. |
Posted by
tamilnatu turisum
|
MARVEL and SPIDER-MAN: TM & 2007 Marvel Characters, Inc. Motion Picture © 2007 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2007 Sony Pictures Digital Inc. All rights reserved. blogger templates |
