About Temple
The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, also known as the Meenakshi Amman Temple, is an ancient Hindu temple situated in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It venerates Lord Shiva as Sundareswarar (the Beautiful Lord) and his consort Goddess Parvati as Meenakshi. This temple holds great significance for the 2500-year-old city of Madurai, serving as its heart and lifeline. The architecture of this structure is truly breathtaking and stands as a testament to the masterful skills of Vishwakarma Brahmins who sculpted it. Within the complex reside 14 magnificent Gopurams or towers, intricately carved and adorned with vibrant colors. Among them are two golden Gopurams dedicated to the main deities.
History
Although the true origins of the original structure are unclear, Tamil literature has been referencing this temple for centuries. As early as the 7th century, Thirugnanasambandar, a renowned Hindu saint who followed the Shaiva philosophy, mentioned this temple and its deity called Aalavai Iraivan. Unfortunately, in 1310, the infamous Muslim invader Malik Kafur is believed to have ravaged the temple and destroyed its ancient components. It was not until Arya Natha Mudaliyar stepped in that efforts were made to rebuild the structure.
