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Sree Meenakshi Temple at Madurai in South India goes as for back as 1600 B.C. The Puranas (scriptures) tell us an interesting story about the temple ‘s origin.
In a forest of Kadama trees, there was a Lingam (semicylindrical stone) of Lord Sive under a kadamba tree. This Lingam is believed to have been installed by Lord Indra who come to the Earth to wash of his sins. Indra built the Sanctum Sanctorum and Vimanam (small tower over this Lingam). Later, Dhanajanyan, a merchant, happened to see this divine temple in the midist of the forest. At once he informed the king. Kulasekara Pandyan. The King’s captal was then at Manavur. Kulasekaran cleared the kadamba forest and built a small town round with the Siva Lingam. This town was the nucleus for the big city that came into being during later years. Sree Meenakshi temple was built between the thirteenth and nineteenth century. Then replaced many personas contributed to its construction. It should have been built to wood at first and then replaced by bricks and mortat. Round about 700 A.D. stones should have found a place in the temple. At that time, the pallave rulers began building temples in and around Conjeevaram with stones. Post Thirugnanasambandar, who lived in the seventh century, has referred to the Madurai Temple ‘Kodal Alavai’. At that time, the temple covered only the area round inner pragaram (path surrounding the deity) of Lord Siva’s idol. Kulasekara pandyan builts several mandapams (pavilions) like the Swami (Lord) koil, Arthamandapam, Mani Mandapam and Maha Mandapam. He also constructed a great part of the city round the fort. The Malimagal (Daughter of the Mountains) temple too was raised by Kulasekaran. This king also constructed temples of protective detities on the four sides of the city. These were the Iyyanar Koil in the east, Vinayagar koil in the south, Kariamal perumal koil in the west and Kali Koil in the north. Of these, the Kariamal Perumal temple was destroyed by the Muslim invaders. The Kali Koil is now called Chellath-amman Koil.
M
adurai- The second biggest city in Tamilnadu is in the heart of this state. It was the capital of the pandya kingdom till the 14th Century. During the pandya period it had extension sea- borne trade with the Rome and Grecce. The pandyan king kulasekhara built a great temple and created a lotus shaped city around the temple. The city was hence forth known Madhurapuri. In the 17th Century this city became renouned under the Nayak Kings who contributed much to its architectural adernment. Situated on the Bank of the river vaigai., it is about 490kms from Chennai.
M
adurai is 100 m above sea level in the very heart of Tamilnadu, about 460 km South West of Chennai and 140 km from Tiruchirapalli. A National Highway links the three cities. It is amout 170 km north-west of entry port of Rameswaram, to which also it is linked by National highway. The Second largest city in the state, Madurai has a population of 1,093,702 (1991 Census) and an area of about 22 sq.km.
Most ancient cities developed on the banks of rivers and Madurai is no exception. The old Madurai, which is the tourists Madurai, lies on the southern bank of the vaigai, river, which rises in the palani hills, to the west and flous South-East wards past the city. On the other side of the river are the hallmarks of modern civilisation - clubs, colleges, hotels and other such institutions. The city is shielded by two strking roch formations the Yanaimalai and the Magamalai. The Yanaimalai (Elephant Hill) in the north-east, which forms a backdrop to the Agriculture College of the Madurai Kamaraj University, looks like an elephant in repose when seen from afar. The Nagamalai (Snake Hille) is near the Madurai Kamaraj University. The palani hills lie to the west and the outliers of the western Ghats skirt the City’s boundaries. The Madurai season chart can be divided into the summber, winter and rainny seasons. The summer (April to June) is hot (Max 37.5 C, Min 36.3 C) and winter (November to January), Warm (max 21.6 C, Min 20.9 C). The Monsoon rains last from August to November. The city gets an average rain-full of 85 Cm a year. The best time to visit Madurai is between October and March, before the heat sets in.
Area : 22 sq. Kms. Popultion : 1,093,702 (1991 Census) Altitude : 101 Metres above Sea Level Temperature : Max. Mini. Summer 37.1’c 25’c Winter 29’c 20’c Rainfall : 85 cms (average) Clothing : Tropical Season : Throughout the year Languages Spoken : Tamil, Sourashtra and English STD Code : 0452 
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