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B
eyond the North Tower in he Adi Street, there are five stone pillars. Each pillar has been carved out of a single stone. Each has little pillars, chiselled exquisitely. Each of these little pillars, produces characteristic sound which struck. Hence these are called ‘Musical Pillars’ such pillars are seen in the Tousand Pillar Mandapam also.
Near the pillars, at the beginning of the East Adi Street, there is a mandapam with sixteen pillars. The mandapam is called, Tattu Chuttur Mandapam. This was built in 1772 by Venkateswara Mudaliar. The feats of Saint Manickavasagar painted here. Crossinf this mandapam we come to the swamy Sannathi at the eastern end of which stands East Tower. This is the oldest of the big towers. It was built by Maravarmasundarapandyan (1216 – 36) . Hence it is also called Sundara Pandyan Tower. It is 153 Feet high with its base 111 feet by 65 feet. There are 1011 sculptures in it. It is said that during the reign of Vijayaranga chockanathar (1706 – 32), a temple employee committed suicide by falling down from this tower. Because of this, most of the visitors generally do not enter the temple by this tower. South of the East Tower, in the Chitrai Street is a small temple in which Madurai Veera Swamy is installed. Between this temple and the Ashta Shakti Mandaoam described at the beginning of the narration, is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Nation and a god amoung human beings. The Adi Streets enable the devotee to go round both the Amman and the Swamy deiites at the same time. High wall stand on the edges of these streets. They laid an appearance of forth walls. The Mandapam in the Adi Streets were built by Rani Mangama who ruled Madurai from 1680 to 1706.
F
rom the Mudali Pillai Mandapam, we come to an important to Sree Meenakshi Temple. A beautifulll rectangular tank face us right across its northern bank is situated the sanctum sanctorum of Sree Meenakshi. There are big stone corridors on the four sides of this tank.
The Golden Lily Tank is 40 Metra Long and 60 metra broad. There are stone steps on all the four sides leading almost to its bottom. The tank is filled with water during the major part of the year. Only very rarely does the tank get dry. Before entering sanctum sanctorum, Hindus who go into the temple bare-footed, wash their feet in the tank’s water. After washing their feet (and incidentally perhaps their sins) the pious Hindus sprinkle some water on their heads, take a handful of the water, get up the steps spary the water on a step, stand on the portion, face themselves towards the main deity put their palms together and pray with eyed closed for a new and better life. They then get up the steps and go to an idol of Lord Vinayaga immersed in the sacred ash. The south-western corner of the Golden Lily Tank present a grand view to one coming in from the Mudali Mandapam. In the background, we see the upper part of the majestic southern tower of the temple.
O
n the western side of the Golden Tank, there is asmall mandapam built in black marble. This is called the swing Mandapam (Nall) or Oonjal Mandapam.
Every Friday evening the golden idols of Sree Meenakshi and Lord Sundreswara are palced in a swing on the dais of this mandapam. A string is tied to this swing. Aman sits on the floor in front of the swing pulls it so that the swing moves to and fro. Now this mandapam is decorated fully with design mirrors. On other days, Tamil hymns are sung by Odhuvars who sit in front of the swing – dais. The six shrines of Lord Muruga are painted on the side walls above the dais opposite the swing mandapam. There is a small mandapam. Here we can see the artistic paintings panintings painted during Rani Mangamma’s time. The statues of Rani Mangamma, here minister, Ramappayyan and her grandson Vijayaragachokanathar, also find a place in this mandapam.
 Ramki_ind@rediffmail.com |
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