Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple is on the Vaigai River banks in Tamil Nadu. The Temple’s main deity is Meenakshi (Goddess Parvati) and her consort Sundareswara (Lord Shiva). The Madurai Meenakshi temple timings are from 5 AM to 9:30 PM.
Madurai Meenakshi Temple
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Initially, the Temple’s main deity was Lord Sundareswara, and over time devotees worshipped Meenakshi as the main deity. Those who visit this city do not even think of leaving without taking the blessings of the Goddess.
The Madurai Temple Complex in Madurai has an estimated 33,000 magnificent sculptures. Meenakshi Devi is unique because she always represents a beautiful woman wearing a green sari and holding a parrot in her right hand.
King Thirumalai Nayakar built the beautiful and historic structures of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple. The present structure of the temple complex was built by the Madurai Nayaks, especially during the reign of King Thirumalai Nayak in the 15th century.
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History
The original Madurai Meenakshi Temple believes to have been built by the Pandya king Kulasekara from the late sixth century to the early 7th century.
It is evident from the writings of the Tamil saint Thirujnanasambandar, who sang in praise of the Goddess and the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai in his seventh-century work.
In the 14th century, after the fall of the Pandya dynasty, there was an internal conflict over the inheritance of the throne.
Taking advantage of the controversy, Ala-ud-din Khilji of the Delhi Sultanate sent his general Malik Kafur to invade Madurai in 1310.
When he reached Madurai, he demolished the temple towers and destroyed many sculptures and historical records. However, the main shrine of Meenakshi Amman and Sundareswara was kept intact.
This incident led to the spread of Islam in South India, especially in Tamil Nadu. The Temple expanded to its present status during the reign of Thirumala Nayak from 1623 to 1655.
He was responsible for constructing several pavilions inside the Madurai Meenakshi Temple complex, especially the Vasantha Mandapam and the Kilikondu Mandapam (Parrot Corridor).
The famous and courageous Rani Mangammal, one of the few women rulers of ancient India, built the ancient Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple Tank and the corridors of the Meenakshi Nayakar Mandapam.
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Architecture
The Temple is one of India’s finest examples of Dravidian-style architecture. Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple is a replica of the Dravidian style of architecture.
The Temple had considered the city centre of the 2500-year-old city. According to ancient records, the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai was the city’s centre.
A notable fact to note about the establishment of shrines is that the Temple of Lord Sundareswara covers precisely one-fourth of the total area of the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. The Meenakshi Devi Temple is exactly one-fourth the size of the Sundareswarar Temple.
It indicates that Shiva had more ritualistic importance than Meenakshi Devi in ancient times. The Meenakshi Temple in Madurai has four main entrances, one in each cardinal direction.
The four domes of each main entrance are sculptures depicting many gods and goddesses, sacred animals and demons. The South Tower (built-in 1559) is tall at 170 feet (52 m).
The oldest of them is the Eastern Tower, built-in 1238. Meenakshi Devi and Sundareswarar temples had covered with a golden plane or peak above.
The ceilings of the interior corridors are decorated with vibrant colours to provide a beautiful visual experience.
Madurai Meenakshi Temple Timings
Madurai Meenakshi Temple Timings are:
| Darshan Schedule | Madurai Meenakshi Temple Timings |
| Morning Timings | 5:00 AM to 12:30 PM |
| Evening Timings | 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM |
- Devotees can choose free darshan or paid darshan, depending on the congestion.
- Special darshan tickets are available for fifty and one hundred rupees.
- Devotees with disabilities and one of their companions can visit through a special entrance.
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Different types of Rituals
Daily worship includes puja eight times a day. Each puja includes the abhishekam of the deities, alankaram(adornment with ornaments), naivedyam (annadanam) Deepa aradanai (aarti with lamps).
- Thiruvanandal Pooja
- Vizha Pooja and the Kalasandhi Pooja
- Thrikalasandhi Pooja and the Uchikkala Pooja
- Maalai Pooja (Evening Aarti)
- Ardhajama Pooja
- Palliarai Pooja
- Annadanam
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple Darshan Online booking
Travellers can visit the Temple for darshan, puja and service through the official website of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
- Visit their official web page, and you will find worship names, times and amounts on the home page.
- And then click the Register & Book tab. You will redirect to the registration page.
- If you have an account, enter the mail id you provided, enter the password and log in.
- If you do not have an account, click the Register Now tab.
- Fill in the details asked and click Register.
- You will be successfully registered.
- Visit the login page now, enter the mail id and password, and log in to book.
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple Calendar 2022
Click here to get the calendar online.
Hotels near the Madurai Temple
The city offers many options for accommodation ranging from five-star accommodation to low-cost lodges and hotels.
- Tourists love to visit some of the hotels like
- Germanus Hotel,
- Supreme Hotel, and
- Meenakshi Inn.
Festivals Celebrated
- Chitthirai Brahmotsavam or Arulmigu Thirukalyanam
- Aavani festival
- Navarathri
- Teppotsavam
Nearby Temples
- Thirupparakunram Murugan Temple
- Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple
- Alagar Kovil
- Vandiyur Mariamman Temple
- Yoga Narasimha Perumal Temple
- Yoga Narasimha Perumal Temple
- Thirumohoor Chakrathalvar Temple
How to reach
Air
The nearest airport is Madurai International Airport. The city had well connected to major cities like Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Tiruchirappalli, Coimbatore and Bangalore. The airport connects internationally to cities such as Dubai, Singapore and Colombo.
Train
Madurai Junction was well connected to major cities in India like Chennai, Trivandrum, Cochin, New Delhi, Mumbai, Patna, Kolkata, Bhopal, Bangalore, Goa, etc. many others. Many trains are available from Madurai to Trichy, Kanyakumari, Nagercoil, Tuticorin, Karaikudi, Rameshwaram, Tirunelveli, Tanjore and Coimbatore.
Road
The city had well connected to all the major cities in Tamil Nadu and the neighbouring states. Many private bus operators also run regular buses to the Holy City until midnight. The roads are clean and well built.