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Interesting facts about Meenakshi Amman Temple

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Tusk Travel Pvt Ltd
Interesting facts about Meenakshi Amman Temple

The Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, India looks as though it was straight from the 1960s psychedelic. This Meenakshi Amman Temple features 14 towers decorated with colorful statues of gods with arms of all kinds as well as reclining cows and terrifying dragons. The colorful temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Meenakshi--otherwise known as Parvati--who is said to have married the Hindu god Sundareshwarar--otherwise known as Shiva--on the very spot where the temple is located.


It is believed that the Meenakshi Amman Temple is slightly odd in that it celebrates female gods. It is believed that the goddess Meenakshi is believed to have appeared from a sacred fire that was believed to have created an heir to Meenakshi's royalty parents. Meenakshi's parents were shocked after seeing a small woman with 3 breasts emerging from the flame. A voice from heaven told Meenakshi's parents to ensure that her third breast will disappear when she got married to the man she was destined to marry. Meenakshi's third breast was reported to have disappeared after Meenakshi was able to meet Sundareshwarar's handsome.


The Meenakshi Amman Temple dates back to about 1200 CE. The temple was taken over, robbed, and nearly destroyed several times. A major restoration effort within the twentieth century brought this Meenakshi Amman Temple back to its former glory in the year 1995. Each year Meenakshi Thirukalyanam, a festival that is a celebration of the divine wedding ceremony of Parvati and Shiva--reignites a multitude of Hindu pilgrims.


Devotees are welcomed to stroll through the halls of this ornate Meenakshi Amman Temple. Its Hall of a Thousand Pillars has intricate murals on the ceiling and floor and rows of pillars with intricate carvings which pay tribute to different Hindu gods.


Anyone who is at the base of Meenakshi Amman's fourteen decorative towers can understand why the ancient temple almost became one of the seven wonders of the globe. It is the Meenakshi Amman Temple is undeniably one of India's most precious treasures.

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