There are two huge yalis, which are like a combined lion and elephant, on both sides of the tower. The southern tower, built in the 16th century, is the largest one and is 48.8 metres (170ft) high with a 108 by 67 foot base. There are four huge gopurams with colored statues on the outer wall. The temple has 12 large gopurams, or gates. This temple has some of the most interesting architecture in India. The outer wall of the complex is 259m by 221m (847 by 792 ft.) It is estimated that there are 33 million carvings in the temple. There is a jewel house next to where the vehicles of Meenakshi and Sundareswar are kept. Non-Hindus are not allowed in the inner sanctum. But the halls in the eastern part of the temple, including the 1000 Pillar Hall and the Ashta Shakti Mandapa, are open during this time. The main section of the temple is closed even for taking pictures. There is a camera fee payable at the temple office inside the southern gate, to the left as you enter. There is a good detailed explanation of the temple called History and Description of Sri Meenakshi Temple, which you can purchase at stalls inside the temple. Meenaksi means "one who has eyes like a fish." Just as a mother fish has to just glance on her spawn to develop life in them, so in the same way her worshiper’s spiritual life comes alive when goddess Meenakshi glances at them. Lord Siva told her to return to Madurai, and eight days later her arrived in the form of Lord sundareswara to marry her. This happened when she met Lord Siva on Mt Kailash. The king was told that one of the breasts would disappear when she met the man she would marry. The story of the deities is that Meenakshi was born, with three breasts, out of the yajna fire that the Pandyan kind, Malayadhwaja, was performing to get a son. You can climb up to the top of the southern gopuram and great view of Madurai. It is interesting to visit the temple both in the day and at night, as the dark corridors, with lamps burning here and there, are very impressive. The inner sanctums are restricted to Hindus only, but anyone can go anywhere else on the temple grounds. He is taken back to his temple each morning. Every night there is a dramatic ceremony during which Lord Siva is carried into the bedroom of Parvati. Outside the Meenakshi Amman Shrine there is temple music.
The museum can be visited while the temple is closed in the afternoon. There is an interesting art gallery and museum in this hall with some fascinating deities. The temple has a hall with a thousand pillars (actually 985). The present temple was built in the early 17th century by Tirumala Nayak, but its history goes back to the Pandya kings, 2000 years ago. It is a huge temple, in which you can get lost. The bars deposited in nationalised banks would fetch interest that would be used for maintaining the temples.This 17th century temple has two sanctuaries, one dedicated to Lord Siva as Sundareswara ("Lord of Beauty") and the other to Meenakshi, his wife. Mala to head three panels to oversee the melting of temple gold ornaments to gold bars.
Raju, and two retired High Court Judges, Justices K. The state government had appointed retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice D. It also said that 497.795 kg of temple gold ornaments have been deposited in nationalised banks and gold jewelry from nine temples has so far been melted at the Indian Government Mint in Mumbai. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, in a statement, said that since 1979, gold donated by devotees to temples has been converted into 24-carat gold bars. Stalin launched the work at the Arulmigu Karumariyamman Temple at Tiruverkadu, the Arulmigu Mariamman temple at Samayapuram, and the Arulmigu Mariamman Temple at Irukkankudi. Stalin on Wednesday virtually launched the preliminary work regarding melting of gold ornaments donated at state temples, covered under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, for converting into gold bars. Chennai, Oct 13 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.