Madurai - Sri Meenakshi-Sundareshwar Temple


As we said, this was the year for the every-twelve-year cleaning and repainting of the gopurams. It'll really be colorful and gorgeous next year! One gopuram had already completely disappeared under the scaffolding and the screen, made of banana leaves, they put up to protect the workers from the sun.


Scaffolded gopuramScaffolded gopurams
The Golden Lotus Pond is empty, but the lotus is there
Scaffolded south gopuram is not yet covered in banana leaves; on the right, the gold top of one of the sanctuaries is barely visibleScaffolded gopuram

Around the empty tank, several wedding parties were being celebrated.

Wedding partyWedding party
Wedding parties


Within, though, all is a dark magic which recalls other temples we visited.


CorridorClarinet player
Walkway around the Shiva sanctuaryIt looks pretty much like a clarinet
Horse and elephantGods
Gilt horse and silver elephantShiva and Parvati
Marriage of Shiva and ParvatiNandi
Marriage of Shiva and  ParvatiIncensed Nandi

Turning around and retracing our steps, we passed again by the tank

Entrance signMusicians
The sign says "Wearing of socks inside the temple are [sic] not allowed".Temple musicians; the horn sounds like a sackbut
StepsTourist and elephant
Steps by the tank, as the sun goes lowTourist being blessed by the temple elephant


The architectural masterpiece in this temple is the beautiful Ayirakkal Mandapa, or Thousand-Pillared Hall.

Thousand-Pillared Hall
Thousand-Pillared Hall

It is now used as a museum of sculptures and bronzes.


MuruganTourist and elephant
The Tamil god Murugan, son of ShivaTourist elephant-lover and elephant
HallHanuman
The MandapaWorshipping Hanuman


In the evening, worshippers gather in the southeastern corner of the temple to woship Hanuman, the monkey god, and Ganesh, the elephant god.

WorshippersGhee lamps
Worshipping a god, probably GaneshPart of a gate holding 1008 ghee lamps

But that's not all. In the evening, there is a special ceremony to put Shiva to bed with Parvati. It's on the next page

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