1. SRI SUNDARESWARAR TEMPLE AALAVAAI (MADURAI)

Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam	245th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam)
Region	Pandiya Naadu
Pandiya Naadu	1st Shiva Sthalam
Pathigam	Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)

HISTORY:

There is a puranic story of how the name Madurai was derived for this sthalam. This place was a forest with a lot of Kadamba trees. Dhananjayan, a merchant found a Sivalinga in the forest of Kadamba Trees. He mentioned this to pandiya king Kula Sekhara Pandiyan. The king came and worshipped the Sivalingam. He destroyed the forest, built a temple for the Lord and established a city around it. As nector was found to drip near the Sivalinga its sweetness was taken as the basis for the derivation of the term "Madurai".

The Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple is one  of the greatest Shiva temples in India, known for its sprawling landscape filled with sculptural wonders; halls, pillars and lofty towers with lavish artwork in all forms. Madurai is a vibrant cultural center speaking of the glorious traditions of the region. It is the siite of the 64 Tiruvilayadalgal of Shiva (Tiruvilayadal puranam and Halasyamahatmiyam) and is one of the 5 Pancha Sabhais of Nataraja - Rajata (Velli )Sabhai - where Shiva dances with a raised righ food.  The other dance halls are Chidambaram, Tiruvalankadu, Tirunelveli and Kutralam. In terms of the richness of the legends, the abundance of literature & the stunning architectural& sculptural splendour,Madurai is second to none in representing the rich cultural traditions of India. Madurai is regarded as the 1st of the Tevara Stalams in the Pandya region of Tamilnadu. Madurai has been a seat of Tamil culture since very ancient times. Nakkeerar, Appar and Sambandar have sung of its glories.

Hall of 1000 pillars: 

The hall of thousand pillars, popularly known as Ayiramkal Mandapam in Tamil is the largest mandapam in the holy temple complex. This Mandapam has a total of 985 pillars. These pillars have been so arranged that from whatever angle one looks from within, the pillars look in rows and rows. At the centre of the mandapam is the idol of Chira Sabha of Lord Natarajar. Madurai is one of the pancha bootha sthalams of Lord Shiva and this sabha is silver sabha (velliyambalam). This mandapam houes a variety of beautifully carved sculptures which are a feast to the eyes. Notable among them are: sacred idol of Lord Sundareswarar who on behalf of Saint Manickavasagar converted foxes into horses, Thiripurandhakar, Nirutha Ganapathy with an urn containing ambrosia, Lord Muruga on peacock, Nagaraja, Saraswathy, idols of Mahavishnu, Arjuna in the form of a eunuch, and Draupadhi, sculptures of Pitchadanar, Dharman, Beeman, Rathi and Veerpathirar etc.

Lord Indra:

Shiva is said to have been worshipped by Indra in the Kadambavana forest and hence Sundareswarar's vimanam is known as Indra Vimanam. Legend has it that Meenakshi (Parvati) the daughter of Malayadwaja Pandyan married Shiva here. Together, Shiva (Soundara Pandyan) and Meenakshi are said to have ruled over Madurai. There are several legends surrounding this temple.  

SALIENT FEATURE:

·        The temple which has five entrances, covers an area of 17 acres, and measures 847 feet (254.1 meters) long in east west direction and 792 feet (237.6 meters) wide in the north south direction.

·        The temple has got 14 towers in total.

·        The temple has 4 Rajagopurams or majestic towers on the 4 sides, 5 towers on top of the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord, 3 on top of the sanctum sanctorum of the Goddess and 2 golden towers or gopurams, all which have been exquisitely designed and sculptured.

·        All these 14 towers have been segregated based on the stages they have. They are as follows: 9 tier gopurams - 4 Nos., 7 tier chithirai gopuram - 1 No., 5 tier gopuram - 5 Nos., 3 tier gopuram - 2 Nos. and golden gopuram - 2 Nos.

·        The golden vimanam on top of the sanctum santorum of the Lord is called Indira Vimanam. It is also known as Ashtagaja vimanam. This vimanam is designed as if 8 elephants and 32 lions and 64 Sivaganas are carrying it. Accordingl to the legend, it is said to have been installed by the lord of Devaas, Indiran. Hence the name is Indira vimanam.

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Chokkanathar, Sri Sundareswarar
Ambal	Sri Ankayarkanni, Sri Meenakshi
Theertham	Potramarakkulam Theertham
Sthala Vriksham	Kadambamaram

BELIEF:

Praying to goddess grants everything for devotee wishes in life happy wedding, children, prosperity, health, longevity and all their just needs. Devotees simply place their prayers at her lotus feet.

Lord chokkanathar – Meenakshi Sundareswarar assures all peace of mind and total salvation to the souls. The corridor of the temple is a convenient and comfortable spot for meditation. All can hear the divine sound ohm. One can see a flood of devotees in the temple at all times.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Tamil Month	English Month	Festival Name
Chithirai	Apr-May	Chittirai Tiruvizha (Apr 15-May 15)
Vaikasi	May-June	Vaikasi Visakam
Aani	June-July	Aani Tirumanjanam
Aadi	July-Aug	Aadi Pooram
Purattasi	Sep-Oct	Navarathri
Karthikai	Nov-Dec	Thirukarthikai
Markazhi	Dec-Jan	Thiruvadhirai
Thai	Jan-Feb	Makara Sankranthi
Maasi	Feb-Mar	Maha Shivrathri
Panguni	Mar-Apr	Panguni Uthiram

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is centrally located in Madurai city and is about 1 Km from both Madurai Railway Station and Madurai Central Bus stand. Madurai City is well connected with Road, Rail and Air. There are many trains passing through Madurai. Regular bus facility available from almost all towns of Tamilnadu State and from a few cities of neighbouring states.TiruAppanaur, Tiruvedagam, and Tirupparankundram are the other paadal petra sivasthalams situated in the vicinity of Madurai city.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple,
Madurai,
Tamil Nadu – 625001.

LOCATION: