திரு ஆலவாய் கோயிலின் சிறப்புகள் / Specialities of Thiru Alavai Temple

Thiru Aalavai (Meenakshi Amman Temple) temple is a miraculous place where Lord Shiva performed Sixty-four Thiruvilayadalgal (miracles). It is a glorious place where queen Mangayarkarasi and minister Kulachirai cured the fever (Veppu Noi) of the Saiva King Koon Pandiyan through Gnanadambandhar and made him Nindra Seer Nedumaran. This is where the Tamil poets like Kapilar, Paranar, and Nakkirar lived and the great Tamil Sangam was established. This place is noted for the arguments of Thirugnasambandar who defended Saivism from fall. In the Eastern entrance of the temple, the first thing one can see is Ashtashakthi Mandapam. Meenakshi Kalyana Sirpam (Meenakshi as Bride and Chokkar as Bridegroom) is set up at the entrance. The golden lotus pond (Portamatraikulam) is the largest pond where once Indra plucked golden flowers for his worship. There are five musical pillars next to the large tower on Northern Avenue. There are 22 small pillars. When one knocks them, it will produce a variety of sweet musical sounds. The East Tower has the Vasantha Mandapam. It is also called Pudumandapam. This was built by Thirumalai Naikkar. It has many sculptures like Meenakshi marriage, Thirumalai Naikar, Ravana lifting the Himalaya etc. Thus, after centuries of development ‘Alaivai’ is perfect and seems to flourish the culture of Saiva Philosophy and legends. Hence, this article studies the specialities of Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple (Thiru Aalavai Temple)