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It is narrated in legend that Madurai was originally a forest known as Kadambavanam. One day, a farmer named Dhananjaya who was passing through the forest, saw Indra (The king of the gods), worshipping a swayambhu (self created Lingam ) under kadamba tree. Dhananjaya, the farmer immediately reported this to King Kulasekara Pandya. Kulasekara Pandya cleared the forest and built a temple around the Lingam. A city was soon planned with the temple as its centre. On the day the city was to be named, Lord Shiva is said to have appeared and drops of nectar from his hair fell on the town. So, the place was named Madurai - mathuram meaning "sweetness" in Tamil.
Home » » TOWERS - MEENAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE

TOWERS - MEENAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE

Written By Unknown on Saturday 20 July 2013 | 00:01

The temple has four  Rajagopurams or majestic towers, there are five towers on top of the sanctum sanctorum of the  Lord, three on top of the sanctum   sanctorum of the Goddess and  two golden towers or gopurams, all which have been   exquisitely designed and sculptured. All fourteen towers have been segregated   based on the stages they are,
    
  •     Nine tier gopurams      - four
  •     Seven tier, Chittirai gopuram  - one 
  •     Five tier gopurams  - five 
  •     Three tier  gopurams - two 
  •     Golden gopurams - two
    •  
        Rajagopurams (nine tier gopurams) 
     
        1. The tower on top of the sanctum sanctorm of the God (east)
     
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    This tower  was constructed by Maravarman Sundarapandian the Pandian King (1216 - 1238)
     
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    		The tower is 153.3 feet in height, and the base measurers 111.3 feet  by   65.6 feet..
     
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    		This bears 1011 episodes from puranams sculptured in it. 
     
      
        2.South Rajagopuram
     

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    *
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    It was constructed in  the year 1559 by Siramalai  Sevanthi Murthy  Chetti. 
     
    It is the tallest of the temple towers measuring 160.9 feet in height, with a base area of  108 feet by  67 feet 
     
    1511 mythological figures are seen in it. 
     
     
     
     
    		 
      
        3. North  Rajagopuram (Tower without roof) 
     
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    Construction of this tower was started by   Krishnaveerappanaicker (1564  - 1572)  and completed by   the family  of Amaravathi Pudur Vayinagaram Nagappa Chetti in 1878. 
     
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    This gopuram remaied unfinished for a number of years and was therefore called Mottai Gopuram  meaning a tower without a roof. 
     
            *
    This is 152 feet in height and the length of the base is 111.6 feet with a width of 66.6 feet.
     
            *This houses 404 carvings depicting mythological stories. 



     
        4.The West Rajagopuram. 
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    This was constructed by King Parakrama Pandian duri ng his reign between 1315 and 1347. 
     
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    This has a height of 154.6 feet with a base length of 101 feet and a width of 63.6 feet. 
     
    *    
    		This tower houses 1124 sculptures of mythological importance. 


     
        The towers of Swami shrine
                      There are five towers above the sanctum of the Lord.
        1.Swami shrine gopuram (three tiers). 
     
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    		Built by King  Kulasekarapandian (1168 - 1175). 
     
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    		Of all the towers of the temple,this is the most ancient.
     
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    This is situated at the entrance to the Swami Sannidhi near the Lords flag staff mandapam. 
     
        2.Gopura Nayaka Gopuram, also called Swami Sannidhi gopuram     (five tiers).
     
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    		It  was  constructed by a person named   Vasuvappan  in 1372
     
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    It   is  situated between   the  flag post of the  Swami Sannidhi and the  Thirukalyana Mandapam or marriage hall.
     
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    		Standing  66 feet  tall, it has a  base area of   42 feet x 33 feet.  
     
    *    
    		It has 280 mythological  figures on it. 
     
        3. The Mukkuruni Vinayagar gopuram  or  Nadukkattu gopuram      or  Idaikattu gopuram  (five tier) 
     
    *    
    		It was constructed by Siramalai Sevanthi Murthy Chetti in 1559 
     
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    It is situated opposite to the shrine of the Mukkuruni vinayagar which is situated in the passage that leads from the Amman sannithi to the Swami Sannithi. 
     
    *    
    It is 69 feet in height with a base area of 44 feet x 33 feet. 112 mythological figures are sculptured on it. 
     
        4. Wooden gopuram (timber)  or the Swami  Sannithi  
        west gopuram.     
     
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    		It was  constructed  by  Mallappan in  the  year  1374. 
     
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    It  is situated  in   west  end  of the second corridor of the  swami  sannithi. 
     
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    		It  is 72 feet  in  height  with  a base  area   of  48  feet x 31 feet. 
     
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    		340 mythological  figures  are seen on it. 
     
        5.Sinnamottai gopuram (small  roofless gopuram) or  Swami     Sannithi  North Gopuram (five tiers). 
     
    *    
    		It was  constructed  by Sevanthivellappa Chetti in 1560. 
     
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    This  tower  is also   situated  on top the second corridor  of  the Swami  Sannithi   on  the north  side near the Kalyanasundareswarar Sannithi. 

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    		There  are 184  sculptures on it. 

     
        Amman  Sannithi  gopurams:
                     There  are three gopurams  situated on top of the  Amman   Sannithi      
        1.Amman sannithi gopuram  (three tier). 
     
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    		It  was  constructed by   Anandathandava  Nambi  between  1227 and 1228. 
     
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    It is  seen  on  top of  the  entrance  of  the Amman  Sannithi  at the west end of the Killikoondu mandapam. 
     
        2.  Kadahagopuram   or  Amman  Sannithi  west  gopuram 
     
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    		This  was constructed  in the  year 1570 by  a  person  called  Veerathummasi.
     
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    It  is seen  on  top of the  first corridor surrounding   the Amman   sannithi  in  the west end.
     
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    It  is about   64.6 feet   tall,   with  a  base  area  of 50  feet x 28.6 feet. 
     
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    		There   are 228  mythological   figures on it.
     
        3.Chittira Gopuram  or Amman Sannithi gopuram  
     
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    It  was  constructed by  Kallathiappan  Mudaliar in  the year 1569. 
     
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    It  is situated inbetween  the Meenakshi Naicker mandapam  and the Muthupillai mandapam in the Amman sannithi.
     
      
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    *    
    As  it contains 730  aesthetic  sculptures  of   exquisite refinement it  is also  called the Chittira gopuram.

    It 177 feet  in height  and has a base area  of 78 feet x 38  feet. 
     
     
     
    		 
      
        Golden Vimanas or  pinnacles   (three tier). 
     
        Golden pinnacle of Swami Sannithi. 
     
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    The  golden  pinnacle   or Indira Vimanam  or Ashtagaja vimanam is in the Swami Sannithi 
     
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    		It  said to have been installed by none other  than Indira himself 
     
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    		This  pinnacle is  designed as if  8 elephants and 32 lions and 64  Sivaganas (giants) are carrying it. 
     
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    This  pinnacle  was  given a gold plating by  Viswanatha Naicker ( 1559 - 63) 
     
        Golden  pinnacle  of the Amman  Sannithi  
     
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    		The   golden  pinnacle of  Amman  Sannithi  was installed  by  Siramalai  Sevanthi Murthy  Chetti in the year 1559.
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