Amman Temple

Passing this tower. We come to the corner where the figures of the forty-nine poets of the ‘Kadai Sangam’ (Last Society) of Madurai.

On the Northern side, there is mandapam where weekly mass prayers are held. Adjoining this mandapam is a five storeyed tower. This tower was built by Sevvan thivelappa chettiar in 1560. It is 71 feet with a base of 45 feet long and 34 feet broad. There are 18 sculptures in this tower. There is the emblem of the Risabam (the Lord’s Bull) on the top of this tower. A legend says that Lord Sundara opened the door of this for a chola king affixed his (Risaba) emblem.

At the north-eastern corner, we find the mandapa nayagam (Main Mandapam supported by a hundred pillars. This is called the main mandapam) because of the exquisite pieces of architecture found in it. A fine idol of Sree Nataraja (Lord Siva in a dancing pose) installed here. This mandapam was built by Chinnappa Naicker in 1526.

Opposite this mandapam at the south eastern corner there is the Gnanasambandar Temple. Here we find the statues of Mangayarkarasi, Kulachirayar, Koonpandyan, Sambandar, Appar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar. This mandapam was built by Krishnaveerappa Naicker.

Swamy Temple

On each side of entrance to the Sway temple (Lord Sundareswarar’s Temple) is a statue of a Dwarabalaga (Guard engraved out of a single, 12 feet high installed on base of 4 feet).

On the pillars near these Dwarabalagas, we see Lord Siva with five heads seated beside his consort and Goddess Meenakshi with five heads.

There are also the statues of the saints, Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar and Manickavasagar.

Next is the three-storeyed tower of the Swamy Sannathi. It is 41 feet high with a base of 31 feet long and 18 feet. There are 36 sculptures in this tower. This tower was built in 1168 by Kulasekara Pandyan.

Inside the gateway of this tower are Adhigara Nandi (Bull of Power) and Chamundi.

Beyond this is a six-footed dais where the book of Saint Paranjothi on the Lord’s Thiruvilayadal is said to have been inaugurated. The copper guard’s on this dais were presented by Thirumalai Nayak. On the pillars facing this dais, Saints Pathanjali and Vyagrapadhar are featured as standing with folded palms.

In this prakaram, there are sculptures depicting the wonderful feats of Lord Siva. In the southern part of this prakaram the idols of the sixty-three saints are installed. We also find the idols of Saraswathi (Goddess of Learning). At the south western corner is the idol of Kasi Viswanathar (Lord Viswanatha of Varanasi). The idol of Bikshadanar (the Lord in beggar’s pose) also is seen here.

In the northern prakaram we find the idols of siddha, the door of wonderful feats an ancient Kadamaba tree. Kanagasabai (Golden Hall) the Yard of offering the idol Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth) Rathnasabai. The vanni tree and the well and a number of other deities including Durga (Goddess of power) are also in this prakaram.

After coming round this prakaram, we enter the inner prakaram of Lord Sundareswarar. We first come to a big hall called ‘Vellai Ambalam’. Here we see the dancing idol of Natraja (Dancing Lord). At Chidambaram the dancing idol is covered with golden leaves. But at Madurai the idol of Nataraja is covered with silver leaves. Hence this hall is named Velli Ambalam (Silver Hall).

There is also another peculiarity about this idol in the Ananda (joyous) dancing pose one of the seven kinds of dancing.

Generally the dancing figure of Nataraja will show the left leg and hand lifted up. But here the right leg and hand are raised.

Passing the Velli Ambalam, we come to the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Sundareswara. Sundara is seen in the form of a Lingam (semi-cylindrical stone) with a curve at the top. This Lingam is installed under a canopy, called Indravimanam.

Though Siva is worshipped in several forms, the authentic form of worship is the Lingam or Sivalingam. Sivalingam consists of Nandham of perpendicular stone and Bridham or round shaped stone. It represents the aspects of Omkara Pranava. In this way it consists of Brahma, Vishnu Rudhra and Siva. The bottom portion is Brahma, the circular portion is Vishnu. The perpendicular portion is Rudra. The top most portion is Siva. This represents a.u.m., and half a mantra. Siva has ruparn or figure. He can be seen in Arupam (Form less) and Rupam (Form). Rupam Arupam (From and no form is sivalingam).

In this quadrilateral structure, on each side there are two elephants, eight lions and sixteen Bootha Ganas (goblins).

On eastern side of the Kambathadi Mandapam there is a five storyed, 66 feet height. Its base is 42 feets long and 33 feet broad. There are 280 sculptures in it. The tower was built in 1372 by Vasuvappan.

Veeravasantharayar Mandapam

Going east from this tower, we come to a big mandapam with forty-six pillars. This is called the Veeravasantharayar Mandapam after its builder Muthuveerappanaicker elder brother of thirumalai Naick.

Facing the idol of Lord Sundareswarar this is a big statue of Nandhi, (Bull) Lord Siva’s conveyance.

There is a tell arch of lights in this mandapam. This was donated by the maruthu pandya, the lights are being maintained by the Sivaganga Devasthanam.

Thousand Pillar mandapam.

Adjoining the Veeravasantarayar Mandapam and to its north is the Thousand Pillar mandapam.

This storehouse of art was built in 1569 by dalavoi Ariyanatha Mudaliar.

Though this Mandapam is called thousand pillar mandapam, there are only 985 pillars in it. At the spot where the remaining 15 pillars should have erected, we find two small temples.

All the pillars are in straight lines; this mandapam is 250 feet long and 240 feet broad. On the top of the entrance there is a wheel on which the features of the sixty Tamil years are pointed. This mandapam has been built like a car drawn by two elephants. At the entrance to this mandapam, we see the majestic pose of Ariyanatha Mudaliar seated on a beautiful horse. It seems as if the rider has overcome the ferocity of racehorse.

Near this statue, there is the statue of Kannappa nainar who gave his eyes, to the Lord and derived this name.

On the other side, we see the statue of Harichandra, who never told a lie and of his devoted wife, chandramathi. The common man was not neglected by the sculptors of the olden days. This is seen from the pillars portraying Kurava (gypsy) and his wife.

Near these, pillar carries the scene of Lord Siva killing a monster. The powerful creature that once shouted lies silent under the feet of the Lord craving his grace. But the Lord’s determination to kill the miscreant and a sort of calmness and explicable smile are seen on his face perhaps the artist desired to delineate the diametrically opposite qualities of man.

Besides these some other pillars surpass in skill and talent are of a Lady playing on the strings of her Veena (musical instrument) find a place on a pillar. On another pillar we find Lord Muruga on a peacock. It seems as if the peacock is a living one, Siva as a hunter carrying his wife on his shoulders.

Thus Thousand Pillar Mandapam affords ample opportunities for enjoying the inordinate skill of the ancient sculptures.

The kings of those days conducted assembles in the temples in halls like the Thousand Pillar Mandapam. The representatives of the citizens also got a place in these assemblies.