Mangayarkarasi Mandapam

Going south from the Thousand Pillar Mandapam, we come to an open space where we find newly built mandapam, bricks cement and iron rods have been used in constructing this mandapam.

The statues of Mangayarkarasi, Kulachirayar, Koon Pandyan and Gnanasambandar find a place in this mandapam. The Linga form or Lord Siva has also been used here.

This Mandapam has been named after the saint queen who contributed a lot the growth of both Tamil and the Saivite religion. It is also a sample of renovation of Sree Meenakshi temple during 1960-63.

To the south of the Mangayarkarasi Mandapam is the Servaikarar Mandapam, built by the Marudhu Pandyas in 1975. On the left Pillar, we see the figure of Elder Marudhu.

Thirukkalyana Mandapam

We next come to the Thirukkalyana Mandapam (Marriage Hall). Here we see a dais where the marriage ceremony of Sree Meenakshi is performed every year during the Chitra Festival (April-May).

This dais and the black stone mandapam were built by Vijayaranga Chockanathar. His figure has been engraved on the first pillar on the southern side, facing north.

On the southern and northern walls, the origin of the universe and the living beings is painted within big circles.

There is a hall, 97 feet by 47 feet providing space for the carvings and on the top portion of this hall there are wooden carvings and paintings. The pictures of Vynagaram Venkatachalam chettiar and Nagappa Chettiar who built this hall are also among them. The roof of this hall is covered with copper plates.

Adi Veethi

By crossing the Muthuveerappa Mandapam and Meenakshi Naicker Mandapam we can reach the south adi veethi (Street).

In the courtyard at the eastern end of the temple elephants and camels are kept. Proceeding west, we find several offices housed in small buildings. The temple library Thevaram school, Thiruppugal sabha, Temple Employees Association, Deivanerikazhagam, Panniruthirumari Mandram Dhandapani Thiruppugal Sangam are all here.

The southern outer tower of the temple is the tallest of all its tower. It is 170 feet high its base 108 feet long and 67 feet broad. All the 1511 sculptural figures in this tower are very big. Panoramic view of the city can be seen from the top of South tower.

There are two gigantic forms of the yali on both the sides of this tower. The diameter of each eye of these creatures is itself 2.5 feet. From this we can guess the statue of the other parts.

This tower was built in 1559 by Sevvanthimoorthy Chettiar of Siramalai.

In the West Adi Street on the south of the West Tower there is a cattle form and on its north there is the office of the Sivaganga Devasthanam.

Anyone coming from the Madurai railway Junction catches sight of the west tower at first. It is 154 feet high with a base 101 feet by 64 feet. There are 1124 sculptures in it. This was built by Parakram Pandyan who ruled Madurai during 1315 to 1347.

At the eastern side of the northern wall of this tower there is a stone with two songs engraved on it.

In the North Adi Street, there is a Thiruppugal Mandapam. This was built in 1952. Besides this, there is the Thiruvalluvar Kazhagam housed in a beautiful mandapam. This society was started in 1941 by Thirukkural Attavadhanam. This society was Das this building is used for religious meetings and discourses.

The Northern Tower is called Mottai Gopuram meaning a bald or unfinished tower. This was built by Krishna Veerappa Naickar (1564-72) for some reason or another its plastering was left incomplete. Later, the plastering was done by the Nagarathars and Abisheka Pandaram.

This nine-storyed tower is 152 feet high with a base. 111 feet by 66 feet. There are only 404 sculptures in it. This small number also seems to have been a reason for the tower being called mottai Gopuram.

At the western side outside this tower is the temple of “Mottai Gopuram Muniyandi”, this deity is chiefly worshipped on Tuesdays and Fridays. At those times, the North Tower also is decorated with flower strings.

Musical Pillars

Beyond the North Tower in the Adi Street, there are five stone pillars. Each pillar has been carved out of a single stone. Each has little pillars, chiseled exquisitely. Each of these little pillars produces characteristic sound which struck. Hence these are called musical pillars; such pillars are seen in the Thousand Pillar Mandapam also.

Near the pillars at the beginning of the east Adi Street there is a Mandapam with sixteen pillars. The mandapa is called Tattu chutur Mandapam. This was built in 1772 by Venkateswara Mudaliar. The feats of Saint Mancikavasagar painted here.

Crossing this Mandapam we come to the Swamy Sannathi at the eastern end of which stands East Tower. This is the oldest of the big towers. It was built by Maravarmasundarapandyan (1216-36) Hence it is also called Sundara Pandyan Tower. It is 153 feet high with its base 111 feet, 65 feet. There are 1011 sculptures in it.

South of the East Tower, in the Chitrai Street is a small temple in which Madurai, Veera swamy is installed.

The Adi Streets enable the devotees to go round both the Amman and the Swamy deities at the same time. High wall stand on the edges of these streets. They laid an appearance of fort walls.

The Mandapam in the Adi streets were built by Rani Mangamma who ruled Madurai from 1680 to 1706..