By Shobha Rao Smilemaker
Aug 21: After thirty seven years, I found myself staring again in silence in front of the huge exquisitely carved colourful North entrance tower of the Meenakshi temple at Madurai. I imagined what skill it would have taken for the craftsmen of ancient times to painstakingly carve the images that are still appreciated by countless people even after centuries.
The 14 Gopurams as they are called locally are an awe inspiring sight and a typical representation of Dravidian architecture. This temple has around 33,000 sculpted images of Gods as per the guidelines of Shilpa Shastra. The construction is in adherence to the Vastra Shastra principles too. We stopped to admire the bathing tank and were told that this is considered as a living temple where all the prescribed ancient rituals as per different shastras are strictly carried out with devotion.
Our guide told us about the legend associated with this temple. A Pandyan dynasty king had prayed for an heir and a 3 breasted 3 year old child came out of his sacrificial fire with a voice saying that the third breast would fall off when she would meet her future husband. He raised her, as a son and she conquered many neighbouring kingdoms which is a very different way of bringing up daughters in those times. At Kailasa she was about to battle with Lord Shiva (also called Sundereshwar), when her third breast fell off and she knew she had found her suitor. Their marriage is said to have been performed at this place and Lord Vishnu gave her away as her brother.
The 4 feet main idol is said to have 3 breasts and is made out of a solid block of Emarald. She is depicted s being green in colour, which is also associated with the planet of learning Mercury. We are asked to keep our eyes open and our minds blank when standing in front of the idol..no need to ask for anything, she knows what is good for us!
This is one of the rare South Indian temples dedicated to the Goddess whom we worshipped before going to the other sanctum of Lord Sundareshwar. These two main sanctums have golden coloured shining gopurams.
Inside the vast temple complex, I admired the colourful fresco pantings and kept touching many of the sculpted images as I noticed their beauty and attention to detail..their finger nails, veins on legs, their calf muscles, some of the images felt so lifelike.
Of particular interest was the multi directional painting of a shivalinga on the roof, which seemed to be pointing at us as we moved around for 360 degrees. It was an absolutely stunning visual delight.
We bowed in reverence to dieties at many other smaller shrines within the temple complex. We visited the 1000 pillared hall (16 pillars were outside) with absolute alignment of the pillars - vertically, horizontally and even diagonally. Every pillar had a different carved image and I imagined how mant artistic performance or scholarly meets would have taken place within these ancient walls.
We are so blessed to have such amazing heritage sites in our country that attract us with their great spiritual power.
As I took out the mandatory before and after picture in front of the entrance tower, I smiled in humility for the blessings bestowed by Devi throughout our 37 years of marriage. Do visit the Meenakshi temple for your own unique experience!
Shobha Rao Smilemaker has a vision of living in a world where people use their ability to find and make smiles in any situation. She is a lawyer by qualification, a soft skills trainer by passion, a motivational speaker, a freelance journalist, a bestselling author, an avid traveler and founder of 'Smilemakers Trainings'. She may be contacted at www.shobhasmilemaker.com.