The temple is at least 2500 years old and has been mentioned in early Sangam literature. In 1319, the invading army of Malik Kafur destroyed the temple but the main deities were left untouched. The temple was rebuilt by the 16th century- Nayak king, Vishwanatha. It was expanded into the present structure by king Tirumalai Nayak in the 17th century.
STYLE & ARCHITECTURE
A grand example of Dravidian architecture, the temple is laid out in a number of concentric and quadrangular enclosures surrounded by high walls. It has four magnificent towers as entrances and of these the southern one is the tallest, rising over 170ft (built in 1559). The oldest tower is the eastern one, built by King Maravarman Sundara Pandya (13th century). Including the entrance gopurams, the temple has 12 towers. All the main towers are multi tiered and adorned with hundreds of sculptures.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Ashta Shakti Mandapam, ahead of its entrance flanked by shrines to the Eastern gopuram, has its deities Ganesha and Subramanya. On the walls of the mandapam are paintings and sculptures depicting scenes from the Tamil Purana, Tiruvilayadal.
- The Thousand Pillared Hall has 985 pillars and each of these is encrusted with sculptures. A museum inside this hall has exhibits of icons, drawings and photographs that run you through the history of the temple.
- Potramarai Kulam or 'The Pond of the Golden Lotus' has four corridors surrounding it. The corridor walls are painted with scenes from various puranas. At the centre of the tank is a massive gold-plated lotus, rising from the water.
- Kilikoondu Mandapam (parrot cage) was named after the rows of parrot cages that used to be kept here. Apart from the parrots, this is one of the grandest mandapam in the temple because of its pillars, sculptures and murals.
TEMPLE FESTIVAL
- Chittirai Tiruvizha (Apr-May) is a 12-day celebration of the wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar, culminating with a magnificent temple car procession. Many couples choose to wed on the day of Meenakshi tirukalyanam, the divine wedding. The best-known event is the Arupathimoovar on the eighth day.
- Aavani Moolam Festival (Aug-sep) celebrates the coronation of Sundareswarar and enacts stories from the purana, Tiruvilayadal.
-Teppotsavam (Jan-Feb) is held at the Mariamman temple tank.
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