KSHETRA FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2010

MADURAI- PART 4- MEENAKSHI SUNDAREWSWARAR

Madurai is famous right at the outset for the wonderful Meenakshi temple. Who is this Meenakshi? Why is there a temple for her at Madurai. Going back to Malayadwaja Pandian, the Pandya ruler, he was a childless for a very long time. He approached the maharishis for a solution. They advised that he worship Lord Azhagar of azhagarmalai. He would bless him with a child. He did so. The Lord ordered that His yoga maya who is Bruhmavidyaswaroopini should be born to him.Soon a girl child was born to the Pandya ruler. He was overjoyed. He named her Meenakshi because of her beautiful fish like eyes. Meenakshi became proficient in music, dance, elephant riding, horse riding, charioteering, archery etc. The king pleased by her prowess coronated her as the next ruler. Thus Meenakshi became RajaRajeshwari. She began conquering all the kingdoms. It was her wish that she should get married to the one who conquers her. However wherever she went she achieved success. Finally she reached Kailasam itself. There she fought with Lord Shiva Himself who came in the guise of a prince. Lord Shiva won the battle. He came to know of her oath that the one who wins the battle also wins over her hand. Lord Shiva atonce consented to marry her.
The marriage preparations went on a grand scale at Madurai. As Meenakshi’s father had died soon after he begot a son, somebody else had to do the kannikadanam. Who was that somebody. The Lord of Azhagarmalai, Meenakshi’s brother Himself came to Madurai and did the kannnikadaanam. He gave Meenakshi to Sundareswarar, all the three are embodiments of beauty indeed as their very names suggest- the beautiful Meenakshi, the Handsome- Azhagar and the majestic Sundareswarar.
Thus ends Meenakshi kalyanam which is an important part of the mahathmya of Madurai.