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Meenakshi Temple
Historic Hindu temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, also known as Arulmigu Meenakshi Amman Thirukkovil, is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River[3] in the temple city[4] of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi Amman Nayak, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareshwarar, a form of Shiva.[5] The temple is at the centre of the ancient temple city of Madurai mentioned in the Tamil Sangam literature, with the goddess temple mentioned in 6th-century CE texts.[6] This temple is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams, which are 275 temples of Shiva that are revered in the verses of Tamil Saiva Nayanars of the 6th-9th century CE.
Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple | |
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Religion | |
Affiliation | Hinduism |
District | Madurai |
Deity | |
Festivals | Chithirai Thiruvizha, Navaratri, Cradle festival, Aavanimoolam, Meenakshi Tirukalyanam, Alagar's river plunge |
Governing body | Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department |
Features |
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Location | |
State | Tamil Nadu |
Country | India |
Geographic coordinates | 9°55′10.23″N 78°07′09.63″E[1] |
Architecture | |
Type | Dravidian architecture[2] |
Inscriptions | over 40 |
Elevation | 144 m (472 ft) |
Website | |
https://maduraimeenakshi.hrce.tn.gov.in/ |
The west tower (gopuram) of the temple is the model based on which the Tamil Nadu State Emblem is designed.[7][8]