275 Thevara Shivasthalam !! Thiru Alavai (Madurai) Thiru Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple !!

 
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
 
 
 
 
 
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
 
 
 
 
 
 






Thirualavai is one of the prominent places of Lord Shiva where the famous 64 art forms of Lord were taken place.  This sacred temple is famous for Goddess Sri Meenkashi, consort of Lord Shiva and ruler of the Pandya Kingdom/Thirualavai/Madurai who has enthralling eyes of fish which has the capabilities to protect the entire universe with a single gaze. 

 
 

There was a merchant named Thancheyyan, an ardent devotee of Lord was travelling through the dense forest of Kadambavanam, he was tired of hunger and thirst decided to relax for a while.  There he noticed a Linga situated near a pond.  He was astonished to see the Linga unobserved in the dense woodland, he enthusiastically carried out the worship of the same and this was duly informed to the King Kulazhekara Pandya, ruler of this city.  The King and his men took a visit to this place and were highly pleased; he ordered to construct a magnificent place for the worship of the Linga and also constructed a stunning city surrounded by this wonderful temple.  Shortly, this city was flourished with grace of Lord came to known as Madurai. 

 



King Kulazhekara Pandya had a son named Malayadhwaja Pandya, heir to the throne undertook the regime of this glorious city Madurai after his father.   Malayadhwaja Pandya and his wife Kanjanamala had no offspring for quite some time.  They underwent severe austerities and performed Putrakameshti Yagam.  A stunning girl child, Goddess Sri parvathi was instigated from the sacrificial fire.  They brought up this lovely girl child and named her Thadathakai/Meenakshi.  Meenkashi was the legal heir to the throne; her coronation ceremony was performed at the right age.  Princes Meenakshi successfully ruled this city with her fearless nature followed by incredible knowledge and wisdom.  Thus this city has gained the name Kanninadu.  She won over numerous battles and took possession of several Kingdoms including world of deities.   Meenakshi desired to have the possession of Mount Kailash, she made a valorous attempt to confiscate the Abode of Lord of Lords.  As she was entered in the region of Mount Kailash, Lord Shiva gazed at her with a surprising look.  Instantly she felt the desired to have the companionship of Lord.  Lord was mesmerized at the enchanting beauty of Meenakshi.  Thus Lord has assumed his name ‘Chokkanathar’. The Supreme Lord, a Bairagi who wanders with the matted hair locks, smeared ashes all of the body, wears serpents and skeleton as jewels revealed his beguiling appearance as Sundareswarar to Meenakshi and promised to marry her at Madurai.  As promised earlier, the deities and Rishis , Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma all of them were accompanied Lord Shiva to Madurai and Lord Sundareswara wedded Goddess Sri Meenakshi according to the rules prescribed in Vedas.  Lord Sundareswara blessed her to continue the regime as the ruler of Pandya Kingdom at his command.  There were innumerable guests present to witness the celestial wedding of Lord Sundareswara with Goddess Sri Meenakshi.  The delicious feasts for the enormous number guests were arranged by Goddess Sri Meenakshi, but there was a few guests were arrived on behalf of Lord Shiva.  She was openly passed a judgment about her concern about wasting the huge quantity of delicious meals prepared for the guest and highly praised the status of her paternal home and her extraordinary skill to prepare delectable meal.  Lord Shiva generously commented that the serving his Gana Kundodhara would be equivalent to serving the whole guests and Lord.  The food was appropriately served to Kundodhara according to the instructions of Lord, soon the entire meals were swallowed by him but his hunger remained the same.  He demanded for more food, but that too was not enough to appease his hunger.  Instantly Kundodhara screamed out for water to quench his thirst, he gulped down the whole water sources of Madurai but his thirst lingered the same and he shrieked out with hunger and thirst.  Goddess Sri Meenakshi worriedly prayed to Lord to save her from this mysterious happening.  The compassionate Lord took Kundodhara to a place of sandy area and instructed to place his hands on the ground, instantaneously there appeared a brimming river Vaikai.   Kundodhara consumed the water from Vaikai River at his heart’s content and eventually his thirst and hunger were vanished.  Goddess Sri Meenakshi with Lord Sundara Pandiyan ruled this majestic city for several years and Ugrapandiyan  a divine form of Lord Subramanya was born to this celestial couple.

 
 

Please visit the  link below to read more about this temple:

 
 

http://indiatempletour.blogspot.ae/2012/06/275-thevara-shivasthalam-thiru-alavai.html
 
 
 
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
 
 
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
 

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