Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Madurai Meenakshi Temple - Pudhu Mandapam

Pudhu Mandapam is a shopping arcade and also has some glorious sculptures> Please enjoy the photo tour:

 The Magnificent bull Nandi at Mandapam Entrance
 Kanyadhanam of Goddess Minakshi by Sri Vishnu to Sundareswarar Ravana the ten headed king of Lanka Ravana carrying Mt.Kailas with Lord Siva & Goddess Parvati seated aloft Urdhva Thandavam - a fierce dance form by Natarajar Thadathagai -Goddess Minakshi was born with three breasts but the third breast vanished after her marriage Shoppers Paradise Shoppers Delight
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50 comments:

  1. RenuNovember 22, 2011 at 9:00:00 PM PST

    just loved the post..guide told us that the statues where Vishnu is doing kanyadan is one of its kind in India.

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  2. MeowNovember 22, 2011 at 9:25:00 PM PST

    Recently went to Meenakshi Temple before my marriage :) And I got the traditional Vengala Paanai & Kuthuvilakku for marriage from there as it is considered auspicious according to our family traditions :) And I did visit this new Mandapam and bought lotta pooja items for my mom's veedu :) Loved it :)

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  3. chitraNovember 22, 2011 at 10:45:00 PM PST

    Very familiar places..:)

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  4. ashokNovember 23, 2011 at 12:25:00 AM PST

    great pics RK...

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  5. TeamgsquareNovember 23, 2011 at 3:28:00 AM PST

    Nice place , would try to visit this place if possible during this weekend since I'm going to Madurai .

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  6. UnknownNovember 23, 2011 at 5:59:00 AM PST

    The sculptures are interesting, so much to learn about. The shops are filled to the brim too!

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  7. SandhyaNovember 23, 2011 at 6:22:00 AM PST

    Beautiful pictures! I loved the 'urdhva thaandava' statue...looks so natural!

    I had visited the temple many many years back! I must visit again!

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  8. TomokoNovember 23, 2011 at 7:24:00 AM PST

    What an interesting shopping place with many sculptures!
    I could get lost!
    Red Rose.

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  9. AnonymousNovember 23, 2011 at 11:16:00 AM PST

    Nice pics! So which breast disappeared after she got married? I imagine the middle one. I find Indian sculptures so exotic and different. Certainly, you won't see them in Hawaii.

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  10. DUTANovember 23, 2011 at 3:28:00 PM PST

    Stunning statues!
    I feel attracted to the shops. I just adore indian fabrics, clothes, accessories, items of any sort. I've never been to India, but indian products are imported in my country, and I prefer them to any other products.

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  11. FotokarusellenNovember 24, 2011 at 2:10:00 AM PST

    A wonderful post and some very beautiful picture. Great work.

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  12. BarbNovember 24, 2011 at 6:05:00 AM PST

    India seems filled with intricate sculptures. That shopkeeper does not look too happy - he made ME smile, though.

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  13. RamakrishnanNovember 24, 2011 at 8:06:00 AM PST

    @Barb: I took his permission before taking the picture. Some people become very self conscious while posing for a pic !

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  14. magdaNovember 24, 2011 at 8:26:00 AM PST

    Amazing photos with inresting sculptures!!!
    And the shoping there is fantastic and colorful!!!
    Many greetings

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  15. Maryam MaquillageNovember 24, 2011 at 11:36:00 AM PST

    how amazing is this post and all the pix in it!!! I neeeed to go to India and SOON!!! :)))

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  16. CMBTNovember 24, 2011 at 6:33:00 PM PST

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  17. AsmitaNovember 24, 2011 at 7:17:00 PM PST

    Beautiful post and pictures!
    www.compulsivefoodie.com

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  18. Sujatha SathyaNovember 24, 2011 at 7:49:00 PM PST

    nice write-up
    never been to madurai. want to visit one day

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  19. magiceyeNovember 24, 2011 at 8:15:00 PM PST

    that was wonderful!

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  20. ashokNovember 24, 2011 at 9:03:00 PM PST

    RK, Did u notice the incomplete Tower in your second photo behind the Nandhi...If that would have got completed, it wud have surpassed the height of all temple towers. Different theories float as to why it was abandoned mid way...

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  21. UrmiNovember 24, 2011 at 9:30:00 PM PST

    I felt as if I am in Madurai Meenakshi temple seeing the beautiful pictures. Each and every picture is superb. I always visit Meenakshi temple when I visit India.

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  22. sarahNovember 24, 2011 at 9:52:00 PM PST

    The ten headed king of Lanka reminds me of one thousand hands' Kannon( the Goddess of Mercy has one thosand hands)of Japan.
    There are many colorful goods in the shops. Golden goods stand out.

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  23. RamakrishnanNovember 24, 2011 at 10:51:00 PM PST

    @Ashok: Had noticed it before, but not given it much thought. Now that you mentioned this yes could have become a significant tower. This must be amongst the many unfinished gopurams during the Vijayanagara Empire. These are also called Raya Gopurams.

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  24. RamakrishnanNovember 24, 2011 at 11:03:00 PM PST

    @Sarah: Actually Ravana had innumerable heads.During the battle with Rama his heads were getting chopped off by Ramas arrows but new heads were instantly springing up because of a boon he had received after intense Tapasya to Brahma. Ultimately Rama had to aim at Ravana's chest to kill him.

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  25. RamakrishnanNovember 24, 2011 at 11:33:00 PM PST

    @ Gigihawaii: Yes it was the middle one that disappeared. Here is the legend: When the Pandya King Malayadhvaja, and his queen, Kanchanamala, performed a sacrifice for a child, Lord Shiva caused Goddess Parvati herself to step out of the fire as a little girl. She had three breasts. Lord Shiva told the couple that the third breast would disappear when she set eyes on he who was to be her husband. They were to name her "Thadathagai" and bring her up as if she were a boy.

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  26. RamakrishnanNovember 24, 2011 at 11:43:00 PM PST

    @Babli: So when are you visiting India & Madurai next. You can include Coimbatore in your itinerary too !

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  27. RamakrishnanNovember 24, 2011 at 11:47:00 PM PST

    @Maryam Maquillage: You are welcome to India and Madurai and many other wonderful places here. I shall be glad to be of any assistance.

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  28. ArunNovember 25, 2011 at 8:16:00 AM PST

    Great post!! The pictures speak for themselves..

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  29. FotokarusellenNovember 25, 2011 at 8:26:00 AM PST

    A nice weekend to you, my friend.

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  30. eye in the skyNovember 25, 2011 at 8:34:00 AM PST

    I always love photos like these; a display of artistic riches. :)

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  31. Seow weiNovember 25, 2011 at 6:56:00 PM PST

    Nice shot, I never visit india yet, madurai's temple are so interesting to me.

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  32. AshNovember 26, 2011 at 4:51:00 AM PST

    I visited this beautiful temple about two years ago. Lovely photos. Thanks for sharing!

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  33. T. BecqueNovember 26, 2011 at 10:12:00 AM PST

    And what a great photo tour it was!

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  34. FriedaNovember 26, 2011 at 10:33:00 AM PST

    Such an interesting post. All these sculptures look very impressive - and I would like to go shopping there!

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  35. RajeshNovember 26, 2011 at 7:09:00 PM PST

    Wonderful shots from the market place.

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  36. GemelNovember 26, 2011 at 11:08:00 PM PST

    Thanks, I enjoyed a delightful stroll :)

    Such artwork, so intricate and very colourful.

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  37. AnonymousNovember 27, 2011 at 8:43:00 PM PST

    nice place to visit...

    beautifully captured...

    and also thanks for leaving a comment on my blog

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  38. S. Susan DeborahNovember 27, 2011 at 10:01:00 PM PST

    Hello Ramakrishnan:

    Glad to meet you. Nice to see a fellow Tamil blogger from Kovai. Came over from DUTA's blog.

    Madurai is always jigarthanda for me. I have been to Madurai Meenakshi many times.

    Thanks for the treat.

    Joy always
    Susan

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  39. P.N. SubramanianNovember 27, 2011 at 10:45:00 PM PST

    Loved going through the visuals. I am yet to see the Pudumandapam.

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  40. RamakrishnanNovember 28, 2011 at 5:22:00 AM PST

    @Susan Deborah: Thanks. Welcome to my blog. Yes Jigarthanda is a unique drink of Madurai. Really nice & exotic ! I have some more posts coming up on Madurai Meenakshi Temple and other temples in the neighborhood of this city.

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  41. RamakrishnanNovember 28, 2011 at 5:29:00 AM PST

    To know more about Jigarthanda please log onto: http://sukanya-keralaiyer.blogspot.com/2007/05/jigar-thanda.html

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  42. Diane AZNovember 28, 2011 at 11:53:00 AM PST

    I enjoyed seeing the statues, especially the bull Nandi. Great pictures!

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  43. LowellNovember 28, 2011 at 3:29:00 PM PST

    I must say that I've never seen such sculptures in any shopping center here...very interesting and I think they add a lot of interest!

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  44. Kavita SahariaNovember 29, 2011 at 2:58:00 AM PST

    Love visiting temple once again through your eyes .

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  45. Dark KnightNovember 29, 2011 at 3:43:00 PM PST

    Very nice pics. Pudhu mandapam padam romba nalla irruku!

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  46. Leif HagenNovember 30, 2011 at 7:25:00 AM PST

    Namaskara! Such magnificent photos of those colorful, vibrant festivals!
    Kind regards from EAGAN daily photo

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  47. Padhu SankarDecember 3, 2011 at 7:09:00 AM PST

    Beautiful pictures and nice post

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  48. Pietro BrosioDecember 3, 2011 at 9:45:00 AM PST

    Splendid sculptures, thanks for sharing these nice images!

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  49. Ramya RanganathanDecember 4, 2011 at 2:08:00 AM PST

    the ravan picture is amazing..
    asusual great pics!!

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  50. SelviAugust 29, 2015 at 3:59:00 AM PDT

    Good post

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