Interesting Facts About Madurai

Meenakshi Amman Temple:

The historical temple of goddess Meenakshi and lord Shiva, this forms the lifeline of the city of Madurai.

Oldest Name of Madurai:

Koodal

The city is referred by various names including "Madurai", "Koodal", "Malligai Maanagar", "Naanmadakoodal" and "Thirualavai". The word Madurai may be derived from Madhura (sweetness) arising out of the divine nectar showered on the city by the Hindu god Siva from his matted hair.

Jigarthanda:

The delicious and very famous cold drink with its origin in Madurai, it translates to cool heart and is prepared from milk, almonds, sugar and ice cream. 

Chithirai Thiruvizha:

One of the longest festivals of the world, it is celebrated for entire month in April – the first 15 days for Goddess Meenakshi followed by Lord Alagar.

Kannagi:

The protagonist of the Tamil epic Silapathikaram, this legendary Vaishya woman takes revenge on the Pandyan king of Madurai by cursing the city.

Mallipoo:

A distinctive variety of jasmine family of flowers, Mallipoo is known for its powerful, mysterious, strong and seductive fragrance.

Jallikattu:

It’s a traditional sport where the bulls are set loose in the crowd and courageous tamil participants grasp the hump of the bull and claim their prize.       

The story of Madurai is a significant part of the centuries-old Indian history. Each episode of the story tells about the rule of an empire in the city. In the period of 2500 years, Madurai was under the regime of the Pandyas, the Cholas, the Sultanate, the Vijayanagar Empire, the Nayaks, the Carnatic Kingdom, and Chanda Sahib, at different times of its historic evolution. Even, the city served as a British Colony in South India from 1801 till 1947.

Madurai was on the map of global travel before thousands of years when Alexander visited India in the 3rd century BC. History says, Megasthenes, the ambassador of Selucus, had toured Madurai during his travels in India, of which reference is found in his account, “Indika”. According to the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, the Pandya Kings used to rule in Madurai.

According to leading historians, Madurai was a thriving commercial city with trading opportunities. The city was a rich source of gemstones, pearls and spices which attracted overseas traders from Indonesia, China and Rome to hit the shores of India, and trade in those goods.

Madurai City is built around the Meenakshi Amman Temple. The structure of the city is shaped like the form of lotus with the temple in the center and streets in a concentric fashion. Though the construction of Meenakshi Temple was patronized by the Pandya King Kulasekara Pandian, and the rulers of the Vijayanagar Empire in the medieval period, most of the magnificent structures standing tall on the cityscape and enchanting visitors owe their origin to Thirumalai Nayak, who became the King of Madurai in the 16th century AD.

Meenakshi Amman Temple or Meenkshi Sundareswarar Temple is the icon of Madurai just as the Charminar is the symbol of Hyderabad. Dedicated to Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, worshiped as Meenakshi and Sundareswarar respectively. The temple complex has 14 towering gateways (gopurams). An exemplary specimen of the Drividian architecture, the Meenakshi Temple boasts a treasure of 33,000 sculptures.

The temple is not just a heritage of India but a living legend of Madurai and its past. The temple was destroyed during an invasion of Madurai by Malik Kafur, a general of Allaudin Khilji, in the Sultanate era or pre-medieval period of India. It was rebuilt during the Nayak Period in the 16th century. Some rituals which are performed in the temple on religious occasions are believed to be influenced by the coronation of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar as the Queen and King of Madurai.

Thoonga Nagaram meaning the “city that never sleeps” is another name of Madurai. The city receives footfalls from all over India and abroad throughout the year. Meenakshi Tirukkalyanam is the biggest festival that the city celebrates for ten days in April or May. Held in commemoration of Lord Vishnu’s arrival to attend the celestial wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar in the city, the festivity fetches more than 1 million visitors. 

Madurai is also famous for Jallikattu, a bull-taming sport which is held during the Pongal Festival celebration in the month of January. A historic tradition for ages in Tamil Nadu, the bull-taming sport is played in the city and the suburbs. A specific breed of bull is bred especially for this event every year. According to the legends of Tamil Nadu’s Classical period, the game used to be held to help women choose husbands from among the participants.

Madurai is a hub of the Dravidian art and culture in not only Tamil Nadu but South India. Being a witness to the evolution of Carnatic music from the 16th century, the city boasts a rich legacy of musicwhich famous Carnatic musicians have contributed to over the years.