Indian Columbus

Madurai is Meenakshi and Meenakshi is Madurai. This is what people primarily relate the city of Madurai with. This is due to the magnificent and artistically beautiful Meenakshi temple. This is undoubtedly the best attraction in the city. However, a few important Vishnu temples are also located in and around Madurai. Koodal Azhagar Temple is one such temple about which this article is written.  Koodal Azhagar temple is located in the heart of Madurai city, within one km of Meenakshi temple. Alwars, twelve revered saints of Tamil, have graced this temple in their hymns (found in the collection of Nalayira Divya Prabhandam). Thus this temple is considered one of 108 Divya Desam Temples.  (People generally confuse this temple and Kallalagar temple, perhaps due to similar names. Both are Divya Desam temples, and both are located in the same region, but they are two separate temples). Ashtanga Vimana Highlights: Tirumangai Alwar and Tirumazhisai Alwar  have writ

If you are from Tamil Nadu, you would have definitely heard the story of "Pittukku Maan Sumandan" (Lord Shiva carrying sand for Puttu), thanks to the famous "Thiruvilaiyaadal" Tamil movie. Although the legend is recorded in Tiruvilaiyadal Puranam, the authentic book on Madurai (Sthala Puranam), people got familiar with this story due to the movie. This article is about the temple associated with this legend. Let me talk about the legend before describing the temple. This legend is one of 64 Lilas or Tiruvilaiyaadals, as recorded in Tiruvilaiyaadal Puranam. The story goes like this... Madurai was ruled by Arimardana Pandya. During his period, the city was hit by a massive flood. The King ordered the citizens to block the river water by filling the banks with sand. Every house in the town was supposed to provide at least one person on this task. There lived an old lady who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. She had no one else in her family, and she was t

Not all those who visit the famous Meenakshi temple in Madurai visit this small temple dedicated to her mother. Yes! There is a lesser-known temple for Kanchana Mala, the mother of Meenakshi, in Madurai. Opposite the entrance of Meenakshi shrine, there is a giant Nandi sculpture located in the middle of East Avani Moola Street. A small street named Ezhul Kadal (Seven Oceans) Street is found behind the statue. The small east-facing temple of Kanchana Mala is located on this street. The legend of the temple goes like this... After the demise of Malayadhwaja Pandya, his daughter Meenakshi ruled the Pandya empire. Madurai city was her capital. She invaded all over India. After winning over many Kings, she went to the Himalayas, where she met Lord Shiva. She fell in love with him and married him. After the marriage, Lord Shiva, in the name of Sundara Pandya, started ruling the Pandya empire. Per the advice from Gautama Rishi, Kanchana Mala, the mother of Meenakshi, wanted to take