103:
470:
333:(handing over a girl for marriage) of Meenakshi. This was enacted by Sundareshvara to prove that Vishnu and Shiva are one and the same. Later, when Aḻagar was crossing the Vaigai river, he learned that his sister's wedding was over. This made him furious. To pacify him, Meenakshi and Sundareshvara came to the Vaigai river. Aḻagar chose to give all the gifts that he carried to Meenakshi and Sundareshvara in a
346:
36:
280:(the abode of Shiva) to conquer it. When Meenakshi confronted Shiva in the battlefield, she fell in love with him and realized that she was a form of Parvati. Her third breast fell upon meeting him. Shiva assured Meenakshi that he would come to Madurai to marry her. As promised, Shiva, along with all
328:
The wedding of
Meenakshi with Sundareshvara was to happen in Madurai. Aḻagar, the brother of Meenakshi, was invited. He started on a 20 km journey from his abode at Aḻagar Hills towards Madurai. Aḻagar decided to travel disguised as a robber to protect himself and his belongings. At times, he
412:
After
Meenakshi is crowned as the queen of the Pandya kingdom, she goes into war with all the countries in the world and conquers the whole world and she goes to Kailasha (the home of Shiva in Himalayas) to conquer it. However, after seeing Shiva on the battlefield, she falls in love with him and
432:
while entering the temple premises. Devotees also carry fruits, coconuts and incense sticks to offer to the deities. Inside the temple, the images of the deities are decorated with silk clothes and floral garlands. There are nearly 50 priests in the
Meenakshi Madurai temple who perform the puja
421:
Meenakshi
Kalyanam is the wedding celebration of Meenakshi and Shiva (Sundareshvara) in Madurai. On the day of Meenakshi Kalyanam, devotees get up at sunrise and reach the Meenakshi temple in Madurai. After taking a holy dip in the golden lotus pond, they wear clean clothes. Meenakshi is first
403:
Pattabhishekam is a coronation ceremony. Meenakshi is crowned as the queen of
Madurai on this day, and she is regarded to rule the Pandya Kingdom for the next four months. After this ceremony, her husband Sundareshvara is crowned as the king of Madurai for the next eight months.
238:
The festival lasts for one month. The first 15 days mark the celebrations of the coronation of
Meenakshi as the divine ruler of Madurai and her marriage to Sundareshvara. The next 15 days mark the celebrations of the journey of Kallaḻagar or Aḻagar (a form of the god
276:), and Shiva himself would come to marry her at the right age. Meenakshi was trained in warfare, and she was crowned as the queen of the Pandya kingdom after her father died. She conquered the whole world with her extraordinary war skills, and at last she went to
457:, is performed the day after Meenakshi Kalyanam. The king and queen of the Pandya Kingdom, Meenakshi and Sundareshvara come to see their subjects in a well-decorated chariot. It attracts many people in the Masi streets of Madurai as viewers.
267:
and offered his prayers seek a son. During the puja, a 3-year-old girl emerged from the fire and sat on the lap of the king, bearing three breasts. At that time, a divine voice from the sky told them that this child was an incarnation of
314:, came by that way. Manduka missed his arrival, which Durvasa took as an insult and cursed Manduka to become a frog and live in the river Vaigai. On Manduka's beeseaching, Durvasa told him to go to Vaigai and pray to the Aḻagar form of
329:
had to hide to avoid getting arrested by soldiers. This, and the dense forest of Aḻagar Hills, delayed his journey further. This delay was purposely caused by
Sundareshvara, and vishnu himself took the form of Aḻagar and performed the
433:
rituals and special prayers. The main priests in the temple perform the ritualistic wedding ceremonies. At the completion of the event, images of
Meenakshi and Sundareshvara are taken out in huge processions on the streets in the
512:
began on the fourth day of the festival. On this day, Aḻagar changed his appearance as Kallar (Kallar vedam) when he traveled via Kallar Nadu and entered
Madurai city and the people of the city welcomed him.
102:
753:
521:
A reenactment of the scene of Vishnu refusing to enter
Madurai and returning to Alagar Koil occurs in a mandapam in Madhichiyam in the middle of river Vaigai.
688:
364:
sect were separate events celebrated in Chithirai Month . Both festivals were merged into a single event to unite the people of the two Hindu sects (
263:
king Malayadhvaja Pandyan and queen Kanchana Malai. The royal couple did not have a child for a long time, so Malayadhvaja Pandyan performed special
60:
321:
Aḻagar was pleased by the prayers of Manduka, and went to the Vaigai river to lift the curse of Manduka. As per Manduka's wish, he showed him
627:
375:
The location of culminating event of Aḻagar festival - the entering of the river by Aḻagar - was also moved from Thenur village to Madurai.
812:
395:(flag pole) of the temple. This marks the beginning of the festival. The flag stays on the flag pole until the end of the festival.
78:
426:. On this day, devotees sing devotional songs and bhajans. It is also considered auspicious to wear the holy ash known as
288:, came to Madurai. Shiva as Sundareshvara married Meenakshi and ruled the Pandya kingdom under the name Sundara Pandyan.
713:
590:
51:
807:
289:
216:
802:
107:
Vishnu (left) gives away his sister and bride Meenakshi's hand into the waiting hand of groom Shiva.
46:
529:
The Devendra Puja is held at the fourteenth and final day of the Chithirai festival in honour of
501:
727:
664:
623:
617:
550:
299:
244:
656:
264:
248:
155:
349:
281:
337:
in the middle of the Vaigai river, and returned to Aḻagar Hill without entering Madurai.
135:
Commemoration of the wedding of Shiva and Meenakshi, coronation of Meenakshi as queen of
391:
During this event, the chief priest of the Meenakshi temple hoists the holy flag on the
260:
469:
796:
392:
505:
307:
303:
117:
56:
the article is not meeting English Wiki article standards and also lacks citations.
17:
783:
369:
361:
322:
296:
204:
728:"Madurai Chithirai Thiruvizha, Chithirai Festival 2017 Kallazhagar - dravidian"
551:"Madurai Chithirai Thiruvizha, Chithirai Festival 2017 Kallazhagar - dravidian"
211:
during the month of April. The festival, celebrated during the Tamil month of
668:
422:
worshipped using traditional methods, following which prayers are offered to
594:
330:
220:
212:
159:
345:
645:"Approaching the Temple in Nayaka-Period Madurai: The Kutal Alakar Temple"
365:
357:
428:
334:
311:
277:
269:
224:
208:
136:
576:
644:
315:
302:. Once, the sage Manduka was taking a bath in the holy waters of the
240:
660:
383:
The following are the list of events in the Tirukalyanam festival.
530:
344:
285:
273:
232:
464:
29:
481:
259:
As per the legend, Meenakshi was the daughter of the
146:
car festivals, wedding festival, coronation ceremony
181:
173:
165:
150:
142:
131:
123:
112:
95:
356:Historically, the Meenakshi festival related to
27:Annual Tamil Hindu festival in Madurai, India
8:
616:Abram, David; Guides (Firm), Rough (2003).
295:The Aḻagar festival is associated with the
101:
92:
372:) as well as to boost Madurai's economy.
310:. At that time, the short tempered sage,
79:Learn how and when to remove this message
542:
754:"Devendra Pooja at Chithirai Festival"
352:gave shape to the Chithirai festival.
7:
682:
680:
678:
533:at the Meenakshi Temple at Madurai.
449:The Chariot festival, also known as
169:During the Tamil month of Chithirai
500:Part of the Chithirai Tiruviḻa of
292:stands at the centre of Madurai.
25:
468:
360:sect and Aḻagar festival of the
34:
318:to be released from the curse.
193:Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival
1:
689:"Drama unfolds on river bank"
622:. Rough Guides. p. 503.
227:and her consort Sundareshvara
687:Prabhu, S. (28 April 2011).
517:Aḻagar Vaigai Yeluntarulutal
219:, dedicated to the goddess
207:celebration in the city of
54:. The specific problem is:
829:
643:Branfoot, Crispin (2000).
50:to meet Knowledge (XXG)'s
215:, is associated with the
100:
813:Hindu festivals in India
591:"Madurai Meenakshiamman"
577:"Meenakshi Tirukalyanam"
177:20 April (wedding date)
784:Meenanski amman temple
353:
249:Meenakshi Amman Temple
96:Meenakshi Tirukalyanam
348:
61:improve this article
323:all his ten avatars
808:Culture of Madurai
502:Kallazhagar temple
480:. You can help by
417:Meenakshi Kalyanam
354:
201:Meenakshi Kalyanam
197:Chithirai Tiruviḻa
18:Chithirai festival
629:978-1-84353-103-6
498:
497:
424:Vibhuti Vinayakar
325:and blessed him.
300:Kallaḻagar temple
189:
188:
89:
88:
81:
52:quality standards
43:This article may
16:(Redirected from
820:
770:
769:
767:
765:
750:
744:
743:
741:
739:
724:
718:
717:
714:"Ther Tiruvizha"
710:
704:
703:
701:
699:
684:
673:
672:
640:
634:
633:
613:
607:
606:
604:
602:
597:on 18 April 2011
593:. Archived from
587:
581:
580:
573:
567:
566:
564:
562:
547:
493:
490:
472:
465:
445:Chariot festival
217:Meenakshi Temple
195:, also known as
156:Meenakshi Temple
113:Observed by
105:
93:
84:
77:
73:
70:
64:
38:
37:
30:
21:
828:
827:
823:
822:
821:
819:
818:
817:
803:Tamil festivals
793:
792:
791:
789:
779:
774:
773:
763:
761:
760:. 29 March 2022
752:
751:
747:
737:
735:
734:. 6 August 2016
726:
725:
721:
712:
711:
707:
697:
695:
686:
685:
676:
661:10.2307/3249918
642:
641:
637:
630:
615:
614:
610:
600:
598:
589:
588:
584:
575:
574:
570:
560:
558:
557:. 6 August 2016
549:
548:
544:
539:
527:
519:
494:
488:
485:
478:needs expansion
463:
447:
435:Pushpa Pallakku
419:
410:
401:
393:dhvaja stambham
389:
381:
350:Tirumala Nayaka
343:
257:
203:, is an annual
108:
85:
74:
68:
65:
58:
39:
35:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
826:
824:
816:
815:
810:
805:
795:
794:
787:
786:
780:
778:
777:External links
775:
772:
771:
745:
719:
705:
674:
635:
628:
608:
582:
568:
541:
540:
538:
535:
526:
523:
518:
515:
496:
495:
475:
473:
462:
459:
446:
443:
418:
415:
409:
406:
400:
399:Pattabhishekam
397:
388:
385:
380:
379:List of events
377:
342:
339:
256:
253:
187:
186:
183:
179:
178:
175:
174:2024 date
171:
170:
167:
163:
162:
158:, Prayers for
152:
148:
147:
144:
140:
139:
133:
129:
128:
125:
121:
120:
114:
110:
109:
106:
98:
97:
87:
86:
69:September 2017
42:
40:
33:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
825:
814:
811:
809:
806:
804:
801:
800:
798:
790:
785:
782:
781:
776:
759:
755:
749:
746:
733:
729:
723:
720:
715:
709:
706:
694:
690:
683:
681:
679:
675:
670:
666:
662:
658:
654:
650:
649:Artibus Asiae
646:
639:
636:
631:
625:
621:
620:
612:
609:
596:
592:
586:
583:
578:
572:
569:
556:
552:
546:
543:
536:
534:
532:
525:Devendra Puja
524:
522:
516:
514:
511:
507:
503:
492:
483:
479:
476:This section
474:
471:
467:
466:
460:
458:
456:
452:
444:
442:
440:
439:Yanai Vahanam
436:
431:
430:
425:
416:
414:
413:marries him.
407:
405:
398:
396:
394:
386:
384:
378:
376:
373:
371:
367:
363:
359:
351:
347:
340:
338:
336:
332:
326:
324:
319:
317:
313:
309:
305:
301:
298:
293:
291:
287:
283:
279:
275:
272:(the wife of
271:
266:
262:
254:
252:
250:
246:
242:
236:
234:
230:
226:
222:
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
198:
194:
184:
180:
176:
172:
168:
164:
161:
157:
153:
149:
145:
141:
138:
134:
130:
126:
122:
119:
115:
111:
104:
99:
94:
91:
83:
80:
72:
62:
57:
53:
49:
48:
41:
32:
31:
19:
788:
762:. Retrieved
757:
748:
736:. Retrieved
731:
722:
708:
696:. Retrieved
692:
652:
648:
638:
618:
611:
599:. Retrieved
595:the original
585:
571:
559:. Retrieved
554:
545:
528:
520:
509:
506:Aḻagar Koyil
499:
486:
482:adding to it
477:
454:
451:Ter Tiruviḻa
450:
448:
438:
434:
427:
423:
420:
411:
402:
390:
382:
374:
355:
327:
320:
308:Aḻagar hills
304:Agaya Gangai
294:
290:Their temple
258:
251:in Madurai.
237:
228:
223:, a form of
200:
196:
192:
190:
143:Celebrations
132:Significance
90:
75:
66:
59:Please help
55:
44:
619:South India
461:Ethir Sevai
455:Rathotsavam
387:Kodi Yetram
205:Tamil Hindu
151:Observances
63:if you can.
797:Categories
764:22 October
655:(2): 197.
537:References
510:Ethir Seva
489:March 2019
408:Dikvijayam
245:his temple
231:a form of
758:The Hindu
732:dravidian
693:The Hindu
669:0004-3648
555:dravidian
370:Vaishnava
362:Vaishnava
331:kanyadana
297:Vaishnava
286:the sages
221:Meenakshi
213:Chithirai
182:Frequency
160:Meenakshi
601:14 April
282:the gods
278:Kailasha
154:Puja in
45:require
738:1 March
698:11 July
561:1 March
429:vibhuti
341:History
335:mandapa
312:Durvasa
270:Parvati
243:) from
225:Parvati
209:Madurai
137:Madurai
47:cleanup
667:
626:
508:, the
366:Shaiva
358:Shaiva
316:Vishnu
261:Pandya
255:Legend
241:Vishnu
185:Annual
118:Tamils
116:Hindu
531:Indra
274:Shiva
265:pujas
233:Shiva
127:Hindu
766:2022
740:2017
700:2020
665:ISSN
624:ISBN
603:2011
563:2017
437:and
368:and
284:and
191:The
166:Date
124:Type
657:doi
504:at
484:.
453:or
306:in
247:to
199:or
799::
756:.
730:.
691:.
677:^
663:.
653:60
651:.
647:.
553:.
441:.
235:.
768:.
742:.
716:.
702:.
671:.
659::
632:.
605:.
579:.
565:.
491:)
487:(
229:,
82:)
76:(
71:)
67:(
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
