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The Ther (temple Chariot) is one of the main reasons why Thirumalai Nayakar has instituted the #Chithiraithiruvizha. He made two big chariots for the temple & Ratha Utsavam used to happen during the month of Masi (hence the street name). But there werenโt enough people to pull 
them as it was a busy harvest season. On the other hand during Chithirai month, the Pournami festival was celebrated in a grand manner in the nearby Alagar Kovil. Sri Kallalagar used to come to a place called Thenur on the banks of Vaigai to bless โManduka Maharishiโ, a Rishi
affected by a curse as per the legends. As it is a โfreeโ month, lakhs of people used to come for this festival from the surrounding villages. Thirumalai thought of using them to pull Madurai temple Ther. So he changed the chariot festival to Chithirai along with Thirukalyanam.
After crowned as the queen, Goddess Meenakshi undertakes Digvijaya. Everyone who tries to fight with her gets defeated & she reaches Kailash. Nandi tries to stop her but couldnโt. Siva hears the commotion, comes out & on seeing him Meenakshi realises that He is her husband.
Siva tells that He will come to Madurai & marry her. As promised, Siva reaches Madurai with his usual attire of Tiger skin, Snakes & Kapala garland. The people of Madurai are shocked and runs away seeing him. Kanchanamala, mother of Meenakshi is not happy hearing this.
Siva informs Meenakshi that he will come to marriage properly dressed as per the wish of Mamiyar. He changes himself into a beautiful Prince,Sundarar & walks into marriage hall. Seeing such a handsome Mappillai, Kanchanamala puts a Drishti Pottu on his cheek. This is the only day
The Pattabhishekam was a grand ceremony during Thirumalai Nayakarโs time. All the 72 Palayakarars (chieftains) visit Madurai on that occasion. In the evening Thirumalai comes to Arukaal Peedam (even today coronation happens there) & the pooja starts. All the 7 Sthanikas Bhattars
will carry the crown & perform Abhisheka. Then the Goddess will be crowned & sceptre will be placed along with five royal seals of Pandyas. They are Makara Muthirai, Makara Kodi, Pon Ezhuthani,Vrishabha Muthirai & Naga Muthirai. Then Thirumalai will be garlanded & offered Prasad
Since the days of Kumara Kampanna, the ruler of Madurai is assumed to govern on behalf of Meenakshi. Hence the sceptre is given to Thirumalai Nayak. Then he will mount on elephant under a golden canopy, surrounded by all Polygars. The procession will go around the temple with
The sixth day of #ChithiraiThiruvizha is an important event as the revival of Saivisam by Thirugnanasambandar is enacted on this day. In โSaiva Samaya Sthapitha Varalatru Leelaiโ, Sambandar comes to Madurai & makes the Pandya King Arikesari Maravarman return to Saivism
During this day, an Othuvar recites the entire story from Periya Puranam.
Sambandar with Sivan Adiyars
The story of sanctum: When a general of Ulugh Khan approached the sanctum to demolish it, he saw the sculptures of eight elephants around it. When asked about it, he was told about the legend of one of the elephants eating sugarcane. He wanted to test & tries to feed a sugarcane
and the elephant ate that too. Fearing some occult power, they ran away without touching Garbhagraha. Whether this is true or not, the sanctum indeed escaped the fury.
Madurai plunged into darkness for about 40 years under sultanate rule. Kumara Kampanna of Vijayanagara empire
Madurai plunged into darkness for about 40 years under sultanate rule. Kumara Kampanna of Vijayanagara empire
defeated the last sultan and restored dharma in 1371. The temple was reopened. It is said that the blocked wall was opened in front of Kampanna Udayar, he was surprised to see that the lamps are still burning & the flowers on Swami are still fresh #Chithiraithiruvizha
Madurai Thala varalaaru says that during the โmonth of Ani in the year Rudrodhkariโ (1323), โAdi Sultanโ from Delhi came with 60000 horses & plundered the country. The sultan referred is Ulugh Khan aka Mohammed Bin Tughlaq. It says that he โdestroyed Siva & Vishnu temples
Plundered temple treasures (sripandaram), mutilated images (bimbam) on the way & reached Trichyโ. Alarmed by this, the Sthanikas (Sivacharyas) of Madurai temple made a โKilikkoonduโ -cage for the Swami in garbhagraha, raised the earth mounds, blocked the entrance of the sanctum
with a wall & set up another Linga in the Mandapa. They made Ashtabandhana in the Vimana of Swami shrine and hid the Goddess Meenakshi. They did Bhupadanam (buried on the ground) of Utsava Vigrahas near the Muchukundeeswaraamudaiyar shrine. They made Kulasekara Perumal, who
#ChithiraiThiruvizha came to a closure in Madurai Meenakshi temple yesterday with โTheerthavariโ. It also coincided with Azhagar entering the Vaigai river. Those who thought that people will be weaned away from the festivities due to 2 year pandemic gap, were seriously mistaken +
Dharmic Tamilians thronged the streets with double vigour. I was told by friends that the number of Thirukkans were almost doubled this year +
People from all ages from the surrounding villages came to Madurai and it was amazing to see the kids dressing like various Gods. Even some elders did this with enthusiasm +
#Chithiraithiruvizha - Festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Chitirai- an annual celebration in #Madurai during the month of April/May. #Chithiraifestival is one of the longest celebrations.
Historically it was two separate events.
Historically it was two separate events.
King Thirumalai Nayakar,merged both festivals as one single event to unite the people hence one grand event known famouly as #Chithiraifestival #Madurai
#MeenakshiAmman
#MeenakshiAmman
