Meenakshi Temple - Morning

Friday, 26 September 2014

Our morning tour was of the vast Meenakshi Temple. There's really no way to describe it. Although the temple does not allow cameras or other electronic equipment inside, they do allow cell phones and allow photography with them. Only Meenakshi's and Shiva's sanctum sanctorums are off-limits for non-Hindus and photography.

From the outside, the temple is dominated by its four huge towers (gopurams) over the four outer gates. This is a view of one from inside the temple, at the temple tank. There are smaller towers over the two main shrines for Meenakshi (aka Parvati in other parts of India) and Shiva, as well as some other structures, bringing the total number of towers to thirteen.

Each gopuram is richly decorated with scenes from Hindu mythology.

The temple tank.

A highlight of the visit was getting to see the temple elephant walk by the tank.

I thank Christy for getting the best photo of the elephant.
Note the hennaed ears and the mark of Shiva on the forehead. 

 It was also wearing a necklace of bells and had decorations painted on ears, cheeks, and trunk.

The temple keeps a herd of cows. Visitors can buy fodder to feed them. Christy decided to help out.

Oil lamps and a small Nandi bull.

This Nandi Bull gets covered with ashes made from holy cow dung (it's a rather involved process). Many worshippers come by and whisper secrets and requests in Nandi's ear as they offer the ashes.

The main Nandi Bull facing Shiva's sanctum sanctorum.