| Temples & Legends Of
Tamilnadu |
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| Temples & Legends Of
India |
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MADURAI |
There
are nine towers or gopurams of which the four outer ones are the most significant. The
western tower is covered with innumerable plaster figures representing scenes from the
Puranic stories; the northern tower is very plain and contains miniatures of the various
kinds of gopurams and vimanas to be found all over South India. The southern tower is the
highest of all and is 152 feet in height. - This tower was previously known as
Mottagopuram (Motta means unfinished) or unfinished tower, but this has been subsequently
completed by
donations from some Chettiars.
Near this gopuram there are five musical
pillars. Each is composed of 22 slender rods carved out of a single block of granite. When
tapped, the rods give musical sounds. Musical pillars are seen in almost all-big South
Indian temples. The choice of stone and its carving from a single block is almost a
marvel. In each
pillar the musical sounds are different, each generating the sound of the violin, Veena,
drum, etc. At the foot of this tower is a small shrine known as the 'Koil' of 'Mottai'
Gopurathan, i.e., man at the entrance to the Mottaigopurarn. He is considered to be the
guardian of public health of the city and during epidernics his importance becomes very
perceptible, judged by the continuous propitiation offered to him. |
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