MADURAI

THE LEGEND OF MEENAKSHI

Now begins the legend of Mother Meenakshi.  Malayadwaja who succeeded to the throne after an illustrious ruler was a brave king, but was without issues.  He performed a great yagna along with his Dharmapatni Kanchanmala for Santhana prapti.  And at the end of it, a three- summer- old girl rose up from the sacrificial pit.  She was lovely and attractive with a difference.  She had three breasts instead of two, common to females. To the despaired couple, a divine voice informed that the third breast would disappear, when she would be seen by her life partner.

Comforted parents brought her up fondly as prince and taught all the arts of warfare.  She grew up as an unusual princess, with exceptional heroism peeping from every pore of her body.  Her charms too were of rare type.  She was christened Thadathagai and became dear to her subjects.  She ascended the throne after the demise of her parents.  She then began her digvijaya yatra which was a topic perennial fascination, since crown after crown fell at her feet, when she marched her armies against the Aryavarta kings.  She extended her conquest upto the Himalayas, the abode of Lord Siva When Kailas was besieged, Siva appeared on war theatre along with Pramadaganas.  AN what a miracle! When her eyes met with that of Siva, miraculously her third breast disappeared.  

It gladdened her heart; for she met her Lord at long last.  Soon arms were thrown down, and garlands exchanged.  After the marriage, Siva came down to Madurai and lived with his queen-consort for some time.  Later making Ugra Pandyan, the incarnation of Shanmuga as king, they vanished leaving their murthis - Sundareswarar and Meenakshi for adoration by the devout public.  In the ages that followed, Madurai flourished well in all directions under the mighty rulers, who patronised arts and crafts, besides extending cultural dominions across the seas.

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