Step into the realm of the divine

The place of worship is distinct in many aspects. The Aayiram Kaal Mandapam or 1000-pillared hall, is a fine specimen of Dravidian structures. These pillars depict stories of deities from Hindu mythology. about deities. At the entrance to the hall are the musical pillars, which produce musical notes when tapped gently. The Nataraja idol dancing with one leg in the air is even more distinct. In all depictions of Nataraja, it is the left leg that is in the air; this has the right leg in the air. According to legend, Shiva did this because his devotee, the Pandya king, asked him to strike a different pose!

The eye-catching built form of this shrine tells intriguing tales. Legend has it that Lord Indra discovered a lingam in Madurai, which brought divine presence into the urban centre and marked the founding of its shrine complex. The shrine has 14 elaborately sculpted gopurams that reach heights between 45 and 50 metres.