Ashta Shakthi Mandapam

When you enter the temple from the eastern gate then you will enter into a mandapam that was built by the wives of Thirumalai Nayakar namely Rudrapathi Ammal and Tholimamai. In the early days, food was distributed to devotees who traveled from a very long distance. The Thiruvilayadals of Lord Shiva is being depicted in the sculptures in the mandapam. The birth of Meeenakshi and her life as a princess is also depicted.

There is also a story behind Meenakshi who ruled as the princess over Madurai. Malayadwaja Pandya was ruling over the place in the days but he was childless. As it worried the kind and his wife, they performed yagnas and prayed to God for a child. From the fire came a little girl who had three breasts. The king was very much worried about it but he then heard a voice which said that the third breast will disappear when she meets his consort. The princess learnt all the skills and turned into a very brave princess and she was the one who stood the first in the times of war. It was in the battle field of the Kailas that the princess lost her heart to Lord Shiva. Her third breast also disappeared and their wedding took place. She then realized that she was none other than Parvati, Shiva’s wife. From then they ruled over the city of Madurai as Meenakshi and Sundareswarar. The wedding of the Lord Shiva and Meenakshi takes place every year as a very grand festival and there is the procession of the Lord and Meenakshi for 9 days and the wedding takes place on the tenth day in the month of Chithrai.