Have you seen Vasantha Mandapam?

The Hindu: Mobile Edition

Amid the din of whirring sewing machines of tailors and haggle and gaggle of shoppers and
shopkeepers at Vasantha Mandapam Pudhu Mandapam in popular parlance city residents
and tourists fail to notice the intricate sculptures and design of the grand premises hidden from
their view.

So it was a good chance to see and hear about the splendour of Vasantha Mandapam on the
eastern side of Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple complex during a heritage walk organised by
Madurai Green early on Sunday morning. Vasantha Mandapam is believed to have derived its
name from Vasantha thiruvizha of yore celebrated in the Tamil month of Vaikasi every year.

The locals refer to it as Pudhu Mandapam since it was constructed much after the Meenakshi
temple, and also because the sculptures and craftsmanship were unique at that time,
explained C. Santhalingam, secretary, Pandya Naadu Centre for Historical Research. Built during
the reign of King Thirumalai Nayak, it has sculptures of 10 rulers and co-rulers of Madurai from
the Nayakar dynasty.
The sculptures here are great works of art. Those with an eye for detail can see many intricate
things. Students of fashion design can get ideas by observing motifs on garments carved in
these sculptures, Mr. Santhalingam said.

Atop Rayagopuram

The participants got an opportunity to get to the top of Rayagopuram. Located opposite Pudhu
Mandapam, it is the only unfinished gopuram of the Meenakshi temple. Many said that though
they had passed by Rayagopuram many times, they were unaware of its significance.

The steps leading to the Rayagopuram are out of bounds for the casual visitors as one must get
special permission from the temple authorities. There are two textile shops there which have
occupied the space there which has partially sealed the route. There are different versions of
stories as to why the gopuram remains unfinished that there were many other gopurams
coming up simultaneously to divert the attention of the builders, and that one of the stones of
the foundation got damaged and the work was stopped midwayetc., said S. Saravanan, one
of the participants.

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Pudhu Mandapam Madurai

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Lying exactly opposite to the eastern side of the very popular Sree Meenakshi Temple is Puthu
Mandapam, which was commissioned by King Thirumalai Nayakkar for Lord Sundareswarar. It
was originally a temple that was erected as the summer abode of the Lord and his consort
Goddess Meenakshi.

Built on a pedestal, this mandapam (hall) is 105 ft in breadth and 330 ft in length. 25 feet in
height, the hall consists of 124 pillars that are divided in 4 rows. On both the sides of the central
passage, there are striking pillars with figures of 14 rulers of the Nayaka dynasty along with
their wives.

The pillars also have the sculptures of the Lord and his better half. Also called Vasantha
Mandapam, this hall for the first time was used as the venue of temples annual festivities.

The spring festival of Vasanthosavam is one of the main temples that are celebrated here in the
month of Vaikasi (April-May). Pudhu Mandapam or Puthu Mandapam was built between the
years 1628-1635.

This historically important site is kind of a complex that has a market near it where you can
shop for excellent quality cotton fabric.
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Vasantha or Puthu Mandapam - Madurai Meenakshi Temple - Madurai, Tamil Nadu

This magnificent structure set between the Eastern tower and the unfinished Raya Gopuram
was built by Thirumalai Nayak. The pillars here are adorned with elaborate sculptures of Shiva,
Meenakshi and Nayak kings. Vasanthosavam the Spring festival is celebrated here in April /
May.

Pudhu Mandapam

The Pudhumandapam (New Pavilion). East of the Swami tower, was built by Thirumalai Naicker.
It is used for the spring Festival. He also constructed the Royagopuram east of the
Pudhumandapam.

In front of the East Gopuram stands the Puthu Mandapam, otherwise known as Vasantha
Mandapam, constructed during the reign of Thirumalai Nayakkar. It is the summer resort of
Sundareswarar and Meenakshi. On the granite pedestal at the centre of the hall, the deities are
placed during festivals. Wonderful stone images of Thadathagai, Meenakshis wedding, Ravana
lifting Mount Kailas and the stone elephant eating sugarcane decorate this mandapam. The
Nayakkar rulers are immortalized by their statues here.
 As we come out of the Puthu Mandapam, the unfinished Raya Gopuram arrests our attention.
Considering the plinth area, we feel that, it completed, this tower might have been the biggest
in India.

The Kilikoottu (cage of parrots) Mandapam was built by Abisheka Pandarama Thirumalai
Naicker's wives. Tholi Ammai and Ruderapathi Ammai built the Astha Sakthi (Eight Powers)
Mandapam. The Nagara Mandapam (Drum Pavilion) in front of the Meenakshiamman tower
was built by Achaya Rayer. Here we can now see fruit-stalls and other shops.

The Meenakshi Naicker Mandapam before the Amman Tower was constructed in 1708 A.D. by
Shanmugam Meenakshi Naicker. Vijayaranga Chokkanatha Naicker built the Thirukkalyana
(wedding) Mandapam in 1711 A.D.

Thus we see that major part of the Temple was constructed between the twelth and the
eighteenth centuries.