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Sculpted splendours
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Pudumandapam has acquired a quaint charm of its own
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ARMED Meenakshi The legendary ruler of Madurai Photo: S. James
This is a place where Madurai can be seen in its real flavour. Everything under one roof, a mini-market of sorts where colours and fabric come together. Where temptations take over for pocket-pinching purchases. From utensils to old fashioned toys, books and bangles, earthenwares and flowers, the clutter and cacophony in dimly-lit stalls that vie for space. This is Pudumandapam, rich with historic and mythological tales but crowded with shops of all shapes and sizes now. The place has acquired a quaint charm of its own.
For the locals, however, the mandapam was always associated with busy trade activities particularly during Chitrai festival, `aaraiyar seva,' water-spilling ceremony on the Lord Kallazhgar. But more than that it is actually a place of `heavenly' paintings of Lord Shiva and Goddess Meenakshi. Their thiruvilayadals have remained sources of inspiration for paintings and sculptures.
Vasantha mandapam
King Thirumalai Naicker is known to have built destroyed portions of Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and constructed the mandapam, which was initially used as the summer palace. Earlier called the `vasantha mandapam', it was one of the greatest structure of its kind which took seven years to complete. The mandapam's inner corridor measures 330 by 105 feet and it is believed that the narrow pits found there used to be filled with water to keep the place cool during summers, according to C. Shanthalingam, Archeological Officer.
At the entrance of the mandapam, equestrian figures (horse riders) are seen, which is one of the salient features of Vijayanagara and Naicker art. Similar riders are seen in Srirangam also, he says.
The mandapam has a sculpture of Thadathagai Pirattiar, daughter of a legendary Pandya king Malayadwaja. Thadathagai Pirattiar is none but Meenakshi who emerged out of the yagna fire as a three-year-old girl when the king performed `putthira kamatchi yagna' as he had no heir to rule his throne. Malayadwaja adopted the girl, who had three breasts. However, a divine voice gave assurance to him that the third breast would soon disappear when she meets her consort.
The girl became a brave and beautiful princess and won many battles. She finally lost her heart to Lord Shiva, when she met him on the battlefield in Kailash and her third breast disappeared.
Here, Thadathagai Pirattiar is seen with a crowned head and wearing a `patrakundala,' ear-rings made of palm leaves. She is also wearing `poonool' a sacred thread stressing that women were also wearing the sacred threads till Naick period, says Dr. Shanthalingam.
Another sculpture depicts Lord Shiva as Urthavathandavamoorthy, who is performing an Urthuvathandavam, which is one of the 108 karnams of Bharathanatyam in which the Lord stands with his right leg raised straight up so as to reach the top of his ear.
He performs the dance on Muyalagan, who represents ignorance. The Lord destroys ignorance to enlighten all. On the sides of Urthavathandavamoorthy, Karaikal Ammiayar and Nandhikeswarar are seen.The Shiva has 16 hands carrying 16 kinds of weapons. On one hand he carries the sculpture of Nandhi, which is a rare sculpture.
The mandapam has more sculptures of Shiva as Thirupurandhaka Shiva, who destroyed thiripuraasuras. It also houses portraits of 10 Naicker kings including Viswanatha Naicker and Thirumalai Naicker.
Library
The mandapam was used as a museum and a library. This is evident from a plaque at the entrance which reads: ``This museum and library was opened by T. Austin, CIE ICS, adviser to his excellency, the Governor of Madras on 6th March 1942. R.S.Nayudu, Barrister of Law, Executive Officer, Madurai ETC Devasthanam.''
S.S.KAVITHA
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Pondicherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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