Will the world end in 2012?

Recently I came across the websites which is mentioned that the Mayan calendar predicts that the Earth will end on December 21, 2012. Scientific experts from around the world are genuinely predicting that five years from now, all life on Earth could well finish. Some are saying it'll be humans that set it off. Others believe that a natural phenomenon will be the cause. And the religious folks are saying it'll be God himself who presses the stop button.

You people share your thoughts, suggestions and opinions in the comment section of the post. Please don't make it spam.

Happy Diwali 2009

Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan Statue at Madurai Temple City

A huge life-size bronze statue of height 2.6 meters for Actor Sivaji Ganesan is established at Madurai. The most prominent actor "Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan" statue unveiled on Sunday, October 04, 2009 near Raja Muthaiah Mandram, Madurai. Sivaji Ganesan is a well known popular actor in the tamil cinema industry who impressed many people in tamilnadu by his stylish action and rich tone voice. The Union Minister for Fertilizers and Chemicals Mr. M.K.Azhagiri opened the Sivaji Ganesan statue at Madurai. Actor's son Prabhu, Ramkumar participated in this statue opening ceremony. Also the most famous personalities of tamil cinema world Vijayakumar, Napolean, Kamal Haasan, Vadivelu, Manorama, Direcotr P. Vasu and Sasikumar grace this function.

Madurai Railway Station Gets A1 Grade

The Madurai Railway Junction is refurbished as an International level "A1" Grade railway station with Rs.30 crores. The railway stations which generate earning of Rs.15 lakh daily will get A1 Grade, the Indian Railway department said. According to the survey, Chennai Egmore, Chennai Central, Madurai and Coimbatore Railway Junctions are getting A1 Grade.Extra features and facilities at Madurai Railway Junction

• Junction main entrance is fully covered with glasses which looks royal, majestic and international level
• First platform width is increased to 10 meter in order to avoid the congestion
• Escalator facility is provided at 5th platform to connect 2,3,4 and 6,7,8 platforms
• Carrieall Car service is provided inside the railway station for physically challenged and senior citizens

Meenakshi Temple Kumbabhishekam Video Clipping

The world's famous Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple Astabhandhana Maha Kumbabhishekam & Samprokshanam has performed recently on April 2009. I have just uploaded only photos and details of that event in my previous post. But most of the readers asked to put the video clip of the Kumbabhisekam event. As per the readers suggestion in the comments section, I have uploaded the video clipping of world's famous Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple Astabandhana Maha Kumbabhishekam and Samprokshanam held in April 2009 in this post.

Maha Kumbabhishekam Video Clipping

Check out the photo gallery, pictures, photos collection and images of Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple Maha Kumbabhishekam April 2009 here

Lalitha Jewellery and City Center at Madurai

The Chennai's leading jewellery shop "Lalitha Jewellery" will be opened its new branch in Madurai, Temple city. The grand opening ceremony will be on Sunday, September 20, 2009. The Central Minister, Son of Tamilnadu Chief Minister and Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Mr. M.K. Azhagiri and Mrs. Gandhi Azhagiri would inaugurate the opening ceremony and preside over the function. The showroom is named as Lalitha Jewellery Mart India Private Limited.

"Lalitha Jewellery and City Center" showroom is constructed around 55,000 square feet situated at South Masi Street which is the heart and center of the Madurai Temple City. It is a four floor showroom on which two floors for Jewels selling consists of Gold, Diamond, Silver and Platinum and other floors for Textiles, Home appliances, Cosmetics and Stationery items trading. Apart from this, the showroom have sufficient space for customer's vehicles parking.

Thirumalai Naicker Mahal (Palace) Renovation and Creation of Eco-Park

As we all know that Madurai city is famous for Meenakshi Amman Temple, an ancient heritage temple in South India. In spite of its temple features, Madurai city is well know for some tourism spots also. Among them, Thirumalai Naicker Palace (Thirumalai Naicker Mahal) is a famous one where tourists often visited this place while come for Madurai. In order to look the temple city grand and to beautify the mahal, Thirumalai Naicker Palace is renovated at a cost of Rs. 3 Crore and also constructing "Eco-Park" a.k.a. "Grass Paved Platform" surrounding the Palace. This will attract the tourists more and also make the palace with splendid appearance.

Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple History, Information and Other Details

Temple Picture:
Temple Name: Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple

Pre-Historic Name: Aalavai, Naanmada Koodal, Kadambavanam

Temple Deities: Lord Sundareswarar, Goddess Meenakshi, Mukkuruni Vinayagar, Subramaniyar, Nandi, Ellam Valla Sidhar, Durga, Dhakshinamoorthy, Kala Bhairavar, Bhadra Kali, Hanuman, Navagraham and more

Temple Holy Tree: Kadambam

Temple Holy Water or Theertham: Golden Lotus Tank (Potramarai Kulam), Vaigai, Theppakkulam, etc

Temple Opening time: 5.00 A.M. to 12.30 P.M. and 4.00 P.M. to 10.00 P.M

Temple Pooja Schedule:
Thiruvanandal Puja - 5.00 A.M. to 6.00 A.M.
Vizha Pooja - 6.30 A.M. to 7.00 A.M.
Kalasandhi Puja - 7.30 A.M. to 8.30 A.M.
Thrikalasandhi Pooja - 10.30 A.M. to 11.30 A.M.
Uchikkala Puja - 11.30 A.M. to 12.30 P.M.
Maalai Pooja - 4.30 P.M. to 5.00 P.M.
Ardhajama Puja - 7.30 P.M. to 8.30 P.M.
Palliarai Pooja - 9.15 P.M. to 10.00 P.M.

Temple Festivals:
Chithirai Brahmotsavam (Chitra Festival)
Vaikasi Vasantham Festival
Aani Unjal Festival
Aadi Mulaikottu Festival
Avani Moola Utsavam Festival
Purattasi Navaratri Festival
Ayppasi Kolattam Festival
Karthigai Kolattam Festival
Margazhi Thiruvathirai & Thiruvempavai Festival
Thai Theppotsavam
Masi Mandala Utsavam Festival
Panguni Summer Vasantham Festival

Temple Address: Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai 625 001

Temple Place: Madurai

Temple State: Tamilnadu

Temple Phone: +91-452-2344360

Temple Fax: +91-452-2341777

Viragu Vitra Leelai

The tenth day of Avani Moola Maha Utsavam is going to be held at Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple Old Thirukkalayana Mandapam at 4.30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 01, 2009. This is the one of the interesting Thiruvilayadal performed by Lord Sundareswarar in Madurai to preserve a famous vocalist in the Pandiyan Kingdom. The Leela is known as "Viragu Vitra Leelai" (Lord Sundareswarar Himself traded Firewoods in Madurai streets to save His devotee Baanapathiran).

Story of Viragu Vitra Leelai

During the Varaguna Pandiyan ruling period in Madurai, a singer named Hemanathan from north side visited Madurai and sung various songs and got prizes. Hemanathan said to King with bigheaded voice, is there any vocalists in this kingdom to beat me. Suddenly, Asthana Pandithar Paanabathirar striked to King's mind. King also accepted the Hemanathar's challenge, but Paanabathirar felt that he was not suitable to beat Hemanathan, so he surrendered Lord Shiva and requested to preserve him and Pandiya Kingdom. Lord Sundareswarar accepted his request and came to Madurai city streets as a Firewood trader humming songs. At night, Lord Sundareswarar (Firewood Trader) sung songs at Hemanathar staying place. Hemanathar forget himself on receiving Lord's songs. Then Hemanathar asked the Firewood Trader, from whom you learn the songs. Firewood Trader replied that the great vocalists "Asthana Pandithar Baanapathirar" taught me. Hemanathar shocked and immediately left that place and also written in a leaf that he and his abilities everything bestowed to Paanabathirar and Pandiyan Kingdom.

Puttukku Mann Sumandha Leelai

The nineth day of Avani Moola Festival is "Puttukku Man Sumandha Leelai" (Lord Shiva carried soil for earning puttu in order to help out a old lady) on Monday, August 31, 2009. Puttu is a delicious and soft food famous in South India. This Thiruvilayadal will be happened at Puttu Thoppu near Madurai and also the deities Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar will be taken out to there to perform this leelai. Lord Subramaniyan along with His wife Deivanai from Thiruparankundram temple will participate in this festival. To know more about the history of this leelai, check out the following link:
http://maduraimeenakshitempleforu.blogspot.com/2008/08/puttu-thiruvizha-2008.html

Nariyai Pariyaakiya Leelai

The eighth day of Meenakshi Amman Temple Avani Moola Festival is "Nariyai Pariyaakkiya Leelai" on Sunday, August 30, 2009. Nari -> Fox and Pari -> Horse. Lord Sundareswarar (Lord Shiva) always performed various Thiruvilayadal to save His devotees and saints from the critical problems and dangers. Likewise, He transformed the foxes into horses to save one of His devotee and major Nayanmar "Manickavasagar". During the period of Arimarthana Pandiyan ruling in Madurai, King gave gold to Manickavasagar and asked him to buy horses. Manickavasagar went to buy them, but on the way Lord Shiva came in the form of Lord Dakshinamoorthy and preached Upanishads and Vedas to him. Afterwards he spent his whole time in chanting Mantras and devotional songs about Lord and forgot to buy the horses. King was waiting for the horses, but nothing happened. So he asked his soldiers to contact Manickavasagar and asked him about the horses. Then only Manickavasagar remember about it, immediately he surrendered Lord Shiva. God never ignored His devotees. At that time, Madurai was a dense forest (also known as Kadambavanam) fully consists of wild animals and foxes. Finally, Lord Sundareswarar convert the foxes into horses and brought them to the King's palace and protect His devotee Manickavasagar.

Book Trade Fair & Expo - Book Exhibition cum Sale at Madurai Tamukkam Ground

The 4th "Book Festival" starts from today (Saturday, August 29, 2009) at Madurai Tamukkam Ground. The south india book publishers and sellers jointly conducting this festival. There will be 227 book stalls and around 1 crore books available. All kinds of books which could help from childhood to senior citizens like science books, technical books, general books and everything will be available. This festival is both for the book exhibition and book sale. Offers 10% discount for the buyers.

Valaiyal Vitra Leelai and Lord Sundareswarar Pattabhisegam

The seventh day of Avani Moola Mahotsavam is "Valaiyal Vitra Leelai" which is to be held on Saturday, August 29, 2009. Another important function is Lord Sundareswarar's Pattabhisekam will be held on Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple tonight between 7.30 p.m and 7.50 p.m. As I have discussed earlier in my previous post, Meenakshi Amman rule Madurai from the tamil month of Chithirai to Avani and Lord Sundareswarar rule from Avani to Chithirai. So today onwards, Lord Sundareswarar starts to rule Madurai after the Meenakshi Amman ruling. The notable feature of this Thiruvilayadal is that Lord Sundareswarar himself sold bangles. This event will be happened at Madurai Valaiyalkara street at 10 a.m. After that, special pujas will be made to bangles and bring them to the Lord's shrine.

Baananukku Angam Vettiya Leelai

The sixth day of Avani Moola Utsavam festival is "Baananukku Angam Vettiya Leelai" held on Friday, August 28, 2009. During the Kulothunga Pandiyan period in Madurai, there was a couple named Virudha Veeran who was very old teaching various fights to students and beautiful young-age Manicka Maalai. At that time, Siddhan alias Baanan joined there to learn fights. He wished to become a great coacher like his tutor. Guru's wife should be treated as mother, but he had a lust on his Guru's wife instead. So, he asked his Guru to battle with him. Due to his body conditions and aging, Virudhaveeran not able to battle with him. Hence the couple surrendered Lord Sundareswarar, God came in the form of old-age Virudhaveeran and fought against him and demolished Baanan's body parts individually. Hence this Thiruvilayadal is called as Baananukku Angam Vettiya Leelai.

Ulavaa Kottai Aruliya Leelai

Thursday, August 27, 2009 - Today is the fifth day of Meenakshi Amman Temple's Avani Moola Festival. Lord Sundareswarar will be performed "Ulavaa Kottai Aruliya Leelai" on this occasion.

Story behind this Thiruvilayadal

Once upon a time a farmer and his wife named Dharmakeerthi and Dharmaseelai respectively lived in Kadambavanam which is now called as Madurai. "Service to Humanity is Service to God", as per the proverb, both of them offer food (Annadhanam) to Sivacharyas and Lord Shiva Saints as a divine service daily. Suddenly the famine and poverty surrounded them, but never disappointed. They sold their house, property and continued their service to Sivanadiyars. At last, they didn't have enough money to provide food for the Saints. So they decided to commit suicide. Immediately, Lord Sundareswarar appeared there and saved them. He said to them He performed Thiruvilayadal. Then, He presented "Paddy in Ulavaa Kottai" (similar to Amudha Surabhi) to them and asked them to continue their divine service through this paddy.