Rare Statue's/ Alagar Temple

[Guest guest]

Vanakkam Bro George,

 

Excellent info, thank you

 

Jai Shree Ganeshaya Namah Om

 

 

, "pillai_george"

<pillai_george> wrote:

>

> Dear Lenji and Neilji,

>

> Thank you for explaining clearly to Bro Amit but it may be hard

for

> him to digest our answers.

>

> If he's in india he may go to Alagar Temple and have a look at the

> Rajagopuram (Main Temple Entrance Tower) Built between 4 BC and 10

> AD.

>

> He can see many rare statue's sitted on the tower itself.

>

> Have given details of temple location and a brief history below:

>

> Madurai is one of the ancient cities of the world. Its history

goes

> several centuries before Christ. Tamil and Greek documents record

> its existence from 4th century BC. The city is situated on the

banks

> of River Vaigai. The Pandyans ruled Madurai until 10th century AD.

> This was the golden era of Tamil culture, literature and learning.

> Then Madurai changed hands with Cholas, Pandyas, Muslim rulers,

> Vijayanagar rulers and finally the Madurai Nayaks under whom

Madurai

> became the cultural center of Tamils.

>

> Alagar Koil: 21km from Madurai and situated at the bottom of the

> Alagar Hills, this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

>

> The story goes that Vishnu came down to this place from Vaikunta -

> his abode in Heaven - to give away Meenakshi(Parvathi) in marriage

> to Sundareswarar(Shiva). This journey is also celebrated as a part

> of the Chithirai festival of Meenakshi Temple. In this temple he

is

> seen in various postures sitting, standing, reclining one over the

> other. God Kallalagar (Vishnu)is brought down into Vaigai river

> every Chithirai festival via Alagar Koil road.

> Alagar Koil was even maintained by the late Pandyas. Here you may

> see some Sadhus (Swamiyars), or homeless, casteless holy man

> passing, mischievous monkeys among the families that bring their

> small children to have their heads shaved, coated in cooling

> sandalwood paste, and blessed.

>

> Hope this can help.

>

> Yours

> George Pillai