Madurai, September 17 (Daily Kiran) : The renowned Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai hosted a spectacular Prana Pratishtha ceremony on September 17, drawing thousands of devotees to the historic city. This grand event followed extensive restoration work costing ₹25 crore, which included the reconstruction of the Viravasantharayar Mandapam that had suffered severe damage from a fire.
A magnificent yagna shala featuring 184 sacred fire pits was established on North Adi Street for the rituals. Special golden idols dedicated to the principal deities, Meenakshi Amman and Sundareswarar, were installed there. Sacred waters from several rivers, including the Ganges, Yamuna, Kaveri, and Vaigai, filled the kalashas used in the ceremonies.
Over 400 Shiva Acharyas conducted the elaborate rituals, which began on September 11 with the first phase of the yagna. This was followed by multiple rounds of prayers and fire ceremonies, preceded by the installation of 414 family deities.
After the tenth yagna, the sacred waters were paraded with elephants, temple livestock, and traditional music. The holy water was offered at temples dedicated to various deities, including Siddhi Vinayak, Koodal Kumaran, and Durga.
In the presence of thousands of devotees, the golden vimanas, temple spires, and the twelve gopurams underwent their Prana Pratishtha. The concluding rituals commenced at 3:45 AM with the twelfth Kal Yagshala Puja.
At 5:45 AM, the kalashas were paraded to the twelve gopurams, including four grand Rajagopurams and the golden vimana. Amidst devotional chants, the kumbhabhishekam of the towers was completed at 7:40 AM, followed by the offering of holy water to the main sanctums of Meenakshi Amman and Sundareswarar, marking the end of the Maha Kumbhabhishekam.
Post-ceremony, special decorations and deepa aradhana were conducted. From 10 AM, devotees could worship the main deities without restrictions. For those unable to attend the morning ceremonies, a procession featuring Meenakshi Amman and Sundareswarar was scheduled for 7 PM, traversing the four main streets.
The streets of Madurai were illuminated and adorned for this historic religious event, creating a festive atmosphere throughout the city.
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