Located inside the Meenkashi Amman Temple in the two and a half millenium old city of Madurai. The beauty of this construction is that standing at any point in this Mantapam, all the pillars appear to go away in a straight line from the point of viewing Each of the pillars is tall with life-like sculptures of mythical people The hall is large and very cool even in the blistering heat outside Nowadays photography isn't allowed inside this monument, but once upon a time, one could take pictures with a mobile camera... The entrance fee is a nominal ₹ 10 and the place deserves a visit...
Kathirvel Nagarajan
Excellent sculptures must to vist
Prabhakaran balu k
The hall of thousand pillars(Ayiramkal Mandapam): The largest mandapam in the holy temple complex, this mandapam is situated near Veeravasantharayar Mandapam to the north. This was built by Ariyanatha Mudaliyar, minister and commander of Viswanatha Naicker in the year 1569. This Mandapam has a total of 985pillars. These pillars have been so arranged that from whatever angle one looks from within, the pillars look in rows and rows. At the centre of the mandapam is the idol of Chira Sabha of Lord Natarajar. There is an idol of a hero on a horse at the entrance to the Mandapam facing south. Legend has it that this is an idol of Ariyanatha Mudaliyar who built the mandapam. But this is a sacred idol of Lord Sundareswarar who on behalf of Saint Manickavasagar converted foxes into horses. To east of the idol of the deity on the horseback, are sculptures of Kannapar, Lord Siva destroying an asura and Pichadanar. At the eastern entrance there are statues of a hero on a horseback, Harichandra, gypsy man and woman with a child in arms, woman (Chandramathi, wife of Harichandra). Carved on eight pillars next to the entrance are statues of Thiripurandhakar, Nirutha Ganapathy with an urn containing ambrosia, Lord Muruga on peacock, Nagaraja, Saraswathy, Hunter, as well as that of two Dwarapalakars. In the area next to the entrance, there are idols of Thirumal, Arjuna in the form of a eunuch, and Draupadhi. There is also a statue of a man carrying a woman. This is said to represent the nature of Kaliyuga, depicting that man was a serf of woman. In the pillars in between there are carvings of yalis. At foot of the pillars, along the centre of the mandapam are carved sculptures of Pitchadanar, Dharman, Beeman, Rathi and Veerpathirar while at the top are carvings of Agni, Veerapathirar, Manmadan, Purushamirukam, Arjunan and Mohini. Among these sculptures is one of Rathi seated on a Swan, which are quintessence of the art of sculpture with musical notes. The pillars at the beginning and end of the row are big ones with small circular blocks and the one at the bottom could be rolled. These pillars are called musical pillars and they produce musical notes when tapped. At the roof of the entrance are sculptures representing the 60 years in the Tamil calendar.
Jagadeesh Rahul1 year ago
Excellent architecture. Nothing big to watch. It's maintained like museum. Sculpture and pillars are maintained very well.
Naani1 year ago
Excellent temple of lord shiva… total temple constructed with stone …and it located in Middle of the town …
Aksai kruthik2 years ago
One of the best architectures of the world. It is maintained by the architecture department of Tamil Nadu, they charge minimum of ₹5 for Indians also less for foreigners. It consists of many wonderful statues and ancient paintings. Located inside of Meenakshi Amman temple.
Uma Maheshwari2 years ago
One of the tourist attraction depicting our ancient culture and all round developments of Pandya kings whose capital was Madurai. As the name suggested this Mandapam has approximately 1000 pillars. Exactly 985 Big pillars and 22 small pillars which produce musical notes are seen here. Very rare sculptures of Gods and Goddesses with ancient yalis, sculptures and warring animals, rare to see Manmadan and Rathi, Veerabadrar, Chockanathar, Natrajar etc are significant ones. It is a must visit museum with a very nominal fees.
Renjith N P2 years ago
A star attraction of the world famous Meenakshi Amman Temple. Currently operated as a small museum and can be visited by paying a small entrance fee. Ancient idols and artefacts are on display. Each pillar is special, and there are close to a thousand to look upon. Then there are the Saptha swara pillars which are believed to produce musical notes upon hitting. Never miss this place.
The beauty of this construction is that standing at any point in this Mantapam, all the pillars appear to go away in a straight line from the point of viewing
Each of the pillars is tall with life-like sculptures of mythical people
The hall is large and very cool even in the blistering heat outside
Nowadays photography isn't allowed inside this monument, but once upon a time, one could take pictures with a mobile camera...
The entrance fee is a nominal ₹ 10 and the place deserves a visit...
The largest mandapam in the holy temple complex, this mandapam is situated near Veeravasantharayar Mandapam to the north. This was built by Ariyanatha Mudaliyar, minister and commander of Viswanatha Naicker in the year 1569.
This Mandapam has a total of 985pillars. These pillars have been so arranged that from whatever angle one looks from within, the pillars look in rows and rows.
At the centre of the mandapam is the idol of Chira Sabha of Lord Natarajar.
There is an idol of a hero on a horse at the entrance to the Mandapam facing south. Legend has it that this is an idol of Ariyanatha Mudaliyar who built the mandapam. But this is a sacred idol of Lord Sundareswarar who on behalf of Saint Manickavasagar converted foxes into horses.
To east of the idol of the deity on the horseback, are sculptures of Kannapar, Lord Siva destroying an asura and Pichadanar.
At the eastern entrance there are statues of a hero on a horseback, Harichandra, gypsy man and woman with a child in arms, woman (Chandramathi, wife of Harichandra).
Carved on eight pillars next to the entrance are statues of Thiripurandhakar, Nirutha Ganapathy with an urn containing ambrosia, Lord Muruga on peacock, Nagaraja, Saraswathy, Hunter, as well as that of two Dwarapalakars.
In the area next to the entrance, there are idols of Thirumal, Arjuna in the form of a eunuch, and Draupadhi. There is also a statue of a man carrying a woman. This is said to represent the nature of Kaliyuga, depicting that man was a serf of woman. In the pillars in between there are carvings of yalis.
At foot of the pillars, along the centre of the mandapam are carved sculptures of Pitchadanar, Dharman, Beeman, Rathi and Veerpathirar while at the top are carvings of Agni, Veerapathirar, Manmadan, Purushamirukam, Arjunan and Mohini. Among these sculptures is one of Rathi seated on a Swan, which are quintessence of the art of sculpture with musical notes.
The pillars at the beginning and end of the row are big ones with small circular blocks and the one at the bottom could be rolled. These pillars are called musical pillars and they produce musical notes when tapped.
At the roof of the entrance are sculptures representing the 60 years in the Tamil calendar.
As the name suggested this Mandapam has approximately 1000 pillars.
Exactly 985 Big pillars and 22 small pillars which produce musical notes are seen here. Very rare sculptures of Gods and Goddesses with ancient yalis, sculptures and warring animals, rare to see Manmadan and Rathi, Veerabadrar, Chockanathar, Natrajar etc are significant ones.
It is a must visit museum with a very nominal fees.