The Sri Meenakshi Temple in Madurai

Meenakshi is the "fish-eyed" goddess, and she is an incarnation of Parvati who is the wife of Shiva (remember Brahama, Vishnu and Shiva are the three primary gods in Hinduism -- the creator, the preserver and the destroyer. )

Her temple is a huge draw in South India in Madurai. We had a wonderful guide who was able to help us undersatnd some of what was going on -- one group of women sat waiting to be blessed, as the married daughter entered her last weeks of pregnancy. Another group, rather formally seated on the floor, was the first meeting between a prospective bride and groom, with all relatives present as well. We got caught in a wedding procession, pictured below. We spent several hours at the temple and we weren't even allowed into the sacred area itself (non-Hindus may not enter).

Although Meenakshi is the star here, with lots of fish-eye graphic motifs, there was even more action on the outer rim. First there was a lively bazaar where the temple rents space to souvenir vendors, and then several corridors with shrines to other gods, like Ganesh, and Shiva's mount, a bull named Nandi. Lotus blossom sculpture had been worked into the floor, and people would lay down in the middle of the crowd and stretch their hands out on the carved petals. A fertility image of a woman standing while giving birth was especially popular, from the amount of oil and flowers at her feet. We saw a man leading a toddler and an exhausted-looking woman holding a newborn to the shrine -- evidentally to give thanks. I had to pick Kobi up and squeeze him on the spot.



The famous gopuram of the Sri Meenakshi temple. I always thought this was the temple itself, but it's just a tower of sculpture over the gate.


Here's a closeup from the same photo.
Aren't digital cameras cool?


We pass a local wedding -- it's customary to have your wedding at the temple if you can't afford to hire a hall.


Karma and Ganesh, the remover of obstacles.


Bangle sellers at the temple bazaar push the tight bracelets up a woman's arm. Karma bought two dozen metal bangles here for 50 rupees.


Kobi likes getting blessed by elephants. He is becoming a temple regular.