Meenakshi

Devi Meenakshi is an Avatar of Goddess Parvati – who incarnated in the human body as the daughter of the Pandya king Malayadhvaja and his wife Kanchanamala who ruled the Panya Kingdom from Madurai 2000 years ago

Etymology

The Mother of the Cosmos, “Adi Shakti” (the original source of energy), the divine consort of Lord Shiva, “Sundareshwara” appeared in her third incarnation as “Meenakshi, meaning fish eyed” from the words “mīna, meaning fish” and “akṣi meaning eyes”. Meenakshi also means “the one who has eyes like that of a fish”. Fishes are said to look after and protect their younger ones with their eyes, similarly goddess looks after her devotees. Just by her one look, one glance our miseries disappear.

Other Names

She is also called “Angayarkanni”. With her infinite auspcious qualities (Ananta Kalyana Gunas), her devotees also call her – Pachchai Devi, Maragathavalli, Thadagai Pirattti, Abhitekavalli, Abhiramavalli, Kayarkan Kumari, Karpooravalli, Kumarithurayaval, Komagal, Sundaravalli, Pandipiratti, Madhurapuri Thalaivi, Manickavalli, Mummulaithiru, and Vazhudhimagal. In the stone inscriptions, Meenakshi Devi has been referred to as “Thirukamakottathu Aludaya Nachiyar.”

Meenakshi, the Expression of Ultimate Masculine and Feminine Consciousness

H. H Sri Paramahamsa Nithyananda, the present 293rd pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam, from His enlightened consciousness, describes Meenakshi exactly as she is.

“All the grandeur of masculineness and the beauty of feminineness expressed in one body that is Meenakshi. Please understand, if I have to define, describe Meenakshi in one line, of course, it is impossible, but if it is forced, this is the description I will give –

All the grandeur of the super consciousness, the masculine principle and the beauty of the feminine consciousness, the divine feminine principle expressing in one body is Meenakshi. Meenakshi shines more than Chokkanathar. Meenakshi radiates more than Chokkanathar.

Sundareshwara is the embodiment of super consciousness, expressing in human body, playing with all his glory. Meenakshi is the expression of the ultimate masculine and feminine consciousness.”

Meenakshi is the epitome of wisdom, beauty, courage, compassion and efficiency, completely radiating divinity on Earth.

Introduction

Goddess Meenakshi’s Immaculate Appearance

Pandiya King Malaiyathwajan ruled after his father, Kulashekara Pandiyan, the blessed king who consecrated Lord Shiva’s Swayambhu Lingam, and got the rare honor to build the Madurai temple, and the temple city around it.

Not having the fortune of a child, King Malaiyathwajan did a Putrakamika yagna (sacrificial offering desiring a child) with a prayer to get ‘Putra Bhagya’ (fortune of having a child).

Goddess Parvati’s, the Cosmic Mother’s close devotee was Kachanamala, King Malaiyathwaja’s wife. In her previous birth she had intensely prayed for the boon to be blessed with ‘putra bhagya’. Mother Parvati being pleased with her intense yearning and devotion, blessed and assured her in a sacred darshan (vision) during her dream that – she, the Cosmic Mother, the very source of Existence herself will descend down as a baby girl in the next birth.

Birth of an Ayonija child (not born from the womb)

Earlier in the past life of Kanchamala, she had got a boon from Goddess Parvati to mother the latter. Goddess Parvati’s boon came true when king Malayadhvaja and his wife Kanchamamala performed the Putra Kameshti Yaga – the sacred fire ritual to have progeny. During this Yaga, Goddess Parvati emerged out of the sacred fire as a baby. The baby, to the royal couple’s shock, had three breasts. When they worried about that, at once an Ashariri Vak – a heavenly voice – was heard by them. The divine voice comforted them by telling that the baby is a divine girl and her third breast would vanish once the girl meets her fiancé. The gratified royal couple named the baby as Tadadagai – the one who emerged out of fire. Radiant Child Meenakshi "Thadathagai"

As all divine boons eternally fruit to life, in her next birth as Queen Kachanamala of the great Pandiyan kingdom of South, she became the mother of Devi. The Cosmic Mother verily appeared from the sacrificial fire, Yagna, in the form of Mother Meenakshi playfully as a 3 year old girl child, and took her first seat on the lap of Kachanamala, the most blessed Queen. The unsurpassed beauty and divine fire of baby girl Meenakshi shone as brightly and as radiant as that of the fire from which she appeared.

No Incarnation like Mother Meenakshi

The incarnations appear from the super consciousness energy simply to please their unalloyed devotees and for the ultimate benefit of the human consciousness. When they happen, they carry specific auspicious qualities and energies in their bio-memory that are needed to fulfill their divine mission. Unlike any other female incarnations, Meenakshi is the absolute expression, the original source of the Cosmos, ‘Adi Shakti’ manifesting in a human form. She carries all the infinite divine qualities in her body. In complete union with her masculine and feminine energy, Her extraordinary expressions of Divinity eclipse all others.

Her body even though appearing like a human does not have the normal physiology of a human body, and so is her psychology, radiating the consciousness of male and female divinity spontaneously.

Thadathagai, "The Warrior Queen"

As per the divine voice, the king brings her up like a brave warrior with indomitable prowess.

The girl Tadadagai being the heir to the Royal throne was meticulously trained in all the 64 arts explained in the scriptures. She excelled in each and every field inclusive of the martial arts.

She becomes a perfect master of the 64 great knowledge (maha vidyas). She grows up to become a very powerful mighty princess as the Shiva-Shakti personification.

Digvijaya, the Tour of Victory

During an auspicious time, Thadadagai’s Pattabhishekam coronation as the queen of the Pandya kingdom. As a queen when She had to prove Her supremacy, power and courage, She travelled in all the ten directions (inclusive of the Swarga and Patala) and very easily defeated and conquered all the worlds. Her expedition is called ‘Dig Vijaya’ or a tour of victory, across the continents. After Thadathagai’s coronation as the Queen, she conquers many countries hoisting the auspicious Pandiya’s flag far and wide, reaching the whole planet and beyond. Finally when she advances towards Mount Kailash, the cosmic abode of Lord Shiva. She effortlessly defeated the Bhutaganas – the army of Lord Shiva. She even defeated the chief of Bhutaganas, the Adhikara Nandi Deva – the divine bull vehicle of Lord Shiva – who stopped Her proceeding further. Unable to cope up with her mighty warrior powers, they withdraw themselves from the waging war. This divine play of Her conquering all the worlds is called the Dig Vijayam.

The First Vision, ‘Nayana Deeksha’ of Her Beloved, Lord Sundareshwara

At last comes the sacred moment of eternity, the time for Thadathagai to meet face-to-face with the Lord of Kailasha Himself. Lord Shiva appears Himself before the brave queen to directly wage the war with her, seeing all His commanders losing by just the glowing presence of Meenakshi.

At the very first sight of Mahadeva, her consort to be, She instantly gets rid of her third breast, as was predicted by the divine voice.

The striking unmatched beauty of Mahadeva makes Queen Princess Thadathagai awe-struck, wordless and she loses the very idea of the self, time and space, melting into the vision of Her beloved.

Immediately throwing all her weapons, the symbols of her masculine energies, she becomes enchanted and spell-bound overflowing in bliss, and all the sacred, divine feminine qualities spontaneously started expressing in her, as if hidden and waiting all life, to sprout and flower in Mahadeva’s one darshan (vision).

Thus, by losing the war, she wins everything, reuniting with her eternal consort, Lord Sundareshwara, the most handsome one possessing the beauty of the Cosmos in Him.

Meenakshi Thirukalyanam, the Celestial Wedding

On the 8th day from that hallowed first meeting at Kailasha, amidst cosmic celebrations with nature blossoming into its full beauty expressing its joy, the divine couple get married uniting at the wedding ceremony called “Meenakshi Thirukalyanam”.

All celestial devtas (Gods), all great sages, and all representatives of the universe come down to planet earth from all known and unknown directions to celebrate their parent’s auspicious wedding. The whole Cosmos becomes soaked in ecstasy as if drunk in the divine bliss of witnessing .

The Pandiyan King leaves no place untouched in ornamenting the richest city of the planet, Madurai as beautifully as His daughter, Meenakshi. The divine fragrance of holy jasmine flowers, most dear to Meenakshi fill the air of Madurai.

Lord Vishnu who is the brother of Devi Meenakshi was supposed to preside the marriage and give away His sister in marriage to Lord Sundareshwara. But Lord Vishnu from Vaikunta could not make it for the marriage. So the incarnation of Vishnu Pavalakkanivai Perumal from the suburbs of Madurai presided over the marriage and gave Her away in marriage to Lord Siva Himself. When Lord Vishnu was coming to Madurai, He heard the news that the marriage of Meenakshi and Sundareshwara is over and so He started returning back to Vaikunta. On His way back to Vaikunta, He entered the river Vaigai which flows in the city of Madurai to liberate a frog and bestowed Enlightenment on it.

After their marriage, Meenakshi and Sundareshwara came around the Cosmos in a divine chariot to bless all beings in the Cosmos.

Meenakshi and Sundareshwara ruled the Cosmos from the south Indian city of Madurai for a long time, expressed so many mystical powers by performing miracles and established Dharma – the science of Enlightenment on the planet Earth

Meenakshi is the embodiment of perfection and excellence in all the fields of life. Meenakshi awakens the leadership Consciousness in us and bestows upon us all the leadership qualities and excellence. Worship of Meenakshi awakens the power of intuition and makes us a perfect strategy planner. Thereafter, their son Lord Muruga (Subramanya) is coronated to rule the cosmic empire in the name of “Ukkira Pandiyan”.

Chithirai Festival, Yearly Wedding Celebrations at Madurai

Amidst celestial celebrations, this divine marriage is celebrated every year as the famous “Chithirai Festival” at Madurai and attracts huge crowds with over 1 million (10 lakh) devotees and pilgrims. Chiittirai refers to the first month in the Tamil calendar. Their marriage is celebrated and traditionally performed for over two weeks with all its royal paraphernalia, the best of resplendent beauty, that only vedic culture can display. The whole city gets transported into the palatial celestial space and decorates itself just like a new bride.

64 Divine Plays of Lord Sundareshwara, the Beauty of Cosmos

Lord Shiva Himself rules the Pandiyan empire for some period in the name of “Sundara Pandiyan”, “Soma Sundarar”, “Sundareshwara”.

During this golden time, Lord Sundareshwara playfully performs His divine leelas, forming the wonderful 64 leelas (divine plays) called the Thiruvilayadal. Along with 64 leelas, from which 1 is a presence of Chokkanathar, He played uncountable miracles proving His causeless compassion for not only his devotees, but anyone who sincerely calls, seeks His grace, and even those fortunates ones, who got blessed without even praying.

Extraordinary Healing Powers

Radiating Her motherly compassion to everyone, She captures the hearts of her citizens and devotees with her miraculous healing powers. As her name aptly alludes, each morning she gives her healing darshan (vision) in Her royal assembly as She is the ‘Sabha Nayaki’, the ultimate queen of all royal assemblies.

Her five-story palace adjoined a great hospital where students and teachers from many cultures worked and volunteered together, caring for thousands of people who flocked from all over the world.

Her administrative ruling powers, her ‘Ishwaratva’, the empowered leadership is a lesson for all kings, leaders even today. She manifested her leadership giving ultimate cosmic justice to all Her citizens.

Eternal Living Presence at the Meenakshi Sundareshwara Temple

Deities of Soma Sunderashwara and Meenakshi Amman beautifully bedecked with pristine jewels and garlands Deciding to continuously be available and eternally bless and shower their protection, grace, and overflowing compassion as the Cosmic Mother and Father, both Thadathagai and the Cosmic King, Chokkanathar have established themselves at the Madurai Meenaskhi Sundareshwara temple for eternity.

Relaxing their bodies into the presiding deities as the “Somasundarar and Meenakshi Amman” forms, they still run and will eternal run their cosmic kingdom, and radiate their ever living presence.

Their sacred bodies with which they played all their divine acts are most beautifully resting as ‘Jeeva Samadhis’ just where their main sanctums are worshiped by millions of prayers daily from ages. The Sachala Murtis (living God incarnation in body) have enshrined themselves into Achala Murtis (living deity) at the Garbha Griha (sanctum sanctorium) of the temple. Even though no longer in the moving body, they are as much present as ever and their presence is invoked through the name or form they used while in the physical plane. When we pray to the deity or chants their names, the corresponding divine vibration is automatically awakened, and becomes available on the energy plane to guide and bless us.

References

http://www.nithyananda.org/page/chithirai-brahmotsavam#gsc.tab=0 http://ma.nithyananda.org/dfoienr20938l4kfdifd/history/meenakshi-the-fish-eyed-cosmic-mother/ http://nithyanandatimes.org/in-the-land-of-meenakshi/