The Unsung songs of the Meenakshi Temple

The construction of the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai was one of dedication and of sacrifice.

To build and enlarge the Temple, the Nayaks, and earlier, the Pandyas, settled on the idea, that there need be contribution by the public in substantial measure. Each family in the town was issued a clay pot, to which they were asked to throw in a handful of rice, prior to cooking each meal. The assessment was the pots would fill up by about the month end. Actually it filled up well with in a week. This rice, sold in the free market, brought in the much needed contribution for the Temple expenses. The Mandapam behind the Vibhoothi Pillaiyar, on the side of the Golden Lotus Pond, was built purely with this contribution.

Other measures to collect public contribution, varied. Amongst them:

• Kulasekara Pandyan insisted on a cess on Agricultural yield from the land. In this case tax was waived.


• Booty from war victories was a good contributor.


• Marutha Pandiyar (from Ramnad District), contributed nearly 50% of his entire budget for Temple expansion.


• It took nearly 120 years to (re)build the Meenakshi Temple. It consists of 33 million statues and plaster figures, 12 gopurams (Towers) and the cost then was 12 million rupees.

The major features of the Temple we see today, was envisaged and originally planned and built by Kulasekara Pandyan. However Mallick Kaffur of the Delhi Sultanate razed it to the ground during 1310 CE. Possibly the Sanctum was spared or survived (one does not know), and the latter Vijayangaram Kings and the Nayaks, rebuilt it. Several rules and regulations were passed, to get contributions for temple building, enhanced. Amongst these:

• Kulasekara Pandyan asked for contribution of labor, with one man and one woman from each family. They labored without taking any wages, it is said.


• Families without children, were asked to write a will, requesting them to donate their wealth to the cause of the Temple building.


• Mara Vartman Sundarapandyan, deputed sealed containers (Hundial collection boxes), for collecting money (dropped in), from the public. Also, festivals were confined or stopped completely and expenses for these diverted for Temple building.


• The Kariya Manickka Perumal Temple (an old Temple, and a thriving one at that), was dismantled and the building materials used for this, was removed and utilized for the building of the Meenakshi Temple. The five Pancha Pandava Sculptures (in the Kariya Manickka Perumal Temple) were transferred to the Meenakshi Temple. These are now situated at the Killi Kootu Mandapam in front of the Meenakshi Sanctum entrance at the Temple.


• Believe it or not – people standing three to four feet apart – right from Ramnad to Madurai –a 100 kms distance, transported bricks manufactured at Ramanathapuram – by hand. This pathway used for the above, is now a part of the National Highway.


• The stone masons who worked tirelessly at the Temple, labored for a pittance at a wage of “one quarter Pannam” and ten measures of paddy.


• The daily laborers were paid “one third Pannam” plus 5 measures of paddy. They worked for 17 hours a day
  


• The Priests, if they died without children, their property automatically reverted to the Temple


• There was a ceiling on the extent of land holdings. Above this, the land reverted to the Temple.


• Criminals indicted, had to pay a fine to the Temples.


• Temple staff and priest, who were convicted for any illegality, had to pay a fine to the Temple fund.There came into force, certain restrictions on the Temple Management also:


• The King was not allowed to interfere in Temple affairs.


• The Temple Administration and Daily Pooja rituals were separated and two groups nominated to look after these separately and individually.


• The in-charge of these works were rotated amongst those nominated among the group.


• They were sanctioned a percentage of the income from monthly collections and no salary was given.


• Priests family gave up their rights to Pooja, to their (Sampanthy) daughter-in-laws families (for a few months), when they were married off, in lieu of any ‘Seer’ (which was otherwise usually given by the brides family to the groom).


• Thirumalai began audit checks on Temple expenses. He also brought into practice, the system of closing of Temple accounts in conjunction with the agricultural season, so both came to a close at the same time.


• He also enforced strict rules and regulations, that anyone spending more than the budgeted amount, action would be initiated against him directly.