Castes and Stories behind Meenakshi Amman Temple - SJ Informative

 About Meenakshi Amman Temple

    Tamil Nadu, the state which is famous for historical stories, reign of famous kings, cities with punniasthalangal (blessing places) etc., One of the states in Tamil Nadu withstands these all histories is Madurai. The world famous temple 'Meenakshi Amman Sundareswarar Temple' is situated in this state only. This temple has lots of names in "puranas", which was 'Boologa kailayam,  Nan maada kudal,  Kadambavanam, Sivanagaram, Kanniyapuram' etc.,

    There were lot of histories and stories in Puranam for this temple. In one story in Puranam, 'Lord Shiva' was appeared in dream of 'King Kulasekra Pandian, who ruled Madurai at that time. Lord Shiva instructed King to create one beautiful place in his dream. In order to obey Lord's instruction, Kulsekara Pandian destroyed 'Kadambavanam' (Forest) and created one beautiful city, which was called Madurai and Meenaskhi Amman temple was constructed in this city, this was one of the stories revealed in Puranam.

    'King Malayathuvasan and his wife Kanjanamalai' didn't have child for long years, so the King decided to conduct Ashvamedha Yagna. Ashvamedha Yagna means that, after got a victory, king killed his horse and by using it's fat, he will conduct Yagna. While conducting this Yagna, Lord Indra interrupted to stop this Yagna. He advised King to conduct Maha Yagna. After that, the King have conducted Maha Yagna, one girl child at the age of 3 with beautiful eyes, had appeared by the effect of this Yagna.

    'Thadathagai', was the name of that girl child, called Meenakshi, but her parents not happy with that, in order to rule city they want one boy child and also another sad news for the king was that the girl child had 'three breasts'. King Malayathuvasan had felt a lot about his daughter Thadathagai's body appearance. He prayed to the God about her body, God told that, 'Her breast will disappear at the the time seeing her life partner'. 

    Meenakshi not grew like the normal woman, she did and learnt many war practices, and became a powerful woman. She conducted war with another city and captured lot of cities, but she thought that this was enough for her. In order to proclaim her brave, she went to north side and captured many cities. After that, she went to 'Devalogam' (God's Place), Lord Indira was ran due to fear. At the time she met 'Lord Shiva' (Sundareswarar), she decided that he was the right person for her life. As per God's words, the third breast was disappeared. Lord Shiva and Meenakshi got married in one place which was called Meenakshi Amman Temple. This was another story in Puranas.

Caste Behind the Temple

    Eight beautiful and majestic gopurams, lot of sculptures, historical monuments had attracted not only people from Tamil Nadu and also attracted foreign people also. But 100 years ago, some people cannot enter into the temple easily. The dominance of high caste people was very high in that time. They don't allowed low caste people into the temple. They have decided that this temple was only for high caste people. 

    This such cruel practices were opposed by 'Thanthai Periyar's Self Esteem Party. In 1929, members of Self Esteem party with some low caste people had conducted 'Alaya Pravesam' in Kottai Eswaran Temple, Erode. This had induced angry for high caste people, they locked the main door of temple. People who inside the temple had requested to open, but they didn't open for 3 days. At that time, Thanthai Periyar had went to another place for some work. They were released from the temple after the arrival of Periyar.  In 1930, Self Esteem and Justice Parties conducted protest against high caste people. 

    In this stage, RS Naidu who finished Bar at law in London liked Self Esteem party very much. He had worked as a leader of City Council for 12 years, after that he was appointed as Administrative Officer for this temple in 1937. In 1939, July 8, RS Naidu conducted Alaya Pravesam. Vaithiyanatha Iyer, who belongs to Harijana Seva Sangam led the team. With the help of Pasumpon Mutharamalinga Devar, five low caste people included in the team, and also one member from Naadar caste. RS Naidu welcomes them inside the temple. 

    Ponnu Saami Pattar (from pattar caste, 'Archahar' in temple, Preist), conducted pooja and provide offerings (prasatham in tamil) to the team. Up to one hour they have stayed in temple after that they left from the temple. This news boomed like a bomb in the region of high caste people. On next day, Muthu Subbu Pattar conducted pooja at morning after finishing pooja he locked the temple and kept the keys. He didn't came for temple at evening to conduct pooja. He told that the temple was unhygienic after the visiting of low caste people.  He wants to do Suthikarana Pooja to clean the temple.

    At that time, RS Naidu can't get the key from Muthu Subbu Pattar. Some people form Pattar caste supports Muthu Subbu. In the mean time, the person name Swaminatha Pattar returned to Madurai from foreign. He supports RS Naidu, after that with the help of Swaminatha Pattar, RS Naidu breaks the lock and opened the temple. After that, poojas and occasions were arranged in temple normally. Swaminatha Pattar conducted poojas in temple. While working as an administrative officer, RS Naidu took actions against pattar who kept the keys. He had suspended Muthu Subbu Pattar and also the other pattars who have stand against temple administration. 

    RS Naidu had summoned Sivacharyas from Tirunelveli District to conduct poojas, while in the other hand, protest against RS Naidu by pattars was continues, but RS Naidu didn't mind that protest. Some pattars had protest in front of temple. RS Naidu had stood strong in his decision to not conduct Suthikarana Pooja. There were lot of steps had introduced by RS Naidu to develop temple. He introduced the system for priests (archahar), they have to get slip from office to conduct pooja and also he introduced another system that devotees not give the money directly to priest instead of put in bills (Undiyal in temple). At that time, there were only two bills in temple, so people and devotees gave money directly to priests, but These announcements created shock for the priests.

    With the help of RS Naidu lot of bills were installed in the temple. He introduced the rules that administration had rights to welcome VIPs not by the priests.  For a long time, Brahmins were appointed as secretary but for the first time person who not from Brahmin appointed as secretary in 1945. Boards were introduced to give notifications about pooja timings for the people, like this there were lot of changes arranged by RS Naidu and then he retired from the position of administrative officer in 1945.   

   Though lot of requests for allow low caste people into temple for long days, the person from high caste people who supports low caste people was called Vaithiyanatha Iyer. He was social activist and also he built hostel in 1932 for students from low caste people. Many from people from his caste opposed him due to his activities but he didn't mind that.

    From 1937 to 1939, Rajaji was worked as Chief for Chennai city, at this period, HC Raja who was worked as the member of legislative assembly have introduced one system to allow people who were in the region of Chennai city, but it was failed. Like this, many systems were introduced but it were failed to stable. At the time of low caste people to not enter into the temple, Mahatma Gandhi came to visit Tamil Nadu, people asked him to come Meenakshi Amman temple, but refused to come because he didn't like the rules of high caste people. He told that he will come after all the people treated as equal.

    After lot of days and years, after new implements from Government all people were allowed in Meenakshi Amman temple now. Comparing to old days, nowadays many people have changed their thinking about the caste, but some people with intellectual disability have considered they are the people who come from high caste, they have to be punished severely and then it will be a delightful morning for poor people. Caste issues have to be eradicated, have to be punished severely, then only our country will go in a right way to get success.

Thanks.

SJ.