Our last day in Madurai
வேலுண்டு வினையில்லை;
மயிலுண்டு பயமில்லை;
குகனுண்டு குறைவில்லை
We woke up at 6 to the call of our auto driver to take us to Thiruparangkundram. Two arupadaiveedu temple visits in two days.. Muruga!
At Thiruparangkundram, Lord Murugar is with his consort Deivayanai. He married her here and sat in the hill which is in the form of a lingam. The veel in the Lords's hand is worshipped with milk abhishegam here. This was in the opposite direction to Azhagar kovil. We rode through the fly-over and crossed the Thenkarai pond to reach the temple. Got a glimpse of Madurai life during this travel, we crossed - Madura coats, Meenakshi Amman temple nandhavanam, Madurai women's college and bridge over the vaigai.
Since it was early in the morning and not a special day - the temple was less crowded. So we decided to take the free darshan path to the Lord. Went to temple pond first. Then traversed through the free entry queue way going up and down the stairs to reach Lord Murugar's inner sanctum. Here again we were able to get a darshan very close. The Lord is in a sitting posture with Goddess Deivanai next to him. Very next is Goddess Durga, then Lord Ganesha followed by Lord Siva with Goddess Parvathi and Lord Muruga in her lap behind him. Left to Lord Murugar, the main deity is his uncle Lord Perumal.
After this we have to come down a floor of stairs to see the navagraha and the urchavar. The ancientness of the temple can be seen from the huge pillar structures in the temple. The temple information detailed the monthly festivities of the temple. There is the practice if Meenakshi Amman and Sokkanathar coming here to witness their son's marriage and Lord Murugar along with Deivanai from here go to Meenakshi Amman temple to participate their Parent's marriage. It is said that in Madurai there are temple festivities through out the year.
Apart a contented darshan we drove to our hotel for breakfast; visited Koodal Azhagar temple on the way. By 1PM we had lunch at the near by restaurant and completed our check out process. Took an auto for Rs. 200 to reach Madurai junction. We bought halwa at Prema Vilas near near the station before boarding the train. By 2:30 PM the train was ready for its passengers. At 3 PM it started the onward journey. With that bid adieu to this marvellous city of Madurai.
One could feel the oldness of the place of this city during the stay. Madurai is where the Tamil Sangam Literature came up. The streets here are given pure Tamil names. Maasi veedi with each directions - Vadaku Massi veedi, Therku Massi veedi, Kizhaku Massi veedi, Merku maasi veedi. The roads outer to this are called Veli veedi - Vadaku Veli veedi, Therku Veli veedi, Kizhaku Veli veedi, Merku Veli veedi and so goes the rest of the Madurai street names. There is only one street which bears the name of an English man since he laid that during British times.
There are 3 malls representing current times. But most of the shopping is in the old type of shops. The area outside the famous American College are full of these kind of shops. The street are quiet narrow and few can afford only a person to enter, wonder how these residents keep their vehicles. The centre part of the town has food points after every 3-4 buildings. The tea shops are not mere tea shops like in Chennai. Vadai is a must in every tea shop. Apart from that they also sell healthier options like sprouts. Tea shops here are crowded around the clock, even during lunch time surprised us. Madurai has its character and that can been seen in every nook and corner of the place.
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