Gender parity, inclusivity, good governance, communal harmony — you name it, the festival has it
The streets of Madurai came alive on Thursday (May 8), as thousands of devotees flocked to the city to witness Meenakshi Thirukalyanam, the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and lord Sundareswarar.
The grand event also marked the culmination of Madurai's all-important 15-day-long cultural and religious event, the Chithirai Festival. It gets the name from Chittirai, the Tamil month (mid-April to mid-May) during which it falls every year.
The festival, celebrated with unshakeable devotion and fervour, dates back centuries. What's significant is how it offers a seamless convergence of history, mythology and culture. It also holds important lessons in unity, gender parity and inclusivity.
What mythology says
According to Hindu mythology, Malayadhwaja Pandya, the ruler of the Pandya kingdom (in and around Madurai), and his wife Kanchana Mala, a Chola princess, yearned for a child. They performed a Putra Kameshti Yagna, and a three-year-old girl with a radiant smile is said to have appeared on the altar.
King Malayadhwaja was concerned on two counts — one, it was a girl, raising questions about royal succession; and two, she was born with a third breast. A divine voice is believed to have resounded from the heavens, telling the king: "Do not hesitate because she is a girl. Train her in weaponry and royal governance. Name her Thadathagai. Raise her as you would a son. When she meets her destined consort, her third breast will vanish."
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The princess, named Thadathagai Pirati, was rigorously educated in the Vedas, Vedangas, Itihasas, and Puranas. She also mastered the 64 classical arts and received extensive training in warfare, it is said.
As Thadathagai blossomed into a beautiful young woman of calibre, King Malayadhwaja decided to crown her. In a grand ceremony, she was officially declared Queen of the Land, and Malayadhwaja breathed his last.
The fish-eyed queen
Much like a fish, which is believed to nurture its offspring not by touch, but by looking at the baby fry and the fingerlings, Queen Thadathagai was said to intuitively understand her people's needs simply by observing them. Her gaze brought comfort and solutions, it's said.
Thadathagai thus came to be called Meenakshi and Angayarkanni. Meenakshi comes from meen (fish) and aksha (eyes), while Angayarkanni comes from am (beautiful), kayal (fish) and kan (eye).
After several years on the throne, Queen Meenakshi embarked on a conquest trail. She triumphed over many rulers across distant lands and her victories even reached the celestial realm of Devaloka. Here, she defeated Indra himself, it is said. She then turned her focus to Thiru Kailayam, the sacred abode of Lord Shiva.
Celestial union
Shiva himself appeared on the battlefield at one point, when Meenakshi, for the first time, felt a sudden surge of joy and a sense of bashful awe. Her third breast vanished, just as foretold.
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Shiva then spoke: “Devi, I have been following you, unseen, ever since you departed from Madurai. Go back now and, the coming Monday, I shall arrive in Madurai and wed you.” Meenakshi returned to Madurai, preparing for the divine union that was to follow.
With just six days remaining for the much-awaited wedding, preparations began on an unprecedented scale. Madurai, and every corner of the Pandya kingdom, was decorated with breathtaking splendour. Royalty from distant lands converged on the city, as did rishis and munis.
The grand wedding
It is said that Kubera, the god of wealth, personally dressed Lord Shiva. Draped in a priceless pearl necklace and a magnificent ruby haram (necklace), Shiva mounted the Sacred Bull, and the grand marriage procession began its journey to Madurai.
Queen Kanchana Mala, Meenakshi's mother, requested Lord Shiva to accept not only the bride but also the Pandya kingdom.
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Brahma, accompanied by the Sanakadhi Rishis, ignited the sacred fire, marking the auspicious beginning of the wedding. Lord Vishnu, acting as the bride's brother, placed Meenakshi's hand in that of Lord Shiva, performing the sacred kannikadhanam, it is said.
It is this union that is celebrated every year with great joy and religious fervour.
Where history steps in
The Meenakshi Kalyanam festival, referred to as the Chithirai Vizha, combines three major events into one grand celebration: Meenakshi’s divine wedding to Shiva, Azhagar (Vishnu)’s springtime procession to meet his devotees, and Shiva's ascension as the King of the Pandya land.
Weaving the three events in are history and various cultural events.
Earlier, the festival was celebrated in the Tamil month of Masi (mid-February to mid-March). Even today, there is a road network of Masi Veethis (streets) in Madurai, a testament to the deep-rooted cultural connection between the festival and the month of Masi.
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The integration of the Meenakshi Kalyanam festival with the Azhagar procession occurred during King Thirumalai Nayak’s reign. One likely reason was a desire to foster Shaiva-Vaishnava harmony.
A practical reason
However, there was a more practical reason: the month of Masi coincided with the harvest season, making it difficult for people from rural areas to travel to Madurai for the festival. As a king who prioritised his people’s comfort, Thirumalai Nayak gave it some thought.
At that time, the Azhagar festival was celebrated during spring. The king saw an opportunity to hold the two festivals together, with a key advantage: the arrival of the Vasantha Rithu (spring) signified the approach of summer, and with less work to be done in the fields, people would be free to travel and enjoy the cool breeze of the Vaigai river and its surroundings.
Per mythology, Sundararaja Perumal, affectionately known as Azhagar ('the beautiful one'), would traditionally leave his abode at Azhagar Malai and travel in a grand procession through Alanganallur, eventually reaching Thenoor village near Samayanallur.
At Thenoor, Azhagar would descend into River Vaigai, offering darshan to devotees and relieving Manduka Rishi of his curse.
During the reign of Thirumalai Nayak, the route of the Azhagar procession was extended from Thenoor to Madurai. Additionally, the date for the Meenakshi Thirukalyanam was shifted from Masi to Chithirai, which paved the way for the modern Chithirai Festival.
Chithirai Festival today
The Meenakshi Kalyanam segment of the Chithirai Festival begins immediately after the Chithirai New Moon and is celebrated for two weeks days. The festival incorporates several key instances from the Shaivaite tradition, including the famous debates of Thirugnanasambandar, who successfully outwitted his opponents.
On the eighth day, the Meenakshi Pattabhishekam (coronation of Meenakshi) takes place, followed by Meenakshi Dik Vijaya on the ninth day, and the Thirukalyanam (divine wedding) on the tenth day.
These events, each rich with historical and religious significance, form the heart of the grand celebrations.
There is also much fun to be had. On the night of the full moon, people gather on the banks of the Vaigai, have a picnic dinner and take part in the festivities.
Sengol's significance
While the divine wedding is the most auspicious event of the festival, the Pattabhishekam (coronation) is also important. During this ceremony, the temple's chief priest, dressed like a Pandya king, is presented a gem-studded sengol (sceptre). It stands for Meenakshi handing over the sengol to the king.
Thirumalai Nayak, who believed Madurai should be governed by Meenakshi, designed the ceremony to reflect this. Per his vision, the sengol is to be handed over by Meenakshi to the king, who takes it to the palace and places on the throne, symbolising governance through the sceptre.
The next day, the sengol is returned to Meenakshi, symbolising that while kings may govern Madurai, it is Meenakshi who is the actual ruler. This practice continued until the reign of Rani Mangammal. Even today, the sengol is handed over to the managing trustee of the temple or another appointed individual as a symbol of governance during the festival.
Azhagar's procession
The second leg of the Chithirai Festival is Azhagar’s descent into the Vaigai. This happens on the 11th or 12th day of the festival.
Per mythology, Azhagar travelled along the northern bank of the river, passing through several resting places and welcoming processions, before reaching the Vaigai on Chithra Pournami day.
Just as he was about to cross to the southern bank, he was informed that Meenakshi's wedding ceremony was over. Disappointed that they did not wait for him, Azhagar turned back, retracing his steps along the northern bank, offering his darshan to the devotees along the way.
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Fostering unity
Apart from its deep religious significance, the Chithirai Festival is also a celebration of social, cultural and economic collaboration.
Thirumalai Nayak played a pivotal role in ensuring that various places, deities, and communities were involved in the festival’s celebrations.
The journey of Azhagar Koil's Kallazhagar to Madurai, the offering of a garland by Andal of Srivilliputhur, Azhagar’s stay at the Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple (which was specifically built by the Nayak king for the Saurashtra community), the sending of new clothes to the bride and groom from this temple, and the arrival of Thirupparangkunram Murugan and Pavalakanivai Perumal for the wedding — each of these events fosters a sense of unity among the people.
A much-needed sentiment in this day of conflict and violence.
