While Mathura is associated with Lord Krishna, Madurai is linked with Lord Siva and His miraculous deeds.
One day, Dhananjayan, a merchant, was passing through a forest near Madurai. As the sun had set, he decided to spend the night in the forest and go to his destination the next day.
Near his place of rest was a Siva Linga. In the dead of night, many celestials descended on the forest, their bodies emitting light. They bathed in a nearby tank before worshipping the Siva Linga. Their arrival lit up the forest and it no longer was dark. The forest glowed as if it was lit by lamps.
At daybreak, the celestials left and the forest was back to what it was when Dhananjayan entered it.
City around temple
Dhananjayan narrated to the Pandya king what he saw and the king built a temple for the Siva Linga. He also planned a city around the temple.
Visitors to Madurai often remark how difficult it is to plan any improvement in the city, because it is built around the temple. But there is significance to the planning, said Damodara Dikshitar in a discourse.
Lines in Sri Chakra
An aerial view of the city will show that the streets resemble the lines in Sri Chakra. The sanctum sanctorum of Goddess Meenakshi is in what would be Bindhu, or the centre of Sri Chakra.
In the Meenakshi Pancharatna, Goddess Meenakshi is praised as the consort of Lord Sundaresa, One who gets rid of our fears, One who grants knowledge, One who is dark-hued, One whose feet are worshipped by lotus flowers, One who is the sister of Lord Narayana, One who enjoys the music that comes from the flute, the veena and the drum.
It goes on further to describe Her as the One in the middle of Sri Chakra. Thus, the fact of the sanctum sanctorum of Meenakshi being in the middle of Sri Chakra may be taken to be indicated here.
The Goddess has also been praised by Saint Kumaraguruparar; it is said She sat on his lap and listened to his recital of verses in praise of Her.
