Raya Gopuram (Madurai)
இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: இராய கோபுரம் (மதுரை)
Raya Gopuram Madurai (1654-1659) is a foundation of an unfinished gopuram (tower) near the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. The construction of Raya Goguram was started by Thirumalai Nayakkar, ruler of Madurai. The gopuram is situated outside the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple in the Aavani Moola street. First floor of this gopuram is 18 meters high, twice the size of the first floors of other gopurams in the Madurai temple complex. With its completed structure, Raya Gopuram would have been the biggest gopuram in South India. It is located in the eastern end of Meenakshi Amman temple at the entrance of the Yelukadal Veedhi (seven seas street).
Etymology
The word 'Raya' means stone in Telugu language. Since the gopuram is made of stone/ rocks, it is called Raya Gopuram. Thirumalai Nayakkar was also called as 'Rayar'. It could also mean that the gopuram belonged to him.
Documentation
Photographer Linnaeus Tripe's book Photographic Views in Madurai (Madras, 1858) contains the now available oldest picture of Madurai's unfinished gopuram. This picture was taken in 1858.
History
Thirumalai Nayakar completed the construction of the new mandapam (hall) inside the Meenakshi Amman temple in 1654. Subsequently, he started constructing the Raya Gopuram in the Avani Moola street. The new mandapam and the Raya Gopuram were constructed as part of the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple complex.
It is said that, Thirumalai Nayakkar wanted to construct similar gopurams in the 64 saiva, vainava (Shiva, Vishnu) temples. These temples were located in Uttathur to Kanyakumari, under the control of the Madurai Nayakkar government. Though it is said that foundations for many temples were laid during this time and completed by the later rulers, no strong evidence is available.
Construction
217 feet high Tiruvannamalai Rajagopuram was the tallest gopuram in Tamil Nadu when Madurai Raya Gopuram's construction began. Thirumalai Nayakkar aspired Raya Gopuram to be taller than the former. The height of Madurai Raya Gopuram's Kalhaara (foundation) was 50 feet. The Kalhaara of Raya Gopuram is 170 feet long and 110 feet wide. Experts of tower craft speculate Madurai Raya Gopuram's height as 300 feet, had it been completed. Thirumalai Nayakkar began the construction of Raya Gopuram in the year 1654. Due to his illness at the old age of 70 and the economic crisis in Madurai, the construction of the Raya Gopuram was suspended in 1659, the year of his death.
Structure of Gopuram
The Gopuram or its base structure as it stands today is 18 meters tall, with a ten feet substructure underground and 35 feet tall structure above ground. The base structure is adorned with sculptures unlike other similar gopurams. Each pillar is made from a single stone. Raya Gopuram follows the Dravidian architecture and contains intricate carvings of Bhoota Ganangal, Madhanigas and Gandarvas along with rows of flower garlands and Shiva lingas. At the entrance of the Gopuram there are life size sculptures of Thirumalai Nayakar, his minister Sokkapar and a temple dancer Ponnaiyal.
Current State
Madurai Raya Gopuram remains abandoned as an architectural landmark and has since been used as a shelter for petty shopkeepers, who use nails, bamboos and hang posters on the rock structures. Even buildings have been constructed conjoined to the base structure of the unfinished Gopuram. The Raya Gopuram is now inaccessible as it has become a congested commercial area.
About
J. P. L. Shenoy I. C. S., the commissionership of Madurai said, "This would’ve been one of the greatest buildings in India if it had been completed" in his book "Kovil Nagaram Madurai".
Nearby Archeological Sites
Sites like Pathu Thoon, Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal are found near the Raya Gopuram.
Reference
- Madurai Nayakar's history, A. K. Paranthamanar
Links
- Tamil Virtual University
- Madurai Raya Gopuram- Vikatan article.
- Current State of Raya Gopuram
- Story of Madurai Raya Gopuram
- Incomplete Roya Gopura (tower), Madurai Meenakshi temple
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