The Meenakshi temple is the centerpiece of the city of Madurai, and has been for at least 400 years. The east tower is only one of ten such towers.
The "tank" near the center of the temple complex contains holy water; from here you can see the north tower.
Shiva, with a view of the north tower.
Each tower is intricately carved with hundreds of figures. From here you can just barely see the golden domes that cover the interior temple of Parvati (left) and Shiva (right).
A closer look at two towers and the golden dome over Shiva's temple.
The three-headed god represents Shiva, Vishnu, and Parvati.
This ceiling panel is one of the few remaining original paintings, dating to 1600s.
This new ceiling painting depicts 15 or more stories about Ganesha.
The ceiling paintings (repainted in 2009) cover an extensive range of Hindu mythology.
Women light diya candles to Nandi the bull.
A statue of Parvati giving birth, on one of the pillars, is a traditional place to pray for one's own hopes at having children. Madurai, India.
Shiva and Parvati.
This metal-embossed bull is used nightly in moving the goddess idol (Parvati) from her temple into the god's temple (Shiva) - she is moved back to her own temple early the next morning.
Detail on the West tower: at left, Vishnu, Parvati, and Shiva; at right, dancing Shiva.
This tower (north?) is curiously dominated by pillars and few carvings of gods.
Family portrait with one of the main towers. Madurai, India.
Mara gains a lot of attention from local schoolchildren, who hope she has pens to give them. Madurai, India.
We have no pens but the children are happy to let me snap their photo.
It's a cloudy day but the towers are still brilliant in color. Here, the west tower.
The west tower.
A rooftop view over the temple shows its incredible size and (at least) eight of the towers.
