According to Hindu mythology, Meenakshi was a princess who was born with three breasts, fish-shaped eyes and fishy smell. According to the story, after seeking advice from holy men, she was told that the extra breast would disappear when she met her future husband. She was also told that the fish-like qualities would transform into beauty. This duly happened when she met the god Shiva, whom she married 8 days later in Madurai, the husband taking on the form of Lord Sundareshwara. The Meenakshi temple in south India is named after her.

The legend of Meenakshi

Long ago Indra had killed a demon, even though the demon did not harm anyone. This act brought a curse upon Indra that forced him to continue wandering until he was redeemed from his sin. After much wandering Indra was freed from his suffering through the power of a Shivalingam in a forest and so built a small temple at that site.

It so happened that at that time in South India there was a Pandyan king ruling a small city by the name Manavur, which was quite near to this

The king was childless and sought an heir for the kingdom. Shiva granted him his prayers through an Ayonija child (one born not from the womb). This child was three years old and actually the incarnation of Parvati, the wife of Shiva. She was born with three breasts, fish-shaped eyes and a fishy smell. It was said that the extra breast would disappear when she met her future husband. She was named Meenakshi, (meaning fish eyed) from the words Meen (meaning fish) and akshi (meaning eyes).

She grew up to be a Shiva-Shakti (feminine-motherhood) personification. After the death of the king, she ruled the kingdom with skillful administration.

In one of her expeditions she went to the Himalaya and there on seeing Shiva her extra breast disappeared and she was transformed into a graceful fish-like curvaceous beauty. She realised that Shiva was her future husband and called Shiva as Sundareshwara (Beautiful almighty). Many of the gods and goddesses came to witness their marriage.

At the wedding celebrations the Gods refused to have the served food unless Shiva performed a majestic dance for everybody gathered at the place. At this there was the dance of Chidambaram, the cosmic dance in front

Metaphorical representation

The story describes the early understanding of beauty and growth and the processes of life and creation in mythical metaphors. Goddess Meenakshi is considered as a form of Mathangi, one of the deities in the SriVidhya tradition.Sri Minakshi-DeviWarrior Goddess

Ever watchful Minakshi Devi

Minakshi Devi is another name for the Goddess.

As a mark of respect, her full title is Sri Minakshi Devi.

Like a fish, Minakshi Devi's eyes are always open, watching over her devotees. Her eyes are fabled to bring life to the unborn.

Though written Minakshi, the word is pronounced meen - akshi

Literary references

A remarkable Tamil poem shows the goddess Minakshi as a girl washing crockery and pots (which consist of all the worlds). This is a daily task, because her husband Shiva repeatedly messes up the universe, which Minakshi must once more sort out and clean.

Shiva wanders through the courtyard of space destroying your work again and again, and then comes before you dancing. You never get angry. Every day, you just pick up the vessels.

In thirty words, Minakshi becomes a global icon for all who deal with 'impossible' children (or husbands).

Source: Paula Richman (1997) Extraordinary Child. Poems from a South Asian devotional genre. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, p. 9. Themes and activities of early childhood run through the poems. God in the little child is worshipped and protected amidst the toys in the kitchen and back yard (pp 11-14).

I - 23: Winning over maya is just the realisation of Truth. This is what the Lord can do for us. This is the purpose of all scriptures. This Realisation is the establishment of the symbol (Linga-sthApanaM) of the Light of the Self. Lord Rama did this on the shores of the Ocean just before He crossed over to Lanka. The Lord Siva as Sundaresvara did a similar pratiSThApanaM ] on the day of his wedding with the Goddess Minakshi. Throughout the three worlds the establishment of the sphaTika-lingaM as the unique expression of the Truth in one’s heart augurs for the victory over the mysterious prakRti.

Source:The Great Ocean of Gita-Nectar by R. Visvanatha Sastri, 1954