In other yogic traditions, those practicing dhy-
ana focus on a MANTRA (recited word or phrase);
a YANTRA, or sacred diagram; or an ISHTA DEVATA, or
chosen divinity.
Further reading: Harold H. Bloomfield, Michael Peter
Cain, Dennis T. Jaffe, and Robert B. Kory, TM*: Discov-
ering Inner Energy and Overcoming Stress (New York:
Delacorte Press, 1975); Georg Feurstein, The Yoga-
Sutra of Patanjali: A New Translation and Commentary
(Rochester, Vt.: Inner Traditions International, 1989);
P. S. Jaini, The Jaina Path of Purification (Delhi: Motilal
Banarsidass, 1990).
Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
The Meenakshi Sundareshvarar Temple at Madu-
rai, dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi (MINAKSHI)
and to SHIVA as the beautiful lord (Sundaresh-
varar), is one of the largest in India. The original
temple was built by Kulasekara Pandyan, a king,
sometime in the first millennium C.E., but it fell
into ruins. The current structure was laid out by
Viswanath Nayakar, a later monarch of Madurai,
in the 16th century and was completed by Tirum-
alai Nayakar in the 17th century.
The original site was dedicated exclusively to
the goddess Minakshi, whose presence in the area
is very ancient. The current temple also contains,
in addition to the inner sanctum with Minakshi’s
image, a LINGAM (phallus) for Shiva worship, as
well as a striking, huge NATARAJA (Shiva as Lord of
Dance) in one of its larger halls. Most notable are
the 120-foot towers at each of the four entrance-
ways. These are all elaborately decorated with
myriad stucco-covered stone carvings of scenesWedding of Shiva and Minakshi, goddess of Madurai, Madurai Temple, Tamil Nadu (Constance A. Jones)K 284 Meenakshi Temple, Madurai