About Temples In Madurai :
The temple town of Madurai is one of the most ancient heritage sites of India truly reflective of the cultural ethos of India. Madurai is closely associated with the literary wealth of Classical and Modern Tamil. The crowning glory of this historic city is the sprawling Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple. Four of the 6 major streams of the indigenous system of beliefs as codified by Sankaracharya (i.e. Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and the worship of Skanda) meet in this historic city during festive occasions when the entire region is transformed into a vast space of celebration.There are several places of tourist attractions in Madurai, but it is the Meenakshi Temple that is the hub of activity. Located at the heart of the city, the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple has long been the focus of both Indian and international tourist attraction as well as one of the most important places of Hindu pilgrimage. It is the hub of the religious and cultural life of the city.The city of Madurai, especially the Meenakshi Temple, has an elaborate cycle of festivals. However, the most important and spectacular-the only ones to involve processions and rituals outside the temples-are associated with the annual cycle. The times and dates vary and are determined by the temple authorities. The most interesting feature of the festivals is the processions that are carried out along the routes. Elephants and musicians lead the processions, especially those for the major festivals.

The Meenakshi Temple :
The Sri Meenakshi Sundareswara temple and Madurai city originated together. According to tradition, Indra once committed sin when he killed a demon, who was then performing penance. He could find no relief from remorse in his own kingdom. He came down to earth. While passing through a forest of Kadamba trees in Pandya land, he felt relieved of his burden. His servitors told him that there was a Shivalinga under a Kadamba tree and beside a lake. Certain that it was the Linga that had helped him; he worshipped it and built a small temple around it. It is believed that it is this Linga, which is till under worship in the Madurai temple. The shrine is called the "Indra Vimana".