Madurai Meenakshi (OS) The Challenge- on Pg 28 - Page 5

Lovely meenakshi

varaali, I think you are missing an opportunity for humour here: let Shiva suggest that Meenakshi be born with three breasts. Parvati's incredulous reaction would be fun to read. 😆

Shivanadiyaar, the chief priest of the Pandyan king, was a worried man, a crease furrowing his broad forehead. As desired by the king, he had been conducting the Putrakameshthi yagna for the past eight days. Tomorrow would be the ninth and the final day- and he had no idea if the Gods had been pleased and would grant the king is heart's desire.

Shivanadiaar opened the bundle of palm leaves that were tied in a red silken cloth and consulted them for one last time. It was with great difficulty that he had procured this bundle during his sojourn in Kashi.

Apparently these palm leaves contained the exact details of the Putrakameshti Yagna as performed by King Dasaratha of yore and were in the custody of an sadhu who claimed to be a descendant of Rishi Vasishtha himself. It had required much persuasion on Shivanadiyaar's part to coax the sadhu to part with the bundle.

Delighted, the Pandian king, Malayadhwaja, had asked Shivanadiyaar to commence the yagna. It had taken the priest a good six months to make all the preparations. On an auspicious day, beside the gently flowing Vaigai river, a small piece of land had been tilled and Shivanadiyaar had marked the yagna shala in accordance with the instructions on the palm leaves.

In fact, throughout the yagna he had meticulously followed the palm leaves at every stage, including the breed of cows from whose milk the ghee for the yagna had to be made. The king had rested all his hopes on this yagna. Shivanadiyaar looked out of his window as the Vaigai river flowed past. The king had every reason to worry.

King Malayadhwja was the second Pandian king (his father Kulasekhara Pandya had founded the dynasty after defeating the local Naga tribes and establishing the capital at Madurai). Madurai itself had a long history.

Many years ago, a small community of fishermen had established a settlement on the banks of the river Vaigai. They wanted their settlement to flourish for ever, hence they prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva obliged by giving darshan and sprinkling a few drops of nectar (madhu). The settlement came be called Madurapuri....which was later on got shortened to Madurai.

The exact location where Shiva appeared, became forgotten over a period of time. But Malayadhwaja's father had always wanted to discover that spot and establish a shiva linga there. He however died, but before dying, entrusted the task to his son. In a forest of Kadamba trees nearby, Malayadhwaja discovered a swayambhu lingam and established a temple there.

Malayadhwaja had also expanded his kingdom past the Tamraparni river up to the shores of Great Sea where the Kumari temple was located. But of what use was a vast kingdom when he had no heir to pass it on to?

Shivandiyaar fingered one of the many rings on his finger. Certainly he was not expecting a divine being to burst from the flames carrying a bowl of payasam as it happened for Dasaratha, but at least some sign that this yagna had been successful.

Little did he know that his prayers would be answered the next day. The yagna would certainly be successful ' in a most unexpected way.

There is a reason why I waited for Jay akka to finish her KK story before launching this MM (Madurai Meenakshi) story. The theme central to the KK story is that of an incomplete union of Shiva and Shakti. Their marriage is stalled and Parvati is left as a Kumari, still waiting for her groom.

now hear too i have to wait for her. ohh well, please varaali update your story.

varaali didi i am in love with history and with your this update you quenched my thirst..even jaya mam also said that MM story will be a continuation of KK story as KK has tragic ending and MM is happy ending
ah i want both KK and MM in DKDM but cv's

lovely update Varaali!

I don't know if they will show this (no Hindi mythological has ever tried it as far as I remember) but if they do, it might be good for the final storyline. That way the show would go out on a high note.

well they have used some pretty unknown stories-like the Ashoksundari one,the one of Vishnu staying in Patal Lok,Parvati burning down her house...

wow..Akka😊simply superb..waiting eagerly for Meenakshi to land on earth😊