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The enormous Sri Meenakshi-Sundareshwara Temple in Madurai is one of the funkiest, dustiest, noisiest most chaotic temples we visited. It's a dual temple to Shiva and Parvati. Worshipers far outnumber tourists. It encompasses markets, museums, altars and innumerable sculpted columns like this one, where women of childbearing age gather to pray to the goddess of midwifery. She is dark and tacky from centuries of smeared ghee - an offering in the hope of an easy and safe childbirth. Click below to see more sculpture from this and other Tamil Nadu temples - some dating back to the 3rd century AD. |
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