The concept of city and town originated long long ago. Where and exactly when the first city came into being is a subject of debate. Ever since man became civilized and had begun to live in a community in a permanent settlement, where he could live comfortably, the idea of coexistence with other communities in a place called 'town' or 'village' has been very much there. Such small places over a period of time became big town and cities with the growth of population and areas backed by proper planning such as potable water, well-laid streets, drainage, shops, market etc. India is home to many ancient cities that are older than 2000 years and are known to have been continuously inhabited by humans.
.jpg)
Madurai Meenakshi temple, wikipedia. credit.Kenny OMG
 |
| Meenakshi temple, Madurai pravase.co.in |
Madurai, now third largest city in the state of Tamil Nadu, is one of the most ancient cities of India with a glorious past, ranking along with Varanasi, Pataliputra (Patna, Bihar). Ujjaini, (Madhya Pradesh) and others. It is well-known for Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple. Two of the six shrines (Aarupadai Veedu) of Lord Subramaniya (Karthic/Murugan) are located nearby at Thiruparam Kundram and at Pazhamuthir Solai. Meenkashi Thirukalyanam (celestial wedding of goddess) and Kallazagar (God Vishnu) getting into Vaigai river are two major religious festivals here that attract thousands of people far and wide. Located on the banks of Vaigai river, Madurai is one of the oldest and continuously inhabited cities in the world - more than 2200 years old. The following are the interesting facts that are worthy of mention:
 |
| Meenakshi temple, Madurai pinrest.co.uk |
01. The recorded history of the city goes back to the 3rd century BCE. The antiquity of this city was mentioned by Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to India (his visit in 302 BC), followed by Marco polo and Ibn Batuta ( Moroccan Muslim traveler)
 |
| Madurai old image |
Above image: Madurai on the banks of Vaigai river. old image drawn by Purser 1858 credit.-
 |
| An old picture of Madurai templegirlsandsilks.com |
in their travelogues. Kautilya, a minister of the Mauryan emperor Chandragupta Maurya, mentioned about Madurai.
02. Like a phoenix bird, it raises to its glory even after a great destruction and and has been around for more than 2000 years.
The city was ruled by various dynasties. Cholas (10th to 13th centuries) and Pandyas. Latter came to power in 1223 AD and patronized the Tamil language and the kingdom prospered. Pandya dynasty came to an end during the reign of Kulasekara Pandian ((1268–1308 CE).
 |
| Ancient Madurai city, Tamil Nadu, India ntachmadurai.org |
03. Malik Kafur (April, 1311), Military Commander of Alauddin Khilji (Delhi Sultanate), interfered on Pandya king's request to solve the dispute over the successor to the throne and in the wake, it ended in plunder and looting of Madurai and its temple.
04. Vijayanagar Empire ended the Muslim rule here and appointed Nayak as their governors. Nayaks became independent and started ruling the territories autonomously after decline of Vijayanagara in 1530 AD. The city came under Chanda Sahib (1740 – 1754 CE), Arcot Nawab of Carnatic kingdom Muhammed Yusuf Khan (1725 – 1764 CE) in the mid part of 18th century.
05. Later Madurai came under the East India company and in 1781, British appointed George Procter to look after the city. He was the first collector of Madurai. It was first annexed to the Madras Presidency in 1801. Madurai became a municipality in 1866 under the British Crown. Madurai American college came up in 1881. Harvey Mills (textile) was functioning in the 1910s During
06. A 2nd-century BCE Tamil-Brahmi inscription refers to the city as matiray, an Old Tamil word meaning a "walled city" derived from an older Tamil literature source. The city is famous for its rich heritage and patronage of Tamil language through "Sangams," an exalted group of eminent scholars in Tamil, one of the very few old languages in thin e world rich in literature. A well-known Tamil Cultural center. The city underwent some major changes during the British rule and the District Collectorate covered many present day districts including Ramanathapuram.
r07. The name Madurai is believed to have been derived from Madhura (sweetness), emanating from the divine nectar showered on the city from the matted hair of Lord Shiva. Some Tamil sographival changescholars believe Madurai may be a derivative of Marutham, a type of land common in that region. The great Tamil epic Silapathikaram is associated with this ancient city. Kannagi, wife of Kovalan, is a legendary Tamil Vaisya woman who forms the central character of the Tamil epic Silapathikaram (100-300 CE). The story relates how Kannagi took revenge on the Pandyan King who had wrongfully put her husband to death, by cursing the city. oo
08. It was in Madurai, in 1921, that Mahatma Gandhi, a prominent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India, first adopted the loin cloth as his mode of dress after seeing agricultural laborers wearing it, toiling hard on the lands under scorching sun. Incidentally Madurai was his most favored destination during the freedom struggle.
 |
| Gandhi Museum(Mangammal palace), Madurai transindiatravels.com |
 |
| Tamil Nadu map.travelsinmadurai.in |
10. The Temple Entry Authorization and Indemnity Act passed by the government of Madras Presidency under C. Rajagopalachari (a lawyer and the last Governor General of India) in 1939 removed restrictions prohibiting Shanars and Dalits from entering Hindu temples
 |
| Map of Madurai city plan en.wikipedia.org |
11.The temple entry movement was first led into Madurai Meenakshi temple by freedom fighter and eminent lawyer A. Vaidyanatha Iyer (1890-1955), a close friend of Rajaji on July 8, 1939 along with his friend P. Kakkan (who later became a minister in Tamil Nadu in the 1960s). Vaidyanatha Iyer was the voice of the Dalits in that region for a long time and a well-known social reformer. This was done with Late Muthuramalinga Ayya, another patriot.
 |
| Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple, TN, pinrest.com |
12. Meenakshi temple is one of the largest temples in India covering more than 14 acres of land. It is a temple of sculptural wonder and brilliant artistic expression. The streets are laid around the temple outwardly each carrying the names of some Tamil months.
13. The city of Madurai has been constructed in the form of a lotus around the temple.The city is divided into a number of concentric quadrangular streets around the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple complex temple. It was Vishwanatha Nayak (1159–64 CE), the first Madurai Nayak king, who redesigned the city in accordance with the principles of Shilpa Shastras (Sanskrit: śilpa Sasatra) - rules of architecture related to urban planning. Many streets bear the traditional names of Tamil months Aadi, Chittirai, Avani-moola and Maasi streets, based on festivals.
 |
| 1636 CE Nayak Mahal, Madurai credit.Suresh, Madura wikipedia |
14. Among Nayaks, Thirumalai Nayak (1623-1659) was the most popular one. His contribution to Madurai was immense. The Raja Gopuram of the Meenakshi Temple, the Pudu Mandapam and the Thirumalai Nayakar's Palace are living examples of his passion for art. Thirumalai Nayak Mahal (built by Thirumalai Nayak) and Mangammal palace (that houses Gandhi museum) built by the Nayak dynasty are major tourist attractions.
The old city of Madurai is interwoven with ancient Tamil literature, tradition and culture of Tamil region and Hindu religion.
(Revised Post of: https://www.navrangindia.in/2016/01/madurai-tamil-nadu-one-of-oldest.html
.jpg)
.jpg&description=Madurai, Tamil Nadu - One Of The Oldest Continuously Inhabited Cities In The World !! (Revised 2016 Post)){kind=link}