Very long time ago, there was an invincible warlord by name Sangili
Karuppan who was terrorizing the people of Madurai that was ruled at
that time by the king Thirumalai Nayakkar. Madurai Veeran, finally,
was the one who
defeated Sangili Karuppan. After defeating Sangili Karuppan, Madurai Veeran was appointed as one
of the generals under Thirumalai Nayakkar. Madurai Veeran fell in love with one of the maids in the king's
palace. Madurai Veeran, married her inspite of opposition from the
king who could not allow someone from the cobbler community to a
marry a woman from a high caste. And Thirumalai Nayakkar ordered that
the limbs of Madurai Veeran be severed. And so it was done.
Madurai Veeran, the invincible warrior, who fought for the good of
his people was left to bleed to death. And strangely, soon after Madurai Veeran's death Thirumalai
Nayakkar's body was found at the bottom of a well. And that was the
end of his era. And for this reason, before you enter the Madurai Meenakshi Amman
temple, you get to meet Madurai Veeran, the temple guardian. And that guardian god, sitting on his huge horse with a thick black
moustache, bulging bloodshot eyes, and a
huge sword in his hand, outside of every village in Tamil Nadu is the
same warrior, who probably gave his life fighting to protect his
people.
Copyright © 2002 [R.Shiva Raj]. All rights reserved.
Revised: November 13, 2002 11:31 PM