INTRODUCTION The Sri Meenakshi Temple welcomes visitors from all over the world. The Temple is open 365 days a year. Visiting hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. each day. Appropriate clothing should be worn to show respect to the Temple and to the Deities. Suitable clothing should cover the shoulders and knees. You must remove your shoes before going into the Temple, but socks are allowed. Photos are permissible. Organized services occur on Sunday. During the week, devotees come to the Temple at various times to pray. When entering the Temple, always go to the left in a clock-wise circle. The significance of always going to the left is to keep ‘the god’ on ‘the right’. HISTORY The Sri Meenakshi Temple is the 3rd Hindu temple built in the United States since the 1970’s, which was the peak of the Hindu immigrant settlement in the United States of America. The Temple construction started on a 5 acre property in the 1970’s. The Maha Kumbhabhishekam (inauguration) was performed in June 1982. Many volunteers and devotees have contributed to the growth and development of the Sri Meenakshi Temple over the years. This Temple is the only temple off the shores of India dedicated to Meenakshi, who is the Goddess of Marriage. Sri Meenakshi is the symbolic representation of energy in the female form, manifesting the power of Shiva, who depicts matter. It is an exact replica of the Sree Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, India. The Hindu Temples in South India are all similar in structure with 4 corner temples that surround the main worship temple. In the front of the temples, the tall, intricately created main gateways or “Gopurams” make for great architectural sights. The granite you see throughout the property is all imported from India while the cement body is produced locally. BEGIN Start the self-guided tour at the back entrance of the Main Temple Complex, away on the opposite side from Bailey Road. Enter and go to the left. Walk around to the front entrance of the Main Temple.
Pearland Convention & Visitor's Bureau Sri Meenakshi Temple Self Guided Tour: Page 2
