The fire that ravaged Veeravasantharayar Mandapam in Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple on February 2 is not the first or only unfortunate incident associated with the East Tower. This tower was constructed by King Maravarman Sundarapandian (1216-38 A.D.) after a war with Chola kingdom to avenge the defeat of Kulothunga Pandian.
Veeravasantharayar Mandapam was a later addition to the eastern corridor. It was constructed by Muthuveerappa Nayakkar in 1611. Maravarman, during the war, is said to have raided many places and set structures on fire. He is believed to have constructed the East Tower with the wealth plundered from the Chola kingdom. The temple has festivals all through the year when deities are taken out in procession. On no occasion do they either leave or enter the temple through the East Tower. Long-time residents of Madurai use the Amman Sannidhi entrance and not the East Tower. Two reasons are attributed to this behaviour. People had to climb many steps from East Chithirai Street to enter the East Tower. The level was made even during the renovation of the temple in 1960-63. The other reason is the suicide of a temple employee. He is said to have jumped from the East Tower during the reign of Vijayaranga Chokkanathar (1706-32). The tower was damaged by lightning in 2013.
Contributed by S. Annamalai
