Madurai is an ancient city of Indian state Tamil Nadu, which is more than 4000 years old. In Tamil literature, Madurai is usually called `Nanmadakkoodal`. It is also called the Athens of the East. The term `Koodal` means assembly and since all the three Tamil Academies (Sangams) were established in Madurai, it got the name Koodal.
It is known from the literary evidences that earlier Madurai was consumed by the sea. Later, in the 6th century B.C. the Pandya king Kulasekara established the second Madurai. The culture of Tamil Nadu is woven with the history of Madurai in all aspects such as history, religion, art, legend, polity, learning and so on. As mostly the elites and learned men lived in the Madurai city, hence it was called the Athens of the East. The name Madurai is connected with `Maduram` meaning nectar. According to a popular legend, it is said that when Lord Siva came here in to marry Devi Meenakshi, few drops of nectar fell from his locks. Therefore, this city was named as Madurapuri, the land of nectar which was shortened later as Madurai.
The Pandyas ruled Madurai from the Sangam Age. The Cholas ruled here for a short period till the Muslim invasion by Malik Kafur (1290-1320 A.D.). Then, it was ruled by the Vijayanagar emperors and their governors, the Nayakas from 1371. The Nayakas ruled for more than 200 years and their reign was considered as the golden age. At that time, Madurai was at its height in art, architecture and learning. The Nayaka rulers decorated Madurai with temples and buildings. They also built the famous Meenakshi temple, which are landmarks of the city. Now, Madurai the second largest city of Tamil Nadu and is very much modern and progressive.
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