A temple often becomes the focal point of history, culture and political supremacy in India. The southern part of India is speckled with many such temples that have made a distinctive contribution not only to the religious life of the people but also have served as the core around which the social and cultural life of the people revolved. Madurai is one such old temple city of India, although it has also become a major industrial city of South India. For the last two thousand years it has been a remarkable centre of South Indian culture and civilization. It is located on the banks of river Vaigai and derived its name from ‘Mathura’ of North India. Madurai is a brilliant instance of town and country planning of ancient India and has also been mentioned by the ancient Greek geographer Ptolemy as ‘Modoura’. The Meenakshi temple in Madurai is one of the most significant centres of Hindu worship. Not only are pilgrims attracted to the site from all over India, but the temple also serves as a regional focus for worship and as a social centre for a large population. ‘Madurai’ in the local language means ‘sweet place’. Myths are also attached to the name of the city. For instance, it is said that Lord Shiva was immensely pleased with the building of the city and sprinkled nectar (madhu) over it, hence the name Madurai.