On Sunday, the famous Infotainment magazine National Geographic put out a story about the iconic Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai. The story detailed the artistic masterpiece of the temple which includes thousands of vibrantly painted stone statues which depict animals, gods, and demons.
These statues are lined up on walls of 14 towers of the temple, one of which is 170 feet high. The temple also has a wall of pillars which have a carved sculpture on each column. The story also detailed the history of the temple which included its demolition in the 14th century by Muslim invaders. The magnificent temple was then rebuilt about 250 years later.
The story like any other Nat Geo article was intricately filled with a variety of information but all this was dampened by an almost silly gaffe.
The story about the temple which is dedicated to goddess Meenakshi claimed that it was one of the few religious monuments which are devoted to a female deity:
This temple is one of the few religious monuments in India devoted to a female deity https://t.co/V0BUh1Bijx
— National Geographic (@NatGeo) August 6, 2017
This statement pricked a lot of people as they pointed out that there are almost innumerable temples in India which are dedicated to Indian goddesses. Here are a few such reactions:
Hundreds of prominent temples devoted to female deities. Minor temples with female deities would go in thousands if not more than a lakh https://t.co/7cjvD4nyjr
— VikasSaraswat (@VikasSaraswat) August 6, 2017
Ignorance of the west towards India and hindu culture is staggering. Embarassing. Atleast a little research wld help you with the real scene https://t.co/UZbBAe0lHZ
— Maya (@Sharanyashettyy) August 6, 2017
One of the few? Seriously @NatGeo ? EVERY little village in India has a temple for the Gram Devi in addition to countless other Devi temples https://t.co/C9CHV0V4fA
— bithika (@bithika11) August 6, 2017
Thousands of temples dedicated to the female deity in India man, this is embarrassing for Nat Geo. https://t.co/t3RmMemOZT
— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) August 6, 2017
50 odd Shakti Peeths, Grama Devata in e every village, expected better research from you Nat Geo . https://t.co/lKPq43fIBB
— The Lone Wolf (@GabbarSanghi) August 6, 2017
Idiots–000s of temples for female Godesses+evry temple has a “Prahara” for female deity/wife of male God–shd learn:))) RT https://t.co/6lGnt9X2pS
— RVAIDYA (@rvaidya2000) August 6, 2017
One user even created a thread to list out a ‘few’ such temples:
Hi twitter pals, let’s share images of temples dedicated to female deities. Here is one from my home town Kolhapur. Mahalaxmi Mandir. pic.twitter.com/EWLQ8giA38
— Rohit Kulkarni (@RohitKoolkarni) August 6, 2017
Maharashtra’s AdiShakti,
Kulswamini Tulja Bhawani Mata, Tuljapur(MH) pic.twitter.com/QfzGglHHuy— Simran Ka Baap (@SimranKaBaap) August 6, 2017
Shri Ambabai of Kolhapur, Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/nFB3uqCzZv
— Simran Ka Baap (@SimranKaBaap) August 6, 2017
