Sri Meenakshi Temple

University of Houston professor of architecture, Sri Ranjit Banerjee, developed the initial master plan for the first five acre tract, which included the main temple hall and Ganesh temple. The master plan was then updated by Architect Sri Ashok Mungara, AIA, to include the over twenty-three acres that MTS has acquired over the years, which now boasts an outer prakaram for the main temple, priests quarters, kalyana mandapam, youth center, and a visitors center
The main temple schematic plans were drawn by Sri Ganapathi Stapathi and further developed by Sri Muthai Stapathi. Sri Ashok Mungara developed the architectural and engineering construction documents. Over twenty shilpis (intricate stone artisans), headed by Sri Muthai Stapathi, constructed the main temple with the help of Sri Ashok Mungara, who undertook the construction of the building.
The Maha Kumbhabhishekam (inauguration) was performed in June 1982. The deities at the main temple include Meenakshi, Sundareswara, and Venkateshwara, were installed according the agamas and yantras. Nandi, Siva's vehicle, is directly opposite to Siva. Garuda, Vishnu's vehicle, is directly opposite to Venkateswara. Lakshmi, the companion of Vishnu, is the Goddess of wealth. She is represented as Padmavati.
After 12 years, in June 1994, Ashtabhandhana was performed for the main deities. The east Rajagopuram, three gopurams and four prakara temples with sannadhis for Maha Ganapathi, Ayyappa, Subramanya Parivar, Ramar Parivar, Anjaneeya, Radha-Krishna, Durga, Jyothi, Kannikaparameshwari, Navagraha, Bairavar, Natarajar, and Sivakami were constructed in July 1995. The Maha Kumbhabhishekam for the Rajagopuram and for prakara temples were performed on July 16, 1995. The Kalyana Mandapam was inaugurated in July 1998. A few years later in October 2003, MTS inaugurated the Youth Center, which boasts a kitchen and library. Currently, MTS is completing the Visitors Center, which was inaugurated in December 2009, and will include library /gift shop, temple archives, meditation room, and the Ratham house. The newly built silver Ratham will be used for procession during important Hindu festivals.