Deity of Meenatchi at the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai

Minakshi (IAST mīnākṣi, often written Meenakshi in English, Tamil மீனாட்சி) is an Avatar of the Hindu Goddess Parvati - and consort of Shiva - who is worshipped mainly by South Indians. She is also one of the few Hindu female deities to have a major temple devoted to her - the far famed Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The picture on the right shows her Deity at the temple. She is considered as a form of Goddess Mathangi, one of the Dasa Maha Vidhyas.

The legend[link]

Once Indra killed a demon, even though the demon did not harm anyone. This act brought a curse upon Indra that forced him to continue wandering until he was walking around looking for a way where no one would tell him which way to go will redeem him from his sin. After much wandering Indra was freed from his suffering through the power of a Shivalingam in a forest, and so he built a small temple at that site.

It so happened that at that time in South India there was a Pandyan king called Malayadhwaja Pandiyan [1] ruling a small city by the name Manavur, which was quite near to this Shivalinga. He was the son of Kulashekara Pandyan. He came to know about the Shivalinga and decided to build a huge temple for Shiva in the forest Kadambavanam (vanam means forest). He also developed the region into a fine princely state called Madurai.

The king was childless and sought an heir for the kingdom. Shiva granted him his prayers through an Ayonija child (one born not from the womb). This child was three years old and actually the incarnation of goddess Parvati the consort of Shiva. She was born with fish-shaped eyes. It was said that the extra breast would disappear when she met her future husband. She was named Mīnachchi, (meaning fish eyed) from the words mīna (meaning fish) and akṣi (meaning eyes). Mīnakshi also means "the one who has eyes like that of a fish". Fishes are said to feed their younger ones with their eyes, similarly goddess looks after her devotees. Just by her sight our miseries disappear.

Shiva the Nataraja performing the Universal dance

She grew up to be a Shiva-Shakti personification. After the death of the king, she ruled the kingdom with skillful administration.

In one of her expeditions she went to the Himalayas and there, on seeing Shiva, her extra breast disappeared. Many of the gods and goddesses came to witness their marriage.

Gopuram of Meenakshi Amman Temple at Madurai

At the wedding celebrations the gods refused to have the served food unless Shiva performed a majestic dance for everybody gathered at the place. At this there was the dance of Chidambaram, the cosmic dance in front of his wife Minakshi. It epitomised and merged all life force and beauty into one whole. In the end Minakshi was merged with the shivalingam and became the representation of life and beauty.

There is another legend that talks about why the North Tower (called as "Mottai Gopuram") does not have that many sculptures. Bhootaganas were supposed to finish the construction of the temple towers during the night. Legend says that bhootaganas completed all three towers but while in the middle of building the north tower sunrise happened halting the completion of the north tower.

Minakshi Devi[link]

Silapadikaram, an ancient post sangam Tamil literature, describes the Goddess as ThadAdagai Pratiyar a warrior Goddess, with a crescent moon on her matted hair, with two arms the left holding a lotus and the right holding a sword. She is described as having the right side in crimson colour and the left in dark colour - ArdhanAri form. Minakshi Devi does not directly occur in the Lalita Sahasranama, though there is a reference to it in chalan meenabha lochana. Her eyes are fabled to bring life to the unborn.

The stotram Minakshi Pancha Ratnam (five jewels of Minakshi) [2] is an incantation to her. There are several other great hynms on the goddess, composed in the later centuries by many saints and scholars including the famous Neelakanta Dikshitar.

Literary references[link]

A Tamil poem shows the goddess Meenakshi as a girl washing crockery and pots (which consist of all the worlds). This is a daily task, because her husband Shiva repeatedly messes up the universe, which Minakshi must once more sort out and clean.

Shiva wanders through the courtyard of space

destroying your work again and again,

and then comes before you dancing.

You never get angry.

Every day, you just pick up the vessels.

In thirty words, Minakshi becomes a global icon for all who deal with 'impossible' children (or husbands).^[1] Themes and activities of early childhood run through the poems. God in the little child is worshipped and protected amidst the toys in the kitchen and back yard.

References[link]

1. ^ Richman, Paula (1997). Extraordinary Child: Poems from a South Asian devotional genre. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. 

External links[link]

• Meenakshi Pooja

v t e Hindu deities and texts Gods Deva Ganesha Brahma Vishnu Shiva Rama Krishna Murugan Hanuman Indra Surya more Goddesses Adi parashakti Devi Saraswati Lakshmi Sati Parvati Durga Shakti Kali Sita Radha Mahavidya Navadurga Matrikas more Texts Vedas Upanishads Puranas Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita more Hinduism Hindu mythology

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (February 2012)

Meenakshi Seshadri (born 16 November 1963) is an Indian film actress and dancer. She won the Miss India contest in 1981 at age 17.^{[citation needed]} She is the youngest woman to be crowned Miss India.^{[citation needed]}

Career[link]

Meenakshi Seshadri made her debut in Painter Babu (1982) opposite Rajiv Goswami, the younger brother of Manoj Kumar. She shot to fame with the mega hit film Hero (1983) directed by Subhash Ghai. She was nominated for a Filmfare Award for her role in the film Damini. She acted in her last film Ghatak in 1997.

Personal life[link]

Meenakshi Seshadri was born into a Tamil Iyer Brahmin family at Sindri, Jharkhand.^[1][2] She is trained in four different forms of Indian classical dance: Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak and Odissi. She studied dance under Vempati Chinna Satyam and Jaya Rama Rao.^[3][4] She married Harish Mysore, an investment banker. The couple has settled in Texas,^[5] with a daughter, Kendra and a son, Josh.^[6]

Awards and nominations[link]

Seshadri was nominated for Filmfare Best Actress Award for Jurm in 1991 and for Damini in 1994.

Filmography[link]

• Do Rahain (1997)
• Ghatak: Lethal (1996) .... Gauri
• Duet (1994) .... Anjali (Tamil film)
• Damini - Lightning]] (1993) .... Damini Gupta
• Kshatriya (1993)
• Aadmi Khilona Hai (1993) .... Punam Verma
• Badi Bahen (1993) .... Jyoti Dwarkaprasad
• Sadhna (1993) .... Madhu
• Aapathbandhavudu (1992) .... Hema (Telugu film)
• Humshakal (1992) .... Sarah (Vinod's Wife)
• Police Aur Mujrim (1992) .... Kiran
• Aaj Ka Goonda Raj (1992) .... Shalu Sharma
• Humla (1992) .... Seema
• Yeh Raat Phit Na Ayegi (1992)
• Akela (1991) .... Seema
• Brahmarishi Vishwamitra (1991) .... Menaka (Telugu film)
• Ghar Parivar (1991)
• Amba (1990) .... Lajjo
• Jurm (1990) .... Meena S. Varma
• Ghayal (1990) .... Varsha Bharti
• Awaargi (1990) .... Meena
• Ghar Ho To Aisa (1990) .... Seema
• Pyar Ka Karz (1990) .... Dr. Naina
• Shandaar (1990) .... Rani
• Aag Se Khelenge (1989) .... Geeta
• Toofan (1989) .... Radha
• Bade Ghar Ki Beti (1989) .... Mala
• Sachché Ká Bol-Bálá (1989) .... Reema
• Joshilaay (1989) (as Meenakshi Seshadri)
• Gharana (1989) .... Radha
• En Rathathin Rathame (1989) (Tamil film) with Bagyaraj
• Mahaadev 1989) .... Geeta
• Mohabat Ka Paigham (1989) .... Zeenat Banu
• Nache Nagin Gali Gali (1989)
• Teri Payal Mere Geet (1989) .... Laila-Jaan/Leela
• Vijay (1988) .... Sapna
• Shahenshah (1988) (uncredited) .... Shalu
• Aurat Teri Yehi Kahani (1988) .... Savitri
• Bees Saal Baad (1988) .... Kiran Thakur
• Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswathi (1988) .... Jamuna
• Inteqam (1988)
• Main Tere Liye (1988) .... Rinku Sagar
• Satyamev Jayate (1987) .... Seema
• Dacait (1987) .... Javli
• Inaam Dus Hazaar (1987) .... CBI Officer Kamal Malhotra aka Sonia
• Muqaddar Ka Faisla (1987) .... Meena
• Parivaar (1987) .... Anita
• Swati (1986)
• Dilwaala (1986) .... Padma
• Allah Rakha (1986) .... Rani
• Dahleez (1986) .... Naini Saxena
• Maa Beti (1986) Meenu/Asha
• Main Balwan (1986) .... Natasha
• Ricky (1986)
• Lover Boy (1985) .... Radha
• Mera Ghar Mere Bachche (1985) .... Sarita
• Meri Jung (1985) .... Geeta Mathur
• Maha Shaktimaan (1985) .... Madhuri
• Bewafai (1985) .... Vinny
• Mahaguru (1985) .... Basanti
• Aandhi-Toofan (1985) .... Meena Kapoor
• Mera Jawab (1985) .... Poonam
• Awara Baap (1985)
• Hoshiyar (1985) .... Jyoti
• Paisa Yeh Paisa (1985) .... Sapna
• Love Marriage (1984) .... Ritu Mafatlal
• Do Gulab (1983)
• Hero (1983) .... Radha Mathur
• Painter Babu (1983) .... Renu Kailashnath

References[link]

External links[link]

• Meenakshi Seshadri at the Internet Movie Database

Vinod Khanna
Born	(1946-10-06) 6 October 1946 (age 65).[1] Peshawar, Pakistan
Occupation	Actor, Politician
Spouse	Geetanjali (1971–1985 divorced) Kavita (1990–present)
Children	3 sons and 1 daughter

Vinod Khanna (Hindi: विनोद खन्ना, Punjabi: ਵਿਨੋਦ ਖੰਨਾ born 6 October 1946) is an Indian actor, film producer and politician.

Early life[link]

Khanna was born in Peshawar to Kamla and Kishanchand Khanna, a textiles, dyes and chemicals businessman on 6 October 1946, in Peshawar, British India (now in Pakistan).^{[citation needed]} He has three sisters and one brother. Shortly after his birth, India was partitioned and the family left Peshawar and reached Mumbai (then Bombay).^{[citation needed]}

At Mumbai, he attended Queen Mary School, Bombay (Mumbai) until class II and then transferred to St. Xavier's High School, Fort. In 1957, the family again moved to Delhi where he attended Delhi Public School, Mathura Road. Although the family moved back to Mumbai in 1960, he was sent to Barnes School in Deolali, near Nashik. It was during his time at the boarding school that he watched the epic Mughal-e-Azam and fell in love with motion pictures. He graduated with a commerce degree from Sydenham College.^[1]

Career[link]

Vinod Khanna debuted in Sunil Dutt's 1968 film Man Ka Meet as a villain.^[2] He acted in multi-starrer films often playing supporting and negative roles in hit films such as Purab Aur Paschim (1970), Sachaa Jhutha (1970) and Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971).^[2] His big break was in the 1971 film Mere Apne directed by Gulzar. His performance as an army officer facing death row in another Gulzar scripted and directed 1973 film Achanak was critically acclaimed. The songless film echoed the true life story of K. M. Nanavati vs. State of Maharashtra and Khanna portrayed Kawas Nanavati, the real life Navy officer.^[2]

He went on to star in many hits throughout the mid 1970s and early 1980s, including "Inkaar", "Aap Ki Khatir", "Aarop", Parvarish (1977), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Khoon Pasina (1977), " Herapheri", Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978), "((Zameer")), The Burning Train (1980) and Qurbani (1980). Having peaked in Bollywood, he became a follower of the spiritual teacher Osho (Rajneesh) and left the film industry in 1979 for eight years. At this time, he was one of the most successful actors in the Bollywood, competing with Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna (Kudrat), (Aan Milo Sajna) & Jeetendra. He rejoined the industry, eight years later in mid 1980s. He continued to appear in many notable films from the mid 1980s to the 1990s such as Dayavan (1988), Chandni (1989), Kshatriya (1993), Eena Meena Deeka (1994) and Ekka Raja Rani (1994).^[2]

His pairing with Amitabh Bachchan was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful.

In 1997 he donned the role of producer to launch his middle son Akshaye Khanna in the film Himalay Putra; he also starred in the film. In 1999 he received a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the film industry for over three decades. He has since acted in fewer films playing character roles. His most recent films were Deewaanapan (2002), Risk (2007), Wanted (2009) and Dabangg (2010).

He also ventured into television playing the male lead role of "Kashi Nath" in the Smriti Irani-produced Hindi serial Mere Apne, which aired on the channel 9X.

Politics[link]

In 1997, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was elected from Gurdaspur constituency in Punjab in the next year's Lok Sabha poll. In 1999, he was re-elected to the Lok Sabha from the same constituency. Later, he became union minister for culture and tourism in July 2002. Six months later, he was moved to the more important ministry of external affairs (MEA) as minister of state. In 2004 he won re-election from Gurdaspur. However, he lost out in the 2009 Lok Sabha poll.

Personal life[link]

Khanna married Geetanjali in 1971, and has two sons with her, Rahul Khanna and Akshaye Khanna; both are Hindi film actors. In 1975, Khanna became a disciple of Osho (Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh).^[1] In the early 1980s, he moved to Rajneeshpuram, Osho's commune in the United States, for four years, cleaning dishes and working as Osho's gardener.^[1] His absence from his family, who remained behind in India, caused friction between the couple, and the marriage ended in divorce.^[1]

In 1990, he married his second wife, Kavita.^[1] They have a son, Sakshi, and a daughter Shraddha.^[1]

Awards and nominations[link]

• 1975 – Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Haath Ki Safai
• 1977 – Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actor for Hera Pheri
• 1978 – Filmfare Nomination as Best Actor for Shaque
• 1979 – Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actor for Muqaddar Ka Sikander
• 1981 – Filmfare Nomination as Best Actor for Qurbani
• 1999 – Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2001 - Kalakar Awards Lifetime Achievement^{[citation needed]}
• 2005 – Stardust Awards - Role Model for the Year ^[3]
• 2007 – Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Vinod Khanna at the Internet Movie Database
• Parliamentary Biography

Kumar Sanu (alias Kedarnath Bhattacharya, born in Kolkata) is a leading Indian Bollywood playback singer.^[1] He was awarded the Filmfare Best Male Playback Award over five consecutive years. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 2009.^[2]

Early life[link]

Kumar Sanu's father Pashupati Bhattacharya was a vocalist and composer. He trained Sanu as a singer and tabla player. After getting a degree in commerce from Calcutta University, Sanu began performing publicly in 1979, singing at shows and restaurants around Calcutta. He modeled his singing style after Bollywood singer Kishore Kumar.^[3] Later he developed his own singing style.^[3]

Career[link]

In 1987, music director and singer Jagjit Singh offered Sanu the chance to sing in the Hindi film Aandhiyan. Sanu then relocated to Mumbai, where Kalyanji-Anandji gave him chance to sing in the film Jaadugar. Kalyanji-Anandji suggested that he change his name from Kedar Nath Bhattacharya to Kumar Sanu.^[3]

Sanu started off singing Jagjit Singh's film songs, and went on to work with composers including Naushad, Ravindra Jain, Hridayanath Mangeshkar, Pt.R K Razdan, Kalyanji Anandji, and Usha Khanna.

For the 1990 film Aashiqui, music directors Nadeem-Shravan got Sanu to sing all but one of the songs which included "Ek Sanam Chahiye", "Tu meri zindagi hain", "Nazar Ke Saamne", "Jaane Jigar Jaaneman", "Ab Tere Bin Jee Lenge Hum" and "Dheere Dheere Se". He won the first of his record five consecutive Filmfare awards as Best Male Playback Singer. His next Filmfare Awards came for songs in the movies Saajan (1991), Deewana (1992), Baazigar (1993), and 1942: A Love Story (1994).

Sanu often collaborated with Nadeem-Shravan. Some of their collaborations include songs in movies like Aashiqi (1990), Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin (1991), Sadak (1991), Saajan (1991), Deewana (1992), Dil Ka Kya Kasoor (1992), Kal Ki Awaz (1992), Shreeman Aashique (1993), Salami (1993), Damini: Lightning (1993), Dilwale (1994), Agni Sakshi (1996), Raja Hindustani (1996), Jeet (1996), Pardes (1997), among others.

In a career spanning two decades he has sung with composers including R.D. Burman, Anand-Milind, Anu Malik, Jatin-Lalit, Nadeem-Shravan, Himesh Reshammiya, Ismail Darbar, Kalyanji Anandji, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Rajesh Roshan, Sajid-Wajid, Viju Shah, Uttam Singh for Dushman, Raam Laxman, Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen, Anand Raj Anand, Aadesh Shrivastava, Vishal-Shekhar, M. M. Keeravani & Vishal Bharadwaj.

He has also created music for Indian films and also produced the Bollywood film, Utthaan. Currently Kumar Sanu team up with Rakesh Bhhatia and together they produced Hindi feature film based on the four street children of Mumbai. All four children are doing shoe- polish on railway platform in order to earn their daily bread and butter. Mithun Chakraborty is acting in his movie as a lead role. Recently Kumar Sanu has sang for epic Bengali film Hason Raja, which directed by UK-based filmmaker Ruhul Amin.

Sanu was in the panel of judges on Sony TV for Waar Parriwar, a reality show based on the bringing together of a singing gharana (family of singers) and on Zee Bangla TV in a music reality show called Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Vishwa Sera.

Awards[link]

• 2009: Padma Shri: India's 4th highest civilian honour given by Government of India.

Filmfare Awards[link]

Won[link]

Nominated[link]

Star Screen Award[link]

Notable Bollywood Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Kumar Sanu at the Internet Movie Database

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Tagged since July 2008. It may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may only interest a specific audience. Tagged since July 2008. Its neutrality is disputed. Tagged since July 2008.

Sadhana Sargam
Background information
Birth name	Sadhana Ghanekar[1]
Born	March 14 India
Genres	Playback singing, Indian classical, devotional
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Vocalist
Years active	1982-current

Sadhana Sargam is an Indian playback singer. She is a recipient of the prestigious National Film Award and Filmfare Awards South.

Sargam has sung in many Indian languages for films, television serials and music albums. She is well known for her 1990s Hindi songs and recent South Indian songs. She holds a record for being the only North Indian to have won the National Award for a South Indian song. She is also a trained Hindustani classical singer. She has ventured into the southern Carnatic classical style with ease.

Early life and family[link]

Sadhana Sargam is of Maharashtrian origin. She was trained in Indian classical music by her mother, Neelatai Ghanekar, at an early age, and then by Pandit Jasraj. Her mother introduced her to a composer by the name of Anil Mohile, which later resulted in her involvement with the children's choir. In 1982, she released her first single for the film Vidhaata.

Career[link]

Sadhana Sargam is popular in singing Hindi as well as Tamil songs. Her most critically acclaimed songs were in the film Water, composed by A. R. Rahman, in which she sang three songs: "Aayo Re Sakhi", "Piya Ho" and "Naina Neer". Her other notable songs in Hindi with the same composer include "Aahista Aahista" from Swades, "Chupke Se" and "Naina Milaike" from Saathiya, "Chanda Re" from Sapney, "O Palanhare" from Lagaan, "Jhulaa Bahon Ka" from Doli Saja Ke Rakhna, and "Banno Rani" from 1947: Earth. Her other notable rhapsodic hits in Hindi are "Neele Neele Ambar Par" from Kalakaar, "Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye" from Jurm, "Pehla Nasha" from Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, "Na Kajre Ki Dhar" from Mohra, "Aashiqui Me" from Dil Ka Kya Kasoor, "Tere Dar Pe Sanam" from Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee, "Jhinimini" from Maqbool and "Aao Na" from Kyun! Ho Gaya Na....

She won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Pattu Solli" from Thankar Bachan's cult classic movie Azhagi; the music was by maestro Ilaiyaraaja, whom she has praised for "giving her such a wonderful song, and making her eligible for the National Award".

She has sung more than 150 songs in Tamil alone and has many top songs. One of her recent songs is "Marali Mareyaagi" from Savari, a Kannada movie for which she received the Filmfare Best Playback Kannada Female Singer award in 2009. Her most famous songs in Tamil include "Snehithane" from Alaipayuthey, "Mukundha Mukundha" from Dasavathaaram, "Konjum Mainakkale" from Kandukondain Kandukondain and "Swasame" from Thenali. She also sang "Om Zaarare" from Kuselan, along with Daler Mehndi and K. S. Chithra. She sang several songs in Hindi and Oriya for music director Kajol-Saroj. She has also sung the Tamil version of "Mann Mohana" from the Hindi film Jodhaa Akbar. Another notable recent solo Tamil song is "Sutri Varum Bhoomi" from the Vidhyasagar-composed Jeyamkondaan and "En Nenjil" from Baana Kaathadi. The recent Ilaiyaraaja-composed Tamil film Naan Kadavul had a song titled "Amma Un Pillai" featuring her voice. Her popular tracks in Marathi include "Onjalit Majhya" and "Saanjh Jhali Tari" from Sarivar Sari, "Dis Char Jhale Mann" and "Dhag Datun Yetat" from Aaishappath, "Pahile Paul", "Jhali Punha Pravahi" and "Ye Saad Jivnachi" from Sakhi. Her recent Marathi album Tu Sukhkarta..Tu Dukhraya was released by Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar on the occasion of Shri Ganesh Chaturthi on 3 September 2010 at Ravindra Natya Mandir, Mumbai. The songs were composed by Amol Bawdekar and lyrics were written by Mahesh Ghatpande.

Influence[link]

Popularity in South India[link]

Sadhana Sargam has been very well received in Tamil Nadu films. She is very busy in the Tamil music field. She was first introduced to Tamil songs by acclaimed music director Vidyasagar in the film Coimbatore Mappillai. Among all the Bollywood singers (male/female), Sargam has sung the most number of songs in Tamil. 132 songs of Sargam were listed as of August 2008.^[2]

In an interview in May 2007 while touring in the USA, the most celebrated composer of the Indian music industry, A. R. Rahman, complimented Sadhana Sargam, calling her the only Indian singer who could surpass his expectations in her renditions of songs.^[3]

Awards[link]

National Film Awards

• 2002 - National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer - "Paattu Cholli" (Azhagi), Tamil film.

Filmfare Awards South

• 2007 - Best Female Playback Singer (Tamil) - "Akkam Pakkam" (Kireedom)
• 2007 - Best Female Playback Singer (Telugu) - "Manasa" (Munna)

Zee Cine Awards

• 2004 - Zee Cine Award for Best Playback Singer – Female - "Kuch Naa Kaho" (Kuch Naa Kaho)

Star Screen Awards

• 2003 - Star Screen Award for Best Female Playback - "Chupke Se" (Saathiya)

Filmography[link]

Hindi[link]

South[link]