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Even today the true heart of the city of Madurai is the great Meenakshi Amman Temple that is a celebration of the romance of the Princess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. So in Madurai Shiva is not the ascetic mountain living wanderer, smeared in ashes and with matted hair. Here he is a benevolent householder with a family, clad in jewels and silks. He is the consort of the queen because in Madurai it is Meenakshi who still rules the land and has a special place in the heart of the people. Vishnu is believed to be the brother of Meenakshi, giving her away to Shiva at the wedding. This has made this temple and Madurai as the "southern Mathura", one included in Vaishnava texts.