A British collector named Rose Peter was appointed as collector of Madurai during 1812 to 1828.
Though a christian he gave more importance to Hinduism also and gave honor to Local practices.
Peter acquitted himself as templeadministrator with sincerity and respected the religious sentiments of people.
Rous Peter respected and treated people of all faiths equally and this noble attitude earned him the popular nickname *‘Peter Pandian,’*
Goddess Meenakshi Amman Temple was situated between Peter's residence and office.
Everyday he used to go to office by his horse and while crossing the temple, he got down from the horse & removed hat and shoes and crossed whole path on his foot. *Through this he expressed his reverence to Goddess!*
One day there was heavy downpour in the Madurai city &collector sleeping in his house, suddenly he was disturbed by the sound of anklets and left his bed to find from where the sound came.
He saw a girl wearing precious ornaments and calling him
as *'Peter come away'.*
And he came out to follow her,
Running in the rain.
Behind shocked to see his residence- building being destroyed within few minutes.
He turned to look at the girl as she disappeared by running.
And
* he saw that the girl ran without any shoes in her foot and with only anklets.*
His devotion believed that *Goddess Meenakshi* saved his life.
later, he wished to give a gift to Lord Meenakshi,
& Consulted the priest of temple and made *a pair of golden shoes for Goddess Meenakshi.
It is thus that this Paadhukam consisting of
412 rubies,
72 emeralds
and 80 diamonds
was made and donated to the temple.
His name was sculpted as "peter" at the bottom of Shoes.
Till this day this Paadhukam is known as *'Peter Paadhukam'.*
Managing team are safeguarding the shoes in the temple and every year at the time of 'chitra Festival',
Utsava Moorthy of Goddess Meenakshi Wears that Shoe.
This is the Real Incidence happened for the Faith , Belief & Respect given to the God by the Collector.
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