Friday, March 11, 2011

Sri Mahamariamman Hindu Temple,Kuala Lumpur.

The Sri Mahamariamman Hindu temple along Jalan Tun H.S.Lee across the street from Kuan Ti Temple.
Visitors and tourists are allowed to enter,no entry fees needed.No donations required.
Built during the late 20th century,the temple's architectural structure was imported from South India.


The dramatic 22.9m (75ft) high pyramid-shaped gate tower is decorated with depictions of Hindu gods sculpted by artisans from southern India.


 
The design is very standardised similar to those found at Yishun Avenue in Singapore,Kon Zat Dan Street in Yangon and Silom Road,Bangkok Thailand. This impressive gateway into the temple is called gopuram.


  There is a silver made chariot kept in this temple which is specially used during Hindu festival ,Thaipusam which normally falls in May/June every year.
 During this festival,Hindus all over the country will congregate at this temple and a grand procession with kavadi dance performed by the devotees as a dedication to Lord Murugan, the Tamil God of War.

On the day of the festival, devotees will shave their heads bald and undertake a pilgrimage along a set route right in the wee hours till Batu Cave which is about 13 km from Kuala Lumpur city.

Tourists can have a very good chance of witnessing this spectacular event and join the very extremely huge crowd of devotees walking up the 272 steps at Batu Cave where the statue Lord Murugan is located.

Getting to Batu Caves:
Batu Caves is 13 km from Kuala Lumpur City. The easiest way to reach Batu Caves is by Komuter train from KL Sentral station. It costs RM 2 for one way journey. You can also take a taxi, which would cost 20-25 RM from KL Sentral (insist for meter ride).
You can also reach Batu Caves by bus 11/11d Buses from Bangkok Bank Terminus or Bus U6 from Titiwangsa(near Kuala Lumpr General Hospital).



The main prayer hall.This is the inner sanctum (gabagraham) where the chief deity Sri Maha Mariamman(Uma Devi), is installed.
The priest stands in front of the garbagraham when performing the puja (prayers).


Hinduism is a very rich and complex religion.



 The puja altar.


The eight female figures adorning the pillars inside the temple are of Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth).





The one with the yellow dookmalai round the neck is God Ganesha.
He is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu icon.
His image is found throughout India and Nepal.
The Erawan Shrine with God Ganesha in Paknam Municipality near Bangkok in Thailand is also being worshipped by the Buddhist.
Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations.
Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains, Buddhists, and beyond India. Although he is known by many other attributes, Ganesha's elephant head makes him easy to identify.
Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles.
Beside Ganesha god is Lord Vishnu who is the Supreme God in the tradition of Hinduism.
Vishnu is the All-Pervading essence of all beings, the master of—and beyond—the past, present and future, the creator and destroyer of all existences, one who supports, sustains and governs the Universe and originates and develops all elements within.
Vishnu governs the aspect of preservation and sustenance of the universe, so he is called 'Preserver of the universe'.



KRISHNA: One of the most popular Hindu Gods, a dashing, daring blue-skinned hero who drove women wild and demons into despair.






 INDRA: Deva leader and Supreme Ruler of the Vedic Gods. He's in charge of War, Storms and Fighting, and also invented the curious practice of drinking water. 





 SHIVA: The Destroyer. He is Lord of the Cosmic Dance. Around the outside of temple walls at also indian gods in glass casings.





Laxmi sitting position imparts a divine and prcision looks to the ambiance. The lotus sitting position is a cross-legged sitting posture originating in meditative practices of ancient India, in which the feet are placed on the opposing thighs.
It is an established posture, commonly used for meditation, in the Hindu Yoga and Buddhist contemplative traditions.
 The position is said to resemble a lotus, to encourage breathing proper to associated meditative practice, and to foster physical stability. Famous depictions of the lotus position include Shiva, the meditating ascetic god of Hinduism, and Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism.





The Hindu religion does not claim any one prophet; it does not worship any one god; it does not subscribe to any one dogma; it does not believe in any one philosophic concept; it does not follow any one set of religious rites or performances; in fact, it does not appear to satisfy the narrow traditional features of any religion or creed.
It may broadly be described as a way of life and nothing more.

 


Indian fortune teller. There are instances where a small parrot bird is being used to pick a number from some playcards.From the number the fortune teller will start forecasting your fortune and your inner-self.
A small fee is required.
The Chinese people here also approach the Indian fortune teller foe consultation.