ta, கந்தசுவாமி கோவில்
, image = Sri Kandaswamy Kovil by Simitha T.Singam.jpg
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, map_type = Malaysia
, map_caption = Location in Malaysia
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Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
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Federal Territory
A federal territory is an administrative division under the direct and usually exclusive jurisdiction of a federation's national government. A federal territory is a part of a federation, but not a part of any federated state. The states constit ...
, district =
, location =
Brickfields A brickfield is an open site where bricks are made. Place names are often formed from the word.
Brickfield, Brickfields or Brickfielder may specifically refer to:
Australia
*Brickfielder, an arid wind
* Brickfield Hill, an area of Sydney
*Brickfie ...
,
Kuala Lumpur
, anthem = '' Maju dan Sejahtera''
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, pushpin_map = Malaysia#Southeast Asia#Asia
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Murugan
Kartikeya ( sa, कार्त्तिकेय, Kārttikeya), also known as Skanda, Subrahmanya, Shanmukha (), and Murugan ( ta, முருகன்), is the Hindu god of war. He is the son of Parvati and Shiva, the brother of Ganesha ...
, festivals=
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Dravidian Architecture
Dravidian architecture, or the South Indian temple style, is an architectural idiom in Hindu temple architecture that emerged from South India, reaching its final form by the sixteenth century. It is seen in Hindu temples, and the most distinc ...
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, year_completed = 1902
, creator = Selangor Ceylon Tamils' Association
, website =
Sri Kandaswamy Kovil is a
Hindu temple
A Hindu temple, or ''mandir'' or ''koil'' in Indian languages, is a house, seat and body of divinity for Hindus. It is a structure designed to bring human beings and gods together through worship, sacrifice, and devotion.; Quote: "The Hind ...
located along Jalan Scott,
Brickfields A brickfield is an open site where bricks are made. Place names are often formed from the word.
Brickfield, Brickfields or Brickfielder may specifically refer to:
Australia
*Brickfielder, an arid wind
* Brickfield Hill, an area of Sydney
*Brickfie ...
in
Kuala Lumpur
, anthem = '' Maju dan Sejahtera''
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, pushpin_map = Malaysia#Southeast Asia#Asia
, pushpin_map_caption =
, coordinates =
, su ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
. The temple is over a century old.
It is one of the most prominent
Sri Lankan Tamil
Sri Lankan Tamils ( or ), also known as Ceylon Tamils or Eelam Tamils, are Tamils native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka. Today, they constitute a majority in the Northern Province, live in significant numbers in the Eastern Pr ...
or Ceylonese Tamil temples in
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
. It is huge and showcases rich
Sri Lankan Tamil
Sri Lankan Tamils ( or ), also known as Ceylon Tamils or Eelam Tamils, are Tamils native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka. Today, they constitute a majority in the Northern Province, live in significant numbers in the Eastern Pr ...
architecture
Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing building ...
and has become a popular
tourist
Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mo ...
attraction in
Kuala Lumpur
, anthem = '' Maju dan Sejahtera''
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, pushpin_map = Malaysia#Southeast Asia#Asia
, pushpin_map_caption =
, coordinates =
, su ...
. The temple architecture is inspired by the
Nallur Kandaswamy temple
Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil ( ta, நல்லூர் கந்தசுவாமி கோவில் si, නල්ලුරුව ස්කන්ධ කුමාර කෝවිල) is a significant Hindu temple, located in Nallur, Northe ...
in
Jaffna
Jaffna (, ) is the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna District located on a peninsula of the same name. With a population of 88,138 in 2012, Jaffna is Sri Lanka's 12th most ...
,
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
. It is reputed to be one of the most orthodox temples in Malaysia where rituals are followed strictly in accordance the rules of Saiva Agama Scriptures. Videography and photography of the shrines are prohibited inside the temple grounds.
The Kalamandapam or Kala Hall (adjacent to the temple) which holds wedding ceremonies and cultural events is owned by this temple. It was officiated by the second prime minister of Malaysia,
Tun Abdul Razak
Tun Haji Abdul Razak bin Dato' Hussein ( ms, عبد الرزاق بن حسين, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset; 11 March 1922 – 14 January 1976) was a Malaysian lawyer and politician who served as the 2nd Prime Minister of Malaysia f ...
.
Sri Kandaswamy Kovil is managed by the Malaysian Ceylon Saivites Association (MCSA), formerly Selangor Ceylon Saivites Association, and Selangor Ceylon Tamils' Association prior to that. The temple provides religious services such as housewarming ceremonies, newborns' 31st-day ceremonies, blessing of vehicles and so on.
History
In
British Malaya
The term "British Malaya" (; ms, Tanah Melayu British) loosely describes a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Singapore that were brought under British hegemony or control between the late 18th and the mid-20th century. U ...
, the Ceylon Tamil population, who was then mostly employed in the railway industry, was mainly concentrated in
Brickfields A brickfield is an open site where bricks are made. Place names are often formed from the word.
Brickfield, Brickfields or Brickfielder may specifically refer to:
Australia
*Brickfielder, an arid wind
* Brickfield Hill, an area of Sydney
*Brickfie ...
and
Sentul because of the proximity of the Administrative Centre of the
Malayan Railway
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) (Jawi: كريتاڤي تانه ملايو برحد) or Malayan Railways Limited is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was firs ...
(opposite the railway station) and the Sentul Workshop in
Kuala Lumpur
, anthem = '' Maju dan Sejahtera''
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, pushpin_map = Malaysia#Southeast Asia#Asia
, pushpin_map_caption =
, coordinates =
, su ...
. The government provided accommodation for the white and the blue collar workers in these areas. The Ceylon Tamils living in both these areas were devout Saivites and, as they fervently believed that "no one should live in a place that has no Temple" they soon began to organise themselves into associations.
Temples and associations began to sprout in areas where there was a sizeable community. The railway staff residing in the
Brickfields A brickfield is an open site where bricks are made. Place names are often formed from the word.
Brickfield, Brickfields or Brickfielder may specifically refer to:
Australia
*Brickfielder, an arid wind
* Brickfield Hill, an area of Sydney
*Brickfie ...
area, many of whom were students of Saiva Siddhanta Asiriar Sivapadasundaranar, an acknowledged follower of
Sri Arumuga Navalar, felt an urgent need for a place of worship in accordance with the
Saiva
''Saiva'' is a genus of Asian planthoppers, family Fulgoridae. They are colourful insects, marked boldly in red, blue, white and black, with a prominent slender stalk like structure arising on the head that points upwards or forward. The known ...
Agamas
Religion
*Āgama (Buddhism), a collection of Early Buddhist texts
*Āgama (Hinduism), scriptures of several Hindu sects
*Jain literature (Jain Āgamas), various canonical scriptures in Jainism
Other uses
* ''Agama'' (lizard), a genus of lizards ...
. They were anxious to have a temple to practise and observe the Saiva Siddhantha tenets and religious observances such as Viratham (fasting), This (commemoration rituals), Punniyaahavaasam (purification ceremony), Kantha Sasthy and other observances and festivals.
With this in view, on 24 December 1890 a group of Ceylon Saivites met at the residence of V. Sinnapah, acting traffic inspector,
Malayan Railway
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) (Jawi: كريتاڤي تانه ملايو برحد) or Malayan Railways Limited is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was firs ...
and an influential member of the
Ceylon Tamil
Sri Lankan Tamils ( or ), also known as Ceylon Tamils or Eelam Tamils, are Tamils native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka. Today, they constitute a majority in the Northern Province, live in significant numbers in the Eastern Pr ...
subgroup of the local minority
Indian
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Peoples South Asia
* Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor
** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country
* South Asia ...
community. At that meeting it was decided
* to build a temple to worship Lord Subramaniam; and
* to purchase an appropriate land to build the temple.
The Sri Kandaswamy Temple was born on that December day.
The land between the closed end of the cul-de-sac of the present Jalan Scott and the
Klang River
The Klang River ( ms, Sungai Klang) is a river which flows through Kuala Lumpur and Selangor in Malaysia and eventually flows into the Straits of Malacca. It is approximately in length and drains a basin of about . The Klang River has 11 major t ...
was considered most appropriate for the proposed temple because of its central position and because the land was quite empty. It was purchased by the Selangor Ceylon Tamil Association in 1901 and the construction of the Kandaswamy temple commenced about the year 1902. The land title was originally registered in the name of V. Sinnappah. The first group of trustees was selected on 18 April 1903 to hold in trust the property purchased for the temple. On 18 July 1903 Sinnappah transferred the two lots of land registered in his name to the trustees.
A "Vel" was installed in the land by Sri Murugaswamy, an eminent
Saivite
Shaivism (; sa, शैवसम्प्रदायः, Śaivasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Supreme Being. One of the largest Hindu denominations, it incorporates many sub-traditions rangin ...
, and a small temple with
Gopuram
A ''gopuram'' or ''gopura'' ( Tamil: கோபுரம், Malayalam: ഗോപുരം, Kannada: ಗೋಪುರ, Telugu: గోపురం) is a monumental entrance tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of a Hindu temple, in the South I ...
was completed in 1909. The first Maha Kumba Abishegam of the Sri Kandaswamy Temple was held on 9 February 1909 (Tamil year ''Keelaga'' 28th day of the Tamil month ''Thai'').
Priests (Archahar)
In Saivite temples, only Saivite Brahmins of the hereditary Adisaiva priest lineage were entitled to conduct rites in Agamic Siva temples. Sri Kandaswamy Kovil follows this rule. The first priest of Sri Kandaswamy Kovil was Siva Sri R. Somaskanda Kurukkal. He was well known for his steadfast devotion to Lord Shanmugar that, even during the air raids by the Japanese during the early part World War II and later by the B-29 bombers of the Allied forces, the priest would continue with the daily poojas as if everything was normal. Somaskanda Kurukkal was succeeded by his son, Siva Sri Raju Kurukkal who was born in the temple residence and had served the temple from a very young age. In 1978 there was a need for an additional chief priest to meet the religious needs of the ever-growing community in the temple abishegams, pujas and festivala and also in conducting weddings, final funeral rights, housewarming ceremonies and Special Latchumy Pujas. For the first time a fully qualified priest from Jaffna, Siva Sri Kamatchi Sundareswara Kurukkal, was invited to supplement the local chief priest. Siva Sri Sabaratna Parameswara Kurukkal is currently the chief priest of Sri Kandaswamy Kovil. He is assisted by a team of fully qualified priests.
Festivals
![Soora Samhaaram 2012 by Simitha T](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Soora_Samhaaram_2012_by_Simitha_T.Singam.jpg)
Sri Kandaswamy Kovil is hailed as one of the first temples in Malaysia to have celebrated the Soora Samharam festival which occurs as a conclusion to the Kantha Shasti fast (re-enactment of Lord Muruga's win over the
Asura
Asuras (Sanskrit: असुर) are a class of beings in Indian religions, Indic religions. They are described as power-seeking clans related to the more benevolent Deva (Hinduism), Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism. In its Buddhism, Buddhi ...
s) and one of two temples in Malaysia to celebrate the Kathirgama Kodiyetram festival. Till date, these festivals are being celebrated in a grand scale. The scene of the mock battle between the main deity Arumugawsamy mounted on his Attukedai Vahanam (vehicle in the form of goat) and the Asuran, the Demon King appearing in various forms, is a sight to experience. It is witnessed by thousands of devotees, and this festival at sunset has been held for the last 80 to 90 years.
Of recent years, thousands of devotees throng the temple at the wee hours of the
Thaipusam
Thaipusam or Thaipoosam (Tamil: தைப்பூசம், ''taippūcam'' ?), is a festival celebrated by the Hindu Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of ''Thai'' (January/February), usually coinciding with Pushya star, kno ...
morning to offer prayers to
Lord Muruga
Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the peerage in the United Kingdom, or are ...
. They carry silver pots containing milk as offering to Lord Muruga as well as flowers and other gifts deemed appropriate.
Annually this temple celebrates over 54 festivals where special abishegams, pujas, and festivals are held. This may be the only temple in Malaysia where the main deity mounts one of His many Vahanams (Divine mounts) for each and every festival. The Vahanams in His Stable are in the form of peacock, double horse, single horse, Idapam (Divine Bull), elephant, goat, illuminated carved manjam, chariot, Singgaasam (Golden lion-faced throne: the seat of an all-powerful Emperor), and Sapparam the Seat of Unification of the Divine and us mortals in Divine marriage. The religion gives so much importance to all living creature. Saivites acknowledge that it is the Divine animals that will bring God to us, thus these vahanams. In the Thevarams by the Saivite Saints, God always appears with his Consort both mounted on His Divine Bull.
MCSA Youth Section
The Youth Section of the Malaysian Ceylonese Saivites Association has been actively serving Sri Kandaswamy Kovil (Jalan Scott) for many decades. Since its humble beginnings, its members have been devoting themselves to the temple by taking on a substantial role in the planning and carrying out of the temple's festivals and prayers.
Alongside temple work, MCSA Youth's Bhajan group serenades Lord Muruga on special occasions such as Sivarathri and Navarathri. On top of that, temple cleaning is done semiyearly, where every nook and cranny of Lord Muruga's palace is scrubbed and shined with love. Without limiting themselves to merely serving Lord Muruga, MCSA Youth believe in serving His children as well. In that spirit, they lend their hands to the Vivegananda Margam by delivering household provisions to the less fortunate on a monthly basis. They also hold annual visits to children's orphanage during the Deepavali season, bringing food, clothes, fun activities and the festive joy. An annual Nature's Camp is organised by MCSA Youth, catering specifically for teenagers, transforming them from single players to team players while allowing them to experience the lush greenery outside the hustle and bustle of city life. As for the MCSA Youth members, outdoor activities such as paintball, hiking, and jungle trekking are held occasionally. The Youths also get their blood pumping with weekly dosages of futsal and badminton friendlies. To relax and unwind, the youths hold quarterly potluck parties hosted by members and indulge in annual year end trips at selected local destinations such as Cameron Highlands, Fraser's Hill and so on.
Temple operating hours
Mornings: 5.30am - 1.30pm with Abishegams at 6.00am and 11.30am, and Poojas at 7.00am and 1.30pm.
Evenings: 5.00pm - 9.30pm with Abishegam at 5.30pm and Pooja at 6.30pm.
Arthajama Pooja is performed at 9.30pm daily prior to closing.
On festivals and special occasions, Abishegam and Poojas start earlier than the scheduled time
External links
Sri Kandaswamy Kovil Official Webpage
{{Malaysian historical architectures and sites
Hindu temples in Malaysia
Tamil diaspora in Malaysia
Religious buildings and structures in Kuala Lumpur