According to the 2010 Census of Malaysia, Hindus in Malaysia accounted for 6.3 percent of the country’s population, making it the fourth largest religion in the country. Most of the Hindus in Malaysia are found in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. They are mainly in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Kuala Lumpur.
According to the 2010 Census of Malaysia, Hindus in Malaysia accounted for 6.3 percent of the country’s population, making it the fourth largest religion in the country. Most of the Hindus in Malaysia are found in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. They are mainly in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Kuala Lumpur.
Although it is unclear about the arrival of Hinduism to this country, many Indian settlers came from South India during the British colonial rule in the early 19th century through the mid-20th century to work as indentured labourers in the mines, plantations and as rail road workers. They brought along with them their religion and culture.
Today, the prominent Hindu festivals that are celebrated in Malaysia include Diwali, Thaipusam, Pongal and Navarathi. There are also quite a number of Hindu temples throughout the country, especially on the west coast Peninsular Malaysia. Selangor is home to many Hindu temples but I am only concentrating on two here.
Batu Caves
Batu Caves is a cave temple dedicated to Lord Muruga, the Hindu God of War. Lord Muruga is also known by other names, which include Murugan, Kartikeya, Subramanya, Subramaniam, Skanda and Kumara.
The history of Batu Caves dates back to 1891 when an Indian trader (who also founded the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur) was looking for a suitable place to worship Lord Muruga. He found a cave and was inspired by the ‘vel’-shaped (spear) entrance of the main cave. As such, in 1891, he installed the ‘murti’ and consecrated the idol of Lord Muruga in the 400-feet high Batu Caves. Since then, Thaipusam, meaning ‘when the moon is at its brightest in the 10th month of the Hindu calendar’ is celebrated there every year.
Batu Caves is famed for its world’s tallest statue of Lord Muruga, standing at 42.7 metres tall. The statue is made of 1550 cubic metres of concrete, 250 tonnes of steel bars and 300 litres of gold paint that was imported from Thailand.
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There are three main caves in this temple complex as well as a few smaller ones. The largest cave is known as the Temple Cave. It has high ceiling, about 100 metres in height and houses several elaborated Hindu shrines.
The other two caves are at the base of the hill. Called the Art Gallery Cave and the Museum Cave, they are filled with statues and paintings of Hindu deities. Most of them relate to the story of Lord Muruga’s victory over the demon, Soorapadam or Surapadman. This cave complex was renovated and opened in 2008. It was renamed Cave Villa.
The Ramayana Cave is situated behind the 15-metre tall statue of Hanuman. This shrine is dedicated to Hanuman, the noble monkey devotee and aide of Lord Rama. The consecration of this shrine was held in November 2001. The epic of Ramayana is illustrated on the walls inside the cave.
In 1920, the wooden steps up to the temple were replaced with 272 concrete steps.
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Sri Shakti Devasthanam Temple
The Sri Shakti Devasthanam Temple is located at Bukit Rotan, about 10 kilometres, southeast of Kuala Selangor town. Bukit Rotan is the home to the Royal Kampung Kuantan Golf and Country Club that was established back in 1910.
A new attraction in Bukit Rotan is the Sri Shakti Devasthanam Temple. It is a majestic temple with exquisitely sculptured stone walls and sophisticatedly decorated five-tier, 74-foot tall Rajagopuram at the main entrance.
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It is a relatively new temple compared with the other older ones in Selangor. The temple was consecrated in 2013 and its construction took four years, involving skilled craftsmen from India.
Popularly known as Sri Shakti, the temple features 51 Shakti statues along its internal corridor. These statues represent 51 ‘Shakti Peedam’ or places of worship to the Goddess Shakti at various sites all over the Indian sub-continent. During the construction of this temple, soil and chakra plates made of five metals were collected from all the 51 Shakti Peedam and bought to be installed in this temple. This is the only Sri Shakti temple in the world where all the soil and chakra plates from the 51 Shakti Peedam can be found in a single venue.
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According to Hindu mythology, the Goddess Shakti was the consort of Lord Shiva. She offered herself as a sacrifice and her remains and jewellery fell to the ground at 51 places all over the Indian sub-continent when Lord Shiva cut them into pieces.