Introduction
For a long line, Batu Caves have remained popular shrines of Hindus outside of India. These sacred caves are home to Lord Murugan. Established in 1891, the caves are attractions for people belonging to different occupations and lifestyles. Right now, Shri Mariamman Temple Board is managing rituals of Murugan Temple. The board is responsible to manage other famous Hindu temples of Malaysia.
Overview of Malaysian Murugan Temple
Malaysian Murugan Temple is in the Batu Caves of Malaysia. The statue is the third tallest statue of a Hindu deity across the world standing at 140 feet. Many Hindu devotees believe that God himself has arrived on the earth to build the magnificent temple in an old 400-million years cave.
History of Batu Caves and Establishment of the Temple
Several years ago, the Batu Caves were not any pilgrimage site in Malaysia. Instead, an Indian trader from Tamil Nadu named K. Thamboosamy Pillai and his followers have converted it into a worship place. In the year 1892, he installed a small statue of the Hindu deity Lord Murugan in the caves. He was inspired by the shape of the Batu cave, as it resembled a celestial spar of Vel.
According to Hindu Mythology, celestial army people regard and respect Lord Murugan as their Commander-in-Chief and the deity carries the Vel. Hence, mythological beliefs have led to the establishment of the Malaysian Murugan Temple and the conversion of Batu caves into Hindu shrines in the foreign country. After a few years during the 1860s, immigrants from China visited the caves and collected organic fertilizer made by using droppings of birds.
Lord Murugan is the Worldwide Tallest Lord Murugan Statue
The Lord Murugan statue in Batu Caves is the tallest in the world. After the set up of a small idol in the caves, sculptors and architects have worked hard to make the statue stand at a height of 140 feet. Moreover, the idol stands beside 272 wooden steps leading to the caves. Accordingly, the statue of the Malaysian Murugan Temple is the tallest statue of Hindus in Malaysia and the tallest statue of Lord Murugan globally. Other than that, it is the tallest Hindu God statue of the universe.
Sculptors dedicated Lord Murugan Statue to Lord Ganesha
Sculptors dedicated Lord Murugan Statue to Lord Ganesha. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha is the remover of sorrows and obstacles. Besides, the deity of Ganesha is the God of victory for Hindus. Lord Murugan and Lord Ganesha are brothers, as they are sons of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
15 Sculptors Contributed to Carve Lord Murugan Statue
About 15 sculptors from India contributed to carving the statue of Lord Murugan. They strive very hard for three years to design the tallest Murugan statue in the world. The 15 Indian sculptors) completed the work in 2006. Later, Shri Mariamman Temple Board highlighted the Lord Murugan statue during the famous Thaipusam Festival. The total construction cost of the statue was 2.5 million ringgit in Malaysia. Architects used 300I of golden paint, 1550 cubic meters of concrete, and 350 tons of steel bar for the construction.
Strategic Location of Lord Murugan Statue
Lord Murugan Statue is in Batu Caves, which is a remarkable part of Malaysia. One can find this caves’ series on a limestone hill and they are cave temples. The caves are also 13km away from its capital city Kuala Lumpur. Moreover, they get the name from the surrounding Batu River. The caves are a few of the renowned shrines of Hindus in Malaysia.
According to archaeologists, the caves are approximately 400 million years old. Batu Caves consist of a huge network of caves. These are temple caves named Museum Caves, Dark Caves, Sakai Caves, Fallen Caves, and Quarry Caves.
Thaipusam Festival at Malaysian Murugan Temple
The Hindu shrine is especially a center of attraction for millions of pilgrims during the famous annual Thaipusam Festival of Malaysia. During this annual festival, disciples and devotees of Lord Murugan compulsorily fast for one month. They have to shave their heads before carrying Kavadi on the day of Thaipusam. Here, Kavadi is a special type offering to Lord Murugan. One has to perform the traditional kavadi Uttam dance before carrying a Kavadi. The festival lasts for the entire day and attendees may capture the photos of vibrant Kavadis and their bearers.
Conclusion
Overall, the journey to the Malaysian Murugan Temple is a lifetime experience for Hindu devotees. When tourists look at the size of the famous Lord Murugan Statue, they get the sense of respect and reverence accorded by the disciples of Lord Murugan.
