Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple
| Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| Deity | Ganesha |
| Location | |
| Location | Petaling Jaya |
| State | Selangor |
| Country | Malaysia |
  Location in Malaysia | |
| Geographic coordinates | 3°05′28″N 101°38′44″E / 3.091121°N 101.645544°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Dravidian architecture |
| Creator | Petaling Jaya Hindu Association |
| Completed | 1964 |
Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple is a
The temple was completed in 1964 following
History
The history of the Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple dates back to the early 1950s when
Establishment of PJHA
Through the efforts of a pro-tem committee, the Petaling Jaya Hindu Association [PJHA] was officially registered in 1959 with the main aim of establishing and managing a place of worship for
1st Maha Kumbabishegam
The foundation stone for the temple was laid by philanthropist Sri P. Govindasamy Pillai J.P of Singapore on 8 July 1962. Building works progressed on schedule and the 1st Maha Kumbabishegam of the Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple, Petaling Jaya was held on 8 November 1964 to consecrate the temple.
A single-storey block to house the Association's office and residences for the temple employees was included in this initial phase of development. The
2nd Maha Kumbabishegam
The next phase of development was launched in 1972. Permanent extensions, reconstruction of the gopuram with additional sculpture works and an Eluntharuli mandapam were included in this project. The second Maha Kumbabishegam of the temple was celebrated on 4 September 1972.
New quarters for the priest was constructed at the rear of the temple in 1982.
Multi-Purpose Mandapam
The need for proper facilities to conduct various cultural and social activities prompted the PJHA to embark on the next phase of the development – the construction of a multi-purpose wedding hall. Construction of the 2-storey building costing RM 580,000 was carried out in 1985 and 1986. The old office building and staff residence block was demolished, to make way for the new Hall.
Based on the advice of professional consultants, a resolution was adopted unanimously by the AGM on 24 December 1989,to empower the management committee to undertake the construction of a completely new temple to replace existing one. Plans were drawn for a new temple and the Baalasthaapanam ceremony was carried out on 4 July 1990.
Following the Baalasthaapanam, the PJHA went through a rather turbulent period of two years, during which differences of opinion and technical problems brought the temple construction project to a standstill. The project was reactivated in 1992. The old temple building and the priest's quarters were dismantled in October 1992.
3rd Maha Kumbabishegam
The foundation stone for the new temple was laid on 30 November 1992, in a ceremony officiated by Swami Guhabaktananda of the Divine Life Society. Sixteen sculptors from India under the supervision of a qualified sthapathy worked tirelessly to ensure that work progressed on schedule. Construction of the beautiful new temple with a majestic towering Rajagopuram and twin bell towers was completed on schedule culminating with the Maha Kumbabishegam on 12 June 1994.
Following the Kumbabishegam, major renovations were carried out on the multi-purpose hall in 1995. The mandapam was given a facelift and air-conditioned.
4th Maha Kumbabshegam
As required by the
Resident Deity
Vinayaka (Sanskrit: विनायक; IAST: vināyaka) is a common name for Ganesha that appears in the Purāṇas and in Buddhist Tantras.[1]
Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles[2] and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles (Vighnesha (Sanskrit: विघ्नेश; IAST: Vighneśa), Vighneshvara (Sanskrit: विघ्नेश्वर; IAST: Vighneśvara)),[3] patron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom.[4] He is honoured at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies and invoked as Patron of Letters during writing sessions.[5]
A prominent name for Ganesha in the Tamil language is Pille or Pillaiyar (Little Child).[6] A. K. Narain differentiates these terms by saying that pille means a "child" while pillaiyar means a "noble child".[7] He adds that the words pallu, pella, and pell in the Dravidian family of languages signify "tooth or tusk of an elephant", but more generally "elephant".[8] Anita Raina Thapan notes that the root word pille in the name Pillaiyar might have originally meant "the young of the elephant", because the Pali word pillaka means "a young elephant".[9]
Religious and cultural activities
In the 1980s due importance was given to the propagation of religion and development of culture, in line with one of the main aims of the PJHA. Religious education,
Festivals
The temple is particularly packed on
References
- ^ Thapan, p. 20.
- ^ See:
- Thapan, p. 254.
- Commentary on Gaṇapati Upaniṣad, verse 12 in Saraswati 2004, p. 80 for Ganesha's role as an eliminator of obstacles
- ^ These ideas are so common that Courtright uses them in the title of his book, Ganesha: Lord of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings. For the name Vighnesha, see: Courtright 1985, pp. 156, 213
- ^ Heras 1972, p. 58
- ^ Getty, p. 5.
- ^ Martin-Dubost, p. 367.
- ^ "Ganesha - Rich With Symbolism". chennaionline.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2009.
- ^ Narain, A. K. "Gaṇeśa: The Idea and the Icon". Brown, p. 25.
- ^ Thapan, p. 62.
Sources
- Courtright, Paul B. (1985), Gaṇeśa: Lord of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings, New York: Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0195057423
- Heras, H. (1972), The Problem of Ganapati, Delhi: Indological Book House
- Saraswati, Swami Tattvavidananda (2004), Gaṇapati Upaniṣad, Delhi: D.K. Printworld Ltd., ISBN 978-8124602652
External links
- Hindu Temples - Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple, Selangor Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine