Sri Sunderaraja Perumal Temple
Encyclopedia
Sri Sunderaraja Perumal Temple, better known as Klang Perumal Temple, is a 117-year-old temple. It is one of the oldest temples in Malaysia and the largest Vaishnavite temple in Malaysia. The temple is popularly called the "Thirupathi
of South East Asia" after its famous namesake in India
.
The temple is located in the royal town of Klang
, Selangor
and is just a stone's throw away from the popular Little India
in Klang.
This temple is dedicated to the Lord Vishnu
in the form of Perumal (also known as Thirumaal), a very popularly worshipped form by South Indians.
of this temple is one of the great landmarks of Klang
, which stands proudly along Persiaran Raja Muda Musa
. It shows many sculptures and carvings of different deities, representing many epics in simple image form.
Inside the temple, there are several complex dedicated to different deities. At the center of the temple is the Perumal Sannathi, where Lord Perumal and His consort Goddess Mahalakshmi
are situated. The center complex of Lord Perumal Sannathi contains a small gopuram with the statue of all Lord Vishnu’s avatars surrounding it.
On the right of the Perumal Sannathi is the Shivan Sannathi, which consists Lord Shiva
, Lord Parvathi
, Lord Vinayagar
, Lord Muruga and Lord Ayyappan
. On the left side of Perumal Sannathi is Saneshwara Sannathi, where Lord Shani
and the Navagrahas is situated.
Adjacent to the center complex is Lord Anjaneya Sannathi and just at the corner outside the temple is Lord Nagaraja
Sannathi.
The temple also has a multi-purpose hall called The Mahalakshami Kalyana Mandapam (Mahalakshmi Wedding Hall), a favorite place of the Indian community in Klang
to have their weddings.
The entire space of this temple is befitted with air-cool system for the convenience of devotees.
Sri Sunderaraja Perumal Temple is now in the process of undergoing major renovation to restructure the temple area. It is planned to commence around November 2010 and end by 2014,with all the painstaking effort by the present temple president,Mr.S.Ananda krishna.The first GRANITE temple in Malaysia
Month long prayers and rituals are held everyday and Saturdays of this holy month is celebrated grandly in festival mood. Lots of devotees from all over Malaysia and even the neighboring countries throng to this temple from morning to night to pay their homage and have the grace of Lord Sri Sunderaraja Perumal.
The temple is also particularly packed on Deepavali with devotees eager to offer their prayers on the holy day.
district. Furthermore, it also arranges hospital visits from time to time to help the sick.
Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
Tirumala Venkateswara Temple ), is a Hindu temple in the hill town of Tirumala, near Tirupati in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, South India. It is around from Chennai, from Hyderabad, and from Bangalore....
of South East Asia" after its famous namesake in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
The temple is located in the royal town of Klang
Klang
Klang , formerly known as Kelang, is the royal city and former capital of the state of Selangor, Malaysia. It is located within the Klang District in Klang Valley. It is located about 32 km to the west of Kuala Lumpur and 6 km east of Port Klang...
, Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
and is just a stone's throw away from the popular Little India
Little India (location)
Little India is an ethnic enclave containing a large population of Indian people within a society where the majority of people are either not South Asians or where the majority in the enclave are indigenous to states in the country of India within a South Asian Society not identifying as Indian...
in Klang.
This temple is dedicated to the Lord Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
in the form of Perumal (also known as Thirumaal), a very popularly worshipped form by South Indians.
Architecture
The GopuramGopuram
A Gopuram or Gopura, is a monumental tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of any temple, especially in Southern India. This forms a prominent feature of Koils, Hindu temples of the Dravidian style. They are topped by the kalasam, a bulbous stone finial...
of this temple is one of the great landmarks of Klang
Klang
Klang , formerly known as Kelang, is the royal city and former capital of the state of Selangor, Malaysia. It is located within the Klang District in Klang Valley. It is located about 32 km to the west of Kuala Lumpur and 6 km east of Port Klang...
, which stands proudly along Persiaran Raja Muda Musa
Persiaran Raja Muda Musa
Persiaran Raja Muda Musa, Federal Route and is a major highway in Klang, Selangor, Malaysia. It connects Klang to Port Klang. It is also a main route to Port Klang...
. It shows many sculptures and carvings of different deities, representing many epics in simple image form.
Inside the temple, there are several complex dedicated to different deities. At the center of the temple is the Perumal Sannathi, where Lord Perumal and His consort Goddess Mahalakshmi
Lakshmi
Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...
are situated. The center complex of Lord Perumal Sannathi contains a small gopuram with the statue of all Lord Vishnu’s avatars surrounding it.
On the right of the Perumal Sannathi is the Shivan Sannathi, which consists Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, Lord Parvathi
Parvati
Parvati is a Hindu goddess. Parvati is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Mahadevi, the Great Goddess...
, Lord Vinayagar
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
, Lord Muruga and Lord Ayyappan
Ayyappan
Ayyappan is a Hindu deity worshiped in a number of shrines across India. Ayyappan is believed to be an incarnation of Dharma Sastha, who is the son of Shiva and Vishnu . The name "Ayyappan" is used as a respectful form of address in the Malayalam language, spoken in the Indian state of Kerala...
. On the left side of Perumal Sannathi is Saneshwara Sannathi, where Lord Shani
Shani
Sanskrit Śhani शनि, Kannada Śhani ಶನಿ ದೇವರು,Shani/Sani , is one of the Navagraha or Jyotiṣa . Shani is embodied in the planet Saturn and is the Lord of Saturday....
and the Navagrahas is situated.
Adjacent to the center complex is Lord Anjaneya Sannathi and just at the corner outside the temple is Lord Nagaraja
Nagaraja
Nagaraja is a Sanskrit word from naga and raj meaning King of Snakes. It is applied to three main deities, Anantha , Takshak, and Vasuki. Anantha, Vasuki and Takshak are brothers, children of Kashyap and Kadru, who are the parents of all snakes...
Sannathi.
The temple also has a multi-purpose hall called The Mahalakshami Kalyana Mandapam (Mahalakshmi Wedding Hall), a favorite place of the Indian community in Klang
Klang
Klang , formerly known as Kelang, is the royal city and former capital of the state of Selangor, Malaysia. It is located within the Klang District in Klang Valley. It is located about 32 km to the west of Kuala Lumpur and 6 km east of Port Klang...
to have their weddings.
The entire space of this temple is befitted with air-cool system for the convenience of devotees.
Sri Sunderaraja Perumal Temple is now in the process of undergoing major renovation to restructure the temple area. It is planned to commence around November 2010 and end by 2014,with all the painstaking effort by the present temple president,Mr.S.Ananda krishna.The first GRANITE temple in Malaysia
Festivals
Various religious and spiritual activities are held in Klang Perumal temple all year long. But the most prominent of it is the Purataasi month celebration, the month dedicated to Lord Perumal. It is the month that falls between mid-September to mid-October, where many devotees of Perumal take strict vows to achieve spiritual conscience.Month long prayers and rituals are held everyday and Saturdays of this holy month is celebrated grandly in festival mood. Lots of devotees from all over Malaysia and even the neighboring countries throng to this temple from morning to night to pay their homage and have the grace of Lord Sri Sunderaraja Perumal.
The temple is also particularly packed on Deepavali with devotees eager to offer their prayers on the holy day.
Contributions
Apart from religious duty, the temple is also very active in serving its responsibility towards the society. Every Saturdays, the free lunch program is held where lunch is cooked and sent to many less-privileged homes around the KlangKlang
Klang , formerly known as Kelang, is the royal city and former capital of the state of Selangor, Malaysia. It is located within the Klang District in Klang Valley. It is located about 32 km to the west of Kuala Lumpur and 6 km east of Port Klang...
district. Furthermore, it also arranges hospital visits from time to time to help the sick.