Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple
Encyclopedia
Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple is a Hindu
temple located in Petaling Jaya
, Selangor
, Malaysia. It is also generally referred to as the PJ Pillaiyar Temple. The resident deity is Ganesha
in the form of Sri Sithi Vinayagar. The temple is said to be the largest temple in Malaysia dedicated to Lord Ganesha
The temple was completed in 1964 following Dravidian architecture
and remains one of the main Hindu temples serving the religious needs of the Hindu
population of Petaling Jaya
. It is run by the Petaling Jaya Hindu Association.
was established as a residential suburb to ease over-population of fast growing Kuala Lumpur
. The new township attracted many residents and soon the Hindu
population of Petaling Jaya
increased dramatically. At this stage, the pioneer Hindu
residents felt the great need for their own place of worship.
s in Petaling Jaya
. It was unanimously decided that Lord Ganesha
in the form of Sri Sithi Vinayagar be enshrined in the proposed temple.
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 Hindu
population of Petaling Jaya
increased tremendously and soon the facilities in the temple were found to be inadequate. Temporary iron-angle extensions were built adjacent to the temple to provide additional space for the increasing number of devotes.
New quarters for the priest was constructed at the rear of the temple in 1982.
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 4th 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.
. 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 12th 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.
principles, that temples should undergo renovations in cycles of 12 years, the management committee initiated the 4th Maha Kumbabishegam project in December 2006. The Balasthabanam ceremony was held on 3 November 2006. Works to repair, refurbish and repaint the temple progressed steadily. The Marathadi Pillaiyar and Sri Durgai Amman Shrines were relocated and restructured. Following the completion of the required renovations and repairs to the temple, the 4th Maha Kumbabishegam was conducted on 7 February 2007.
Ganesha
is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles (Vighnesha (Sanskrit: ; IAST: ), Vighneshvara (Sanskrit: ; IAST: )), patron of arts and sciences, and the deva
of intellect and wisdom. He is honoured at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies and invoked as Patron of Letters during writing sessions.
A prominent name for Ganesha in the Tamil language
is Pille or Pillaiyar (Little Child). A. K. Narain differentiates these terms by saying that pille means a "child" while pillaiyar means a "noble child". 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". 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".
classes were conducted for children. Cultural presentations and religious discourses were held in conjunction with Guru-poojas and major festivals such as Maha Sivaratri and Navarathri
.
. Prayers are held for a week and food served to the public.
The temple is particularly packed on Deepavali with devotees eager to offer their prayers on the holy day. Other festivals observed include Maha Sivaratri and Navarathri
.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
temple located in Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya is a Malaysian city originally developed as a satellite township for Kuala Lumpur comprising mostly residential and some industrial areas. It is located in the Petaling district of Selangor with an area of approximately 97.2 km². On 20 June 2006, Petaling Jaya was granted a...
, 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...
, Malaysia. It is also generally referred to as the PJ Pillaiyar Temple. The resident deity is Ganesha
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...
in the form of Sri Sithi Vinayagar. The temple is said to be the largest temple in Malaysia dedicated to Lord Ganesha
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...
The temple was completed in 1964 following Dravidian architecture
Dravidian architecture
Dravidian architecture was a style of architecture that emerged thousands of years ago in Southern part of the Indian subcontinent or South India. They consist primarily of pyramid shaped temples called Koils which are dependent on intricate carved stone in order to create a step design consisting...
and remains one of the main Hindu temples serving the religious needs of the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
population of Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya is a Malaysian city originally developed as a satellite township for Kuala Lumpur comprising mostly residential and some industrial areas. It is located in the Petaling district of Selangor with an area of approximately 97.2 km². On 20 June 2006, Petaling Jaya was granted a...
. It is run by the Petaling Jaya Hindu Association.
History
The history of the Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple dates back to the early 1950’s when Petaling JayaPetaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya is a Malaysian city originally developed as a satellite township for Kuala Lumpur comprising mostly residential and some industrial areas. It is located in the Petaling district of Selangor with an area of approximately 97.2 km². On 20 June 2006, Petaling Jaya was granted a...
was established as a residential suburb to ease over-population of fast growing Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
. The new township attracted many residents and soon the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
population of Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya is a Malaysian city originally developed as a satellite township for Kuala Lumpur comprising mostly residential and some industrial areas. It is located in the Petaling district of Selangor with an area of approximately 97.2 km². On 20 June 2006, Petaling Jaya was granted a...
increased dramatically. At this stage, the pioneer Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
residents felt the great need for their own place of worship.
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 HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s in Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya is a Malaysian city originally developed as a satellite township for Kuala Lumpur comprising mostly residential and some industrial areas. It is located in the Petaling district of Selangor with an area of approximately 97.2 km². On 20 June 2006, Petaling Jaya was granted a...
. It was unanimously decided that Lord Ganesha
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...
in the form of Sri Sithi Vinayagar be enshrined in the proposed temple.
1st Maha Kumbabishegam
The foundation stone for the temple was laid by philanthropist Sri P. Govindasamy Pillai J.P of SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
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 Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
population of Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya is a Malaysian city originally developed as a satellite township for Kuala Lumpur comprising mostly residential and some industrial areas. It is located in the Petaling district of Selangor with an area of approximately 97.2 km². On 20 June 2006, Petaling Jaya was granted a...
increased tremendously and soon the facilities in the temple were found to be inadequate. Temporary iron-angle extensions were built adjacent to the temple to provide additional space for the increasing number of devotes.
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 4th 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 His Holiness Swami Guhabaktananda of the Divine Life SocietyDivine Life Society
The Divine Life Society is a religious organization and an ashram, founded by Swami Sivananda Saraswati in 1936, at Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh, India...
. Sixteen sculptors from 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...
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
Gopuram
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...
and twin bell towers was completed on schedule culminating with the Maha Kumbabishegam on 12th 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 AgamicĀgama (Hinduism)
Agama means, in the Hindu context, "a traditional doctrine, or system which commands faith".In Hinduism, the Agamas are a collection of Sanskrit scriptures which are revered and followed by millions of Hindus.-Significance:...
principles, that temples should undergo renovations in cycles of 12 years, the management committee initiated the 4th Maha Kumbabishegam project in December 2006. The Balasthabanam ceremony was held on 3 November 2006. Works to repair, refurbish and repaint the temple progressed steadily. The Marathadi Pillaiyar and Sri Durgai Amman Shrines were relocated and restructured. Following the completion of the required renovations and repairs to the temple, the 4th Maha Kumbabishegam was conducted on 7 February 2007.
Resident Deity
Vinayaka (Sanskrit: ; IAST: ) is a common name for Ganesha that appears in the s and in Buddhist Tantras.Ganesha
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...
is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles (Vighnesha (Sanskrit: ; IAST: ), Vighneshvara (Sanskrit: ; IAST: )), patron of arts and sciences, and the deva
Deva (Hinduism)
' is the Sanskrit word for god or deity, its related feminine term is devi. In modern Hinduism, it can be loosely interpreted as any benevolent supernatural beings. The devs in Hinduism, also called Suras, are often juxtaposed to the Asuras, their half brothers. Devs are also the maintainers of...
of intellect and wisdom. He is honoured at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies and invoked as Patron of Letters during writing sessions.
A prominent name for Ganesha in the Tamil language
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
is Pille or Pillaiyar (Little Child). A. K. Narain differentiates these terms by saying that pille means a "child" while pillaiyar means a "noble child". He adds that the words pallu, pella, and pell in the Dravidian family of languages
Dravidian languages
The Dravidian language family includes approximately 85 genetically related languages, spoken by about 217 million people. They are mainly spoken in southern India and parts of eastern and central India as well as in northeastern Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, and...
signify "tooth or tusk of an elephant", but more generally "elephant". Anita Raina Thapan notes that the root word
Root (linguistics)
The root word is the primary lexical unit of a word, and of a word family , which carries the most significant aspects of semantic content and cannot be reduced into smaller constituents....
pille in the name Pillaiyar might have originally meant "the young of the elephant", because the Pali
Páli
- External links :* *...
word pillaka means "a young elephant".
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, Thirumurai and Tamil languageTamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
classes were conducted for children. Cultural presentations and religious discourses were held in conjunction with Guru-poojas and major festivals such as Maha Sivaratri and Navarathri
Navarathri
Navratri, Navaratri, or Navarathri is a Hindu festival of worship of Shakti and dance & festivities. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped...
.
Festivals
Ganesha Chathurthi is observed grandly by the temple as it is a major festival for the resident deity, GaneshaGanesha
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...
. Prayers are held for a week and food served to the public.
The temple is particularly packed on Deepavali with devotees eager to offer their prayers on the holy day. Other festivals observed include Maha Sivaratri and Navarathri
Navarathri
Navratri, Navaratri, or Navarathri is a Hindu festival of worship of Shakti and dance & festivities. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped...
.