OUR TEMPLES
In spite of centuries of intermarriages and cultural assimilation, the Melaka Chetti community have held strongly to the Hindu faith of their forefathers and built temples in various locations.
Situated along Jalan Tukang Emas, the temple is one of the oldest in Malaysia. It was built in 1781 by Thaivanayagam Chitty on a piece of land granted to the Melaka Chetti community by the Dutch. Over the last 20 years, the temple has been managed by the Malacca Nagarathar Nattukkottai Chettiar under an agreement with the Melaka Chetti community. Its main deity is Vinayagar, the remover of obstacles, and the Lord of wisdom and intellect.
Establish in the year 1822, the Sri Muthu Mariamman Temple is also popularly known as ‘Dato Chachar’. Devotees offer prayers to the goddess to cure them from various skin ailments including small pox. The temple stands majestically within the Melaka Chetti village at Gajah Berang.
The main deity of the Sri Muthu Mariamman Temple is the benevolent Goddess Mariamman. Thousands of devotees throng the temple annually during the Sri Muthu Mariamman Thiruvila to pay homage and give thanks to the deity. The festival is a grand affair which sees members of the Melaka Chetti community from near and far returning for the celebration.
Built in 1887, the Sri Kailasanathar Temple is a heritage building. Dedicated to the Supreme Lord Siva, the temple is frequented by devotees for Deepavali prayers, Sivarathri, Ponggal, Karthigai Deepam, Margali Masam morning prayers as well as athmashanthi prayers for the deceased. The temple is located near the entrance to the Kampung Chetti along Jalan Gajah Berang, Melaka.
Also known as ‘Kuil Kolam Besar’, the temple is dedicated to the Goddess Anggala Parameswari. It adopts a plain facade which is not typical of a Hindu temple.
Revered as a place of worship for longevity, the Sri Dharmaraja Temple pays homage to Yama Dharma Raja, dispenser of justice, guardian of the ancestors and the lord of death. He presides over the south and is said as one of the wisest of the Devas.
There are several other Amman temples belonging to the community namely the Sri Amman Temple; Sri Khatai Amman Temple, Sri Kaliamman Temple and the Sri Lenggadari Amman Temple.
