Sri Maha Kaliamman Temple – Maxwell Hill, Perak

Mesmerised by ornate flowers, lullabied by chirping birds, soothed by clicking beetles, and elated by serenading cicadas, the unassuming devotee will be enamoured by the pristine beauty of Maxwell Hill. The spiritual serendipity befits the devotee, who discovers this alluring Kaliamman temple that will soften even the most callous of souls. The goddess summons her children to embrace her motherly boundless affection, pacifying their anxieties, blessing their earthly desires, whilst gradually detaching their karmic shackles. The temple, languidly huddled on Maxwell Hill, built by the Pillay brothers, Rama and Kochdai, to abode the goddess’s respite from the transcendent heavens. The bearer of the mystical ‘trisulam’, she wanders through dust and dew, witnessing the dancing duality of our reality. The Hindu families, who laboured tea, flowers and vegetables, took refuge at goddess’s feet, filling their sorrowed hearts with spiritual devotion and calming their aching muscles with spiritual fervour. The offspring of these families have journeyed away, scattered throughout Malaysia and beyond, seeking prosperity and knowledge. But the calling of the goddess allures them back to their origin, customarily during auspicious festivals, when flags are hailed, processions are held and offerings are handed. 

Every Friday and ‘Pournami’, the enthralling ‘Kalika Trishati’ is recited to the goddess, thus emanating pulsating, twirling vibration, magnified beyond the four thresholds of the temple, pervading the forest with resplendent ‘shakti’. Oftentimes, the attending unassuming devotee will be blessed, hearing the graceful bells of the enigmatic dancing ‘kolusu’. Other times, the delight of the goddess’s swaying ‘kolusu’ is replaced by the rhythmic beating of the ‘udukai’, perhaps indicative of the goddess’s unpredictable mood, salient only by sound. And only sometimes, those with the transcended visual clarity of the inner eye have beheld the goddess, awed yet humbled. The effulgent spirit of the goddess became the adoration of Madhava Swamy, a reclusive spiritual soul, radiant internally yet nondescript outwardly. The isolation was solace to the swami, who performed austerities for lengthy periods in solitude. In his dreamlike trance, he often spoke to the goddess, conceivably comparable to an infant and his affectionate mother. He had been blessed with ‘deivam vakku’, and appropriately counselled the goddess’s believers the spiritual approach to overcome hindrances and triumph endeavours.

The turbulent nature of the goddess transcends the limited cognizance of mortals, each stride towards her peels layers of our perceived reality. The devout, who beg for her blessed nuances, lament for her protective glance, and wallow for her divine advent, will surely be blessed. Nonetheless those who seek to implore her darker side will temporarily have beseeched her goodwill, only to be annihilated under distress. Passing devotees who have come to pay tribute have been coaxed by the goddess to stay back, warned by impending danger. Those who have distressed her solitary fortress are deprived of sleep, only to come back falling at her divine feet, begging for forgiveness, subsequently forgiven by the ever-merciful goddess. The yearly Navaratri is discernible by the conspicuous kaleidoscope of colours, scents, observances, and rituals. Barks, braches and twigs are sought for the sacrificial fire, including trays of herbs, fruits, spices, and roots. ‘Nei’ poured, ‘mantras’ uttered, ‘sankalpam’ supplicated, and finally ‘purhanuti’ offered, culminating the propitious ‘Kali Homam’. The scorching fire, peaks and scales, fierier and wilder, effusively blessing all in its zenith moment. 

Address: Maxwell Hill, 34000 Taiping, Perak. Contact: Thoraraisa (013-4802615), Rama (017-5793421)