The infinite potent energy of the untamed sea is harnessed purposefully by the sea goddess, Singamuga Kaliamman. She wields her sacred 'trishul' (divine trident) with symphonic aerial balance, absorbing boundless divine power from the fiery depths of the wild sea. The untamed sea brings forth ferocious hurricanes, a mere amusement for the goddess. As she ploughs the ocean bed with her sacred 'trishul' creating mystical diagrams, the savagery of the ocean turns serene. The oceanic terrain, its waves and swells are sanctified by the ethereal enchantment of the divine mother of the sea, Singamuga Kaliamman. The divine sea goddess was ordained to be a guardian of Teluk Bahang and its surrounding area by the virtuous pleas of many fishermen folk who venerate the fierce divine feminine energy. Upon hearing their righteous pleas from the celestial realms, the goddess was decreed for this terrestrial task.
In 1897, the pious villagers of Teluk Bahang who hailed from Nagapattinam (town in Tamil Nadu, India) approached their village elders with regard to establishing a temple in their village. Many of the villagers worked as fishermen, laboriously working for many days out in the treacherous seas. Many fishermen experienced gruelling hardship, hazardous maritime accidents and vicious poverty that shackled their impoverished lives. The village elders prayed for a divine command to initiate the temple. After many months, one of the village elders had an auspicious dream, a prophetic voice commanded him to start praying to Kaliamman under a sacred neem tree in the village. The villagers gathered immediately and built a shrine for Kaliamman. The goddess was named as Singamuga Kaliamman, a ferocious manifestation of Kaliamman. Just as lions symbolise the king of the jungle, the heavenly Singamuga Kaliamman whom possesses the vigour and fortitude of multifold lions is the divine monarch of Teluk Bahang and its encompassing seas.
Henceforth the oceanic domain of Teluk Bahang is under constant vigil by the sea goddess, Singamuga Kaliamman and her celestial guardians. The chime and jangling of the goddess's divine anklets can be discernibly heard in the surrounding villages in the thick of night as she tacitly guards the boundaries of her domain with intense scrutiny. In times gone by, a few fishermen observed a fair complexioned lady emerging from sea during dawn, drenched in seawater and walking towards the temple, vanishing mysteriously into the inner depths of the sanctum. An old grandmother who regularly visits the temple suddenly trembled energetically and swayed an 'udukkai' (small hourglass drum) intensely in a trancelike dance, uttering that the sea goddess is part of the 'Saptha Kanni' (Seven Virgin Mothers). The old grandmother further clamoured that the gaze of the sea goddess is directed northwards, towards the ancient temple of Kanyakumari which a bastion of celestial feminine energy.
The 'Masi Magam Theppa Thiruvizha' is a significant annual temple festival which is celebrated elaborately at this temple. On the Tamil month of 'Masi' (mid February to mid March), when the full moon coincides with the constellation star of 'Magam', the 'thiruvizha' (temple festival) takes place spectacularly. The relevance of this festival was to safeguard the village fishermen from ghastly encounters out in the open sea, ensuring they are out of harm's way and safely return to shore. The 'theppa' (floating platform) is adorned with decorations and flowers, carries a captivating statue of the goddess and is sent afloat onto the idyllic sea with a few dedicated priests. The decorated floating platform travels calmly on the sea, priests honour the sea goddess with intricate 'mudra' (ritual gestures) and utterance of holy hymns. Devoted followers wait patiently on the seashore with trays of fruits, flowers and candles. Candles are lit and set afloat on the sea, flowers are adorned on the platform and fruits are arranged in an array, welcoming the sea goddess with much pomp and fervour. At the pinnacle of the ceremony, fireworks are set forth blazing into the nocturnal sky, dazzling the horizon with a pyrotechnic display.
Although this divine temple Singamuga Kaliamman is located in the alluring isle of Penang, the goddess's waves of blessings ripples throughout Malaysia. Many sincere couples who are childless have inexplicable visions of the sea goddess. What is inexplicable is these devout couples often live far away from Penang and have never visited this temple. These couples who agonizingly ache for childbirth have experienced calming dreams whereby the sea goddess gestures the couple to her temple, signifying they will soon be blessed with offspring. Often these pious couples visit the temple with a slight hesitation, unsure of what to expect. Upon entering the temple premises, they often consult with the temple priest on their divine vision. They are graciously advised to offer 'sakkarai ponggal' (sweetened jaggery rice) to Singamuga Kaliamman as 'naivedyam' (food offerings to a deity). After dutifully witnessing the deity's 'abisekham' (ritual bathing), these devout couples offer the 'sakkarai ponggal' which is used in the daily 'puja' (worship). After partaking the 'naivedyam', the couple return to their homes and soon enough are presented with a bundle of joy. Once the child is born, the couple will visit the temple together with their child as homage for their bountiful blessings.
A diligent devotee of the temple had been experiencing persistent nausea and vomiting for several months. In a dilemma, he reluctantly decided to get consultation from a private hospital. Regrettably he was diagnosed with brain tumour and was advised to undergo chemotherapy. His entire family was despondent with this inconsolable news, uncertain on how to proceed with life. The devotee decided resolutely his life was at the fateful hands of Singamuga Kaliamman, only she could decide what would be the ultimate conclusion for his life. The entire family soon visited the temple and wept in front of the inner sanctum. The wife and children pleaded for the devotee's life, whereas the devotee mournfully narrated his dire circumstances to Singamuga Kaliamman. A wave of compassion filled the halls of the temple, lifting the sombre mood and pacifying the gloomy family. The blissful devotee abruptly declared that he would honour the sea goddess with a golden anklet if his grievous disease was healed. The family was astonished with the announcement, but spiritually elated that Singamuga Kaliamman could perhaps be their curative saviour. After enduring bouts of chemotherapy, the disease was successfully alleviated. The devotee together with his joyous family gifted a gleaming golden anklet to Singamuga Kaliamman, grateful for this healing miracle. Eternally indebted to the sea goddess, the family visits the temple regularly as a tribute to their benevolent goddess, Singmuga Kaliammman.
A devoted committee member of the temple would receive clairvoyant messages from the sea goddess instructing her on certain issues with regard to the temple. The sea goddess would apprise the committee member on any lethargic priest that did not perform the established daily rituals appropriately at the temple. Upon the instruction of Singamuga Kaliamman, the errant priest would be counselled and be given an opportunity to rectify their misdemeanours. If the erroneous temple priest persistently behaves belligerently after the counselling, the errant priest will be dismissed. Due to their spiritual rapport, the committee member would occasionally experience ecstatic divine prophecies from Singamuga Kaliamman. Once the committee member had a dream of Singamuga Kaliamman majestically levitating above sea swells, holding her 'trisulam' with steadfastness and joining the 'theppa' during the annual festival. The sea goddess merged ethereally with the statue on the floating vessel, and blessed her dutiful devotees. The eternally compassionate sea goddess assured the devout committee member she would always be accessible at the temple to righteous devotees and will assuredly attend the auspicious annual 'Masi Magam Theppa Thiruvizha'.
The divine energy of goddess Singamuga Kaliamman is known to shield against unholy elements, hence her temple is often sought after to alleviate issues concerning 'rasuk' (negative spirit possession). Ill-fated women afflicted by negative energy would be advised by their trusted 'bomoh' (witch doctor) to seek divine relief from the Singamuga Kaliamman temple. The temple priest would sprinkle 'tirtham' (holy water) on their faces, causing the afflicted woman to collapse and fall on the floor. Upon recovering, the women would feel an immense calmness that subdues any negative energy remaining in their body. Occasionally if the symptoms of 'rasuk' persists, the temple would then give 'abisekham tirtham' (holy water used for the ritual bathing ceremony) for the women to sprinkle around their homes. This cleanses the homes of any lingering negative energy. Out of appreciation towards Singamuga Kaliamman, the women who have been esoterically healed would offer a modest contribution towards the maintenance of the temple.
An unruly boy who lived near the beach together with his family, had a disobedient habit. He was fond of eating fried chicken at the beach and would then throw the leftover bones into the pristine sea, despite his grandmother warning him several times it was 'pantang' (taboo). He argued that he did not believe in this sort of fallacy and ridiculed his grandmother for her beliefs. Despite his grandmother's objection, he continued with his defiant habit. After doing this several times, he had a malicious nightmare. In the thick of night, he had a vision of a huge hairy monster. The monster forcefully gripped the boy's hand and paralysed it. The boy shouted in agony, waking his wearied grandmother. After the grandmother examined the boy's hand, a 'bomoh' was requested to solve this supernatural issue. The boy was taken to the Singamuga Kaliamman temple, and was requested to lay in front of the Muneeswaran shrine. The grandmother offered a lime garland, 'churut' (cigar) and biscuits, and then tearfully prayed for the boy's recovery. Miraculously after several days, the boy recovered.
Despite the gentrification that has occurred in this area, the heavenly presence of Singamuga Kaliamman is even at this day and age, intangibly perceived by the reverent devotees that continuously flock to the temple. Villages, cowsheds, fishing boats and fishermen nets have been replaced by hotels, cafes, restaurants, and swimming pools. Regardless, the steadfast devotees that have experienced the sea goddess's divine love return repeatedly especially during the 'Masi Magam Theppa Thiruvizha'. Moreover, many international tourists who habitually reside at the various hotels of Teluk Bahang have also become an integral part of the temple. The temple has become an all embracing spiritual destination, denoting the essence of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family).
Contact: 016 4266781 (A Kanapathy)
Address: 592, Mukim 2, Persisiran Pantai, Teluk Bahang, 11050 Pulau Pinang
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