Arulmigu Maha Sapthakannika Devi Kovil, Seremban (Negeri Sembilan)

This temple is situated on Victoria Hill in Seremban, built over 100 years ago and is one of the few Kaniamman temple in Malaysia. The scenic view of this temple is breathtaking, which is surrounded by flora and fauna. Although the temple does not have an easy access route, it is definitely worth the journey. The seven kanni devi’s are Biramme, Mageswary, Gaumaree, Varaagi, Vyshnavi, Magenthari and Chamundee. Before the temple was built, Victoria hill was a primary source of silica stones, and was mined by a Chinese contractor. The contractor primarily used explosives to mine Victoria hill. On one occasion, he repeatedly tried to blast explosives but it failed. Immediately he saw a snake slithering past him. The stunned contractor took a gun and shot the snake. Soon after, the contractor and his workers fell ill. After consulting a spiritual medium, the contractor was informed that he had done injustice by mining on the hill. The sacred hill was the dwelling of Nagamma, who frequented the hill in the form of young snakes and maiden ladies. To repent this injustice, the contractor was instructed by the medium to carry out prayers for Nagamma at Victoria hill. During the prayer, a man got into a trance and started moving like a snake. He slithered across the ground to a particular location. He then advised the contractor to build a temple for Nagamma at that location. Under that mystical command, the Nagamma temple was built.

Over the years, many devotees of this temple have witnessed the amazing sakthi of Nagamma. Once, an ice-cream vendor was selling popsicles at the premise of the temple. Once he was done, he returned home without praying at the temple. On his was down from the hill, he came across two beautiful ladies clad in a sari. The ladies halted the ice-cream vendor and asked for popsicles. After serving them, the ice-cream vendor arrived home. Upon his arrival, he became ill. His family took him to a bomoh. After several séances, the bomoh told him to pray at the Nagamma temple, and he would be cured. The ice-cream vendor went to the temple and prayed for his recovery. As he finished his prayers, he was stunned to see his beautiful lady customers in the form of a statue. The mystical customers who appeared before him were goddess Chamundee and Magenthari.

The most important date in this temple is May 1st, whereby a special pooja is conducted annually. Devotees of Nagamma, fast for three days and carry pots filled with milk from the foothill to the hill top. When the devotees arrive at the temple, the milk is poured onto the seven Kanni Devi’s. Nagamma gives her blessing during this festive occasion, and this has been witnessed by several devotees. Once during this annual festival, the priest of this temple witnessed a beautiful cobra resting beneath a tree near the temple. Astonishingly, the cobra was in seven different colours. As he was stunned by this miraculous incident, the priest called other devotees to witness this mystical event. After receiving the blessings of Nagamma, the priest returned to the temple. He was shocked to see that the seven shades of the cobra was the exact colour of each sari on the seven Kanni Devi’s.

Directions: Take Seremban exit. Take flyover to Pusat Kualiti Alam untill tunnel. After tunnel, uturn. Take exit to seremban 2, and short distance away, turn left into mud road. Tel: 0196209259

Sri Sakthi Vinayagar Temple, Ampang (Selangor)

This graceful temple is famous for it's history of the Lord Vinayagar statue. It was built as a shrine 90 years ago, by the Indian residents of Ampang. Initially, the only visitors to the temple were bus drivers who passed the temple en route to Ampang zoo. These ardent devotees would break a coconut, light camphor for a safe journey, and resume their duties. As the temple did not have many followers, the bus drivers wanted more devotees to be present at this solitary temple. They took a cement statue of Lord Vinayagar from an abandoned temple, and placed the newly found statue in the shrine. They then claimed that the statue was unearthed below the earth of the shrine. This attracted hundreds of devotees to this temple, as many were eager to obatain the darshan of the miraculous Lord Vinayagar.

Lord Vinayagar is ever present in this temple, performing mischievous lila's on his dedicated devotees. Recently, a Japanese expatriate who did not have an inkling of Hindu gods and goddesses, had a miraculous dream of a Lord Vinayagar. It seems that Lord Vinayagar instructed him to bring a tray of offerings and proceed to Ampang. The Japanese expatriate vividly described his dream to his Malaysian colleagues, and was advised to go to the Vinayagar temple in Ampang. Arriving at the temple, he was dumbfounded on how to proceed, and requested guidance from the temple priest. The temple priest came to his rescue, and arranged for a coconut archanai to be performed. The Japanese expatriate was satisfied with the prayer, nevertheless was truly surprised at his spiritual instruction from Lord Vinayagar. Although Lord Vinayagar is renowned to be a bachelor, he often blesses his devotees with marital union. Once, a devotee had come to this temple after a bitter break-up with her fiancée. She pleaded with her ishta deivam to support her through this difficult time. The very next day, she had left to India for a spiritual pilgrimage. Astonishingly, she met someone else on this pilgrimage, and the both of them fell in love. The sacred unification of this amazing couple took place in the very temple that had blessed her matrimonial passage. Ever since, she has been a regular devotee to this temple, and is always contributing towards the upkeep of this glorious temple.

Address: Jln Kabus, Kuala Ampang, Selangor. Tel: 019-2242504

Sri Marathandavar Bala Dhandayuthapani Alayam, Maran (Pahang)

This ancient temple has to be one of the greatest spiritual sites in Malaysia. Pangguni Utiram which occurs during the month of March/April is celebrated blissfully in this temple. Numerous devotees come to perform their prayers as well as carry Kavadi. The temple is located in the midst of palm oil and rubber plantations, and is rather secluded. Hence, it is ideal for meditation and spiritual contemplation. Several saints have visited this holy place and have claimed that powerful energy from heaven is frequently directed towards the locality of this mystical temple. Adding to the unique nature of the temple is its mystical origin. The name of the temple 'Marathandavar' means deity of the tree. The tree mentioned in this context is the sacred rudraksha tree. Rudraksha is identified as the eye of Lord Shiva, whereby Rudra denotes Lord Shiva and Aksha indicates the eye. This divine bead is the ultimate holy talisman, as it transforms negative energy into positive energy. Rudraksha beads have been worn by the yogis of India for thousands of years to maintain health and to gain spiritual empowerment.

About 120 years ago, a road was being built from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan. Many trees were felled to make way for the oncoming road. As one particular rudraksha tree was being cut, the tree began to bleed as if it was wounded. Many of the workers observed the bleeding of the tree, and immediately stopped work. Immediately one of the Hindu workers went into a trance, and declared that the tree should be spared. A British supervisor who was entrusted with the construction of the road refused to this suggestion. Suddenly, a child miraculously appeared on the trunk of the tree and disappeared into this mysterious tree. The British supervisor was overcome with amazement and changed his decision. The road was laid away from the tree and the rudraksha tree was spared. An old man who is believed to be a Murugan devotee planted a Vel at the base of the tree. After that, the tree became sacred and many of the Hindu workers started praying at that shrine.

It has been many years since the incident, and rudraksha tree is now dead. However the remains of the tree are preserved in inner sanctum of the temple. In 1998, a new temple was built which incorporated features of the rudraksha tree. The inner sanctum has a beautiful silver layering that resembles the original rudraksha tree. There are other shrines dedicated to Lord Bhairavar, Lord Idumban and Goddess Naga Amman. Another huge tree is now a focal point in this wondrous place of worship. Devotees pledge requests by placing a stone, coin or a lime on a yellow cloth. Subsequently they tie the cloth onto the tree and humbly utter a prayer. If the request is fulfilled, hence the vow will be fulfilled. The vow could range from donating to the temple, serving food to temple devotees or tying a miniature silver cradle on the vines of the tree. Some people even tie a baby doll onto this bestowing tree as a sign of gratitude. In addition, this temple is renowned for granting boons to deserving devotees. A lame boy had started walking after praying ardently at this temple. Lakshmi, a girl who was unable to speak has been miraculously cured of her disability. Another interesting story is the dream of the previous Head Priest Sri K.S. Ganapathy. In 1962, he had a dream of a Murugan yogi. It is rumoured that this yogi had lived at the location of the current temple about 200 years ago. In his dream, the yogi was having his bath in a nearby stream. After his bath, the yogi started walking towards the rudraksha tree. All of a sudden the yogi completely vanished into the tree. Appearing again in his dream, the yogi instructed the Head Priest to serve in this amazing temple. Since then the Head Priest Sri K.S. Ganapathy decided to serve this temple for as long as he could.

Address: 100 km, Jalan Kuantan - Jerantut,26500 Maran,Pahang. Tel: 09-4778043, 09-4778050, 0199189950 . Directions:On the Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan (E-W Highway), turn left into the road to Jerantut (highway 64), just before Maran town. Temple is about 22 km from this junction. On the Kuantan to Kuala Lumpur direction, turn right into the road to Jerantut (highway 64), just after passing Maran town. Temple is about 22 km from this junction.