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)
