Batu Caves Śrī Subramaniar Swamy Devasthanam – Malaysia

Address

Batu Caves Śrī Subramaniar Swamy Devasthanam 68100, Jalan Gombak, Batu Caves, 68100 Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malaysia

Deity

Sri Subramaniar Swamy

Introduction

• Batu Caves is a limestone hill with a series of caves and cave temples located in Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia.
• The name “Batu” means ‘rock’ in Malay; the hill was originally known as Kapal Tanggang from the legend of Si Tanggang.
• It is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan.
• Batu Caves is the focal point of the Tamil festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia.
• Known as the 10th Cave or Hill for Lord Muruga, there are six major shrines in India and four in Malaysia.
• The Batu Malai Sri Murugan Temple is managed by the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Devasthanam, which also manages several other temples in Kuala Lumpur.

Puranic Significance

• The limestone of Batu Caves is around 400 million years old and was once used as shelter by the indigenous Temuan people.
• Chinese settlers excavated guano from the caves in the 1860s.
• In 1878, colonial authorities and American naturalist William Hornaday recorded the limestone hills.
• K. Thamboosamy Pillai, inspired by the cave’s vel-shaped entrance, dedicated a temple to Lord Murugan in 1890.
• Thaipusam has been celebrated at Batu Caves since 1892, with wooden steps built in 1920, and concrete stairs added in 1940.
• The main cave, Temple Cave, houses Hindu shrines beneath a vaulted ceiling.
• In 2018, the 272 steps were painted in bright colors, leading to a dispute with the National Heritage Department.

Beliefs

• Devotees perform the kavadi ritual, carrying semi-circular supports with pots of milk or large structures decorated with flowers and peacock feathers.
• Some kavadis can weigh up to 100 kg, and devotees must bathe in the nearby Sungai Batu before climbing the 272 steps to the temple.
• The piercing of skin with skewers is part of the ritual, with no blood being shed during the process.

Special Features

• Batu Caves consists of three main caves: Cathedral Cave (or Temple Cave), Art Gallery Cave, and Museum Cave.
• Cathedral Cave has a high ceiling and contains Hindu shrines, while the Art Gallery Cave and Museum Cave showcase statues and paintings.
• Ramayana Cave tells the story of Rama, and features a 15 m statue of Hanuman and a temple dedicated to him.
• Batu Caves also features a 42.7-metre statue of Lord Murugan, the tallest in the world, unveiled in 2006.

Festivals

• Thaipusam is the main festival celebrated at Batu Caves, where devotees carry milk offerings in containers or on kavadis as a tribute to Lord Murugan.

Century/Period/Age

1920

Managed By

Board of Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Devastham

Nearest Bus Station

Batu Cave.

Nearest Railway Station

Senthalur

Nearest Airport

Kuala Lumpur

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