Sri Meenakshi Sundraeswar Temple

Sri Meenakshi Sundraeswar Temple Temple (3 January 2005)


Sri Meenakshi Sundraeswar Temple (GPS: 5.43226, 100.29765) at Jalan Kebun Bunga is the temple of the Ayira Vaisyar Indian community. As the Ayira Vaisyars are often involved in the bottle recycling trade, they are often called the "bottle" chettiars. It is located directly opposite the Nattukkottai Chettiar Temple. The "bottle" chettiars as so known because of their involvement in the collection and sale of used bottles and other recyclable materials. Nevertheless their actual name is Ayira Vaisyar.

The gopuram, or temple tower, of the Sri Meenakshi Sundraeswar Temple (3 January 2005)


The Ayira Vaisyar hails from Tamil Nadu, where many of them still maintain links with relatives there. They first arrived in Penang in around 1830. Here, they settled in Victoria Street, Armenian Street, Acheen Steet and Beach Street. The Ayira Vaisyar Merchants' Association building is along Acheen Street. In 1920, they set up a trust fund with which they bought the piece of land on Waterfall Road to build a community-cum-prayer hall, called a madam.

The present temple building was completed in 1989, and dedicated to the bottle chettiar's patron deity, Meenachi Amman and Sundraewarar (Siva). The consecration of the temple was carried out on 9 February 1998.

What sets the Sri Meenakshi Sundraeswar Temple as unique among Hindu temples is that all the deities of the Hindu pantheon has a place in it, to accommodate the various personal deities of the elders and donors of the community.

Front view of the Sri Meenakshi Sundraeswar Temple (3 January 2005)


Side view of the Sri Meenakshi Sundraeswar Temple (3 January 2005)


The temple bell of Sri Meenakshi Sundraeswar Temple (3 January 2005)

Contact

Kuil Ayira Vaisyar Sri Meenakshi Sundaraesvarar
49 Jalan Kebun Bunga
10350 George Town, Penang
Phone: +60 4 227 6250

Getting there

The Sri Menakshi Sundraeswar Temple is on Jalan Kebun Bunga. The road is served by Rapid Penang bus 10.

Sri Meenakshi Sundraeswar Temple is on the Map of Jalan Kebun Bunga, Penang

List of Hindu Temples in Penang and Hindu Temples in Malaysia