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AnEvaluationofLiteraturesRelatedToThe

PhenomenonofBuildingShrinesWithinThe

ResidenceCompoundAmongstMalaysian

Indians'

Haritharan.Arumugam?

Manimaranfiubramaniarrr'

Abstract

Hinduspossesstheirownuniquereligiousbeliefsandpractices andtheyhavebeeninheritedfromonegenerationtoanother forcenturies.YetthereligiousbeliefsandpracticesofHindus livinginIndiavariesfromthatofHinduslivingelsewhereor outsideIndia.Thebestexemplificationofthedifferencesisthe religiouspracticeofMalaysianHindusastheyhaveintroduced anewtrendintheHindureligiouspracticebybuilding shrinesfordeitieswithintheirresidencecompound.Itisanew phenomenonamongsttheMalaysianHinducommunityand alsoitisenvisagedasaprobleminthenationasmostshrines builtillegallywithouttheconsentofthelocalauthorities.Asyet noresearchisfoundonthesubjectanditisrecommendedthat astudymustbecarriedoutinordertoascertainwhetherthe buildingofshrineswithintheresidencecompoundispermitted intheAgmnicrulesofHinduism.Thisarticleaimsatlooking attheliteraturesrelatedtothephenomenonofestablishing shrineswithintheresidencecompoundwhichwouldhelpone toconductaresearchontheabove-mentionedsubject. Keywords:MalaysianHindus.Shrinesbuiltwithintheresidence compound,localauthorities,Agamicrules,Hinduism.

Introduction

AccordingtoM.N.Srinivas&Shaham,Hinduismisoneofthemostancientreligions practisedbyaparticulargroupinIndiaandbysectionsacrosstheworld(1972, Pg358).Morethanonebillionpeopleofthe6.8billionintheworldareHindus

1The.researchonthephenomenonofbuildingshrineswithintheresidencecompoundamongstMalaysia

IndiansisaprojectfundedbyERGS(ER018-2013A).

HaritharanArumugamisaresearchassistantconductinghisresearchontheabove-mentionedsubjectforhis

3master'sprogramme.haritharansyam®yahoo.com

DrMarumararcsubramaruamisalecturerinthedepartmentofIndianStudies,UniversityofMalaya presentedarticlesatvariousconferencesheldlocallyaswellasinternationally.Besideshehasalsowritten booksandarticlesonanumberofsubjectsaboutIndianstudies.manimaran_um®yahoo.com

60JOURNALOFINDIANCULTUREANDCIVILIZATION

(SatguruSivayaSubramuniyaswami,2004,860).Hinduismoriginatedevenlong beforerecordsystemwasintroduced.Sinceitoriginatedinthepre-historicperiod andnoconcreteevidencefoundonthefounderofHindusimandthedateHinduism wasfounded.NoonecouldbenamedastheoriginatorofHinduism,Instead,this religiousfollowinghasbeenfosteredandpropagatedthroughoutthemillenniaby Maharishis(enlightenedphilosophersandsages)(SirJohnMarshall,1973).Thereis nomonolithicandglobalinstitutionormovementthatoverseesorownsthecustoms andscripturesofHinduism.However,someancientscripturesofthisreligiondating backto2500BehavebeenfoundintheIndusValleycivillization(M.Rajantheran,

K.Sillalee&R.Viknarasah,2012).

InHinduism,templesplayanimportantrolewherebytemplecanbedescribed astheprimarysymbolofHinduismanditistheplaceofworshipforHindus.A characteristicofmosttemplesisthepresenceofmurtis(icons)oftheHindudeityto whomthetempleisdedicated.Theyareusuallydedicatedtooneprimarydeity, thepresidingdeity,andotherdeitiesassociatedwiththemaindeity.However, sometemplesarededicatedtoseveraldeities,andothersarededicatedtomurtis inaniconicform.Manytemplesareinkeygeographicalpoints,suchasahilltop, nearwaterfalls,cavesandrivers,astheseare,accordingtoHinduism,worshipplaces andmakeiteasiertocontemplateGod(Najan,2000). TherearevastdifferencesofSouthIndiantemplearchitectureandNorth. NorthIndianstemplefollowtheNagarastyleoftemplearchitecturewithbeehive- liketowercalledgopura.madeupoflayeruponlayerofarchitecturalelementssuch askapotasandgavaksas,alltoppedbyalargeroundcushion-likeelementcalledan amalaka.WhereasSouthIndiantempleshasapyramidshapedtowerconsisting ofprogressivelysmallerstoreysofsmallpavilions,anarrowthroat,andadome onthetopcalledashikhara(ManimaranS.,2008).Therulesofbuildingtemplesare stipulatedinHindureligioustextscalledAgan:".Onlythetemplesfollowingthe Agamicrulesofbuildingtem~lesareco~sidered,tob~temples.AsfarasMalaysia isconcerned,sinceSouthIndians,especiallytheTamilsmakeupamajorityofthe IndianpopulationinMalaysia,theybuilttheirtemplesaccordingtoSouthIndian style.YettherefoundafewNorthIndiantemplesbuiltbyNorthIndiansfollowing theNagarastyle(KrishnaGopalRampal,2008). AlthoughtempleworshipisanancientreligiouspracticeofHindus,anew phenomenonisno.w'prevalen~amongstpresentda~MalaysianHinduswhichis buildingshrineswithintheresidencecompound.Tlusphenomenonseemstohave beguninthe1980'sandithasbeenpractisedalmostforthepast25yearsnow.Itis totallyanewphenom~nonamon~st.Hindus~ditisalso.~eingaproblemtothe authoritiesasmostshrinesarebuiltIllegallyWIthoutobtammglegalpermitsfrom theauthoritiesconcerned.Sometimesthismakestheauthoritiestakelegalactions againsttheshrinesby?emolishingthem.Itmakesthe.Hindusupsetandcauses proarsanddissatisfaction.Assuch,astudymustbecarriedouttoascertainwhether thbuildingofshrineswithinthehousecompoundisacceptableorpermittedin t~:Agamasorreligioust~xtstoen~ureitbringsasolutiontothephenomenonand preservesracialharmonymthenation.

HinduismAndMalaysianIndians

ANEVALUATIONOFLITERATURESRELATEDToTHEPHENOMENONOFBUILDINGSHRINESWITHINTHERESIDENCE61COMPOUNDAMONGSTMALAYSIANINDIANS

Inthelate18thcentury,IndianswerebroughttoMalaysiaaslabourersbytheBritish (Arasaratnam,1970).AlthoughIndiansmigratedtoMalaysiasolongago,theystill preservetheirreligion,culture,customs,traditions.WhenTamilliansfirstmigrated here,theybegunworshippingdeitiessuchasgoddessesKali.,Amman,Draupadi,Mari amman,andguardiandeitiessuchasMaduraiVeeran,SanggiliKarupar,Aiyyanarand soon(M.Rajantheran,ManimaranSubramaniam,2006).Theyworshippedtheir familydeitiesandguardiandeitiesbybuildingshrinesfortheirdeitieswithintheir houses.Tamillianslivinginestatesspenttheirleisuretimebyengagingintraditional activitiessuchasTiruoizha,traditionaldancesandthelike.Theyalsofollowed TraditionsofTamilNadusuchasslaughteringanimals,carryingmilkpotsand teemithital.Thesetraditionsarepracticeduntiltoday(Rajoo,1984).Theseguardian deitiesareconsideredtobetheirfamilydeities.BesidestheworshipofGoddess Mariamman,LordMuruga,LordGaneshaandLordShivainestates,Indiansalso practisedtheirreligiouspracticeinurbanareasbyworshippingtheirfamilydeities. TIleymanagedthesetemplesindividuallyaswellaswiththeirfamilies. MoreovertheIndiansthenpractisedtheirguardiandeityworshiptoprotect themselvesfromevilspirits,unseenforces,witchcraftsandmagicspells(Rajoo.R,

1984).Theyusedmultifariousreligioussymbolsliketridents,spears,swordsand

b:r icksandthereligioussymbolswerefoundinplacessuchastrees,t-junctions,road SIdesandjungleareasandtheyalsopractisedtheirbeliefsbyputtingredoryellow colourclothesoverthetree.Whereassomealsousedthestatuesofdeitiesmadeout ofcement,calcium,woodsandsand'(RaymondLee&RRajoo,1987).Understanding this,theBritishwhoweretheownersandmanagersofestatesgavefullfreedom tothetheestateworkerstopractisetheirreligionandworshiptheirfamilydeities (JanakeyRamanManickam,2009).Byusingthisopportunity,Indiansconducted theirprayersandpractisedtheirtraditionalreligion(popularreligion)withoutany obstacles.Inthistypeofworship,thepracticeofsacrificinganimalsisprevalent. Moreover,theyalsoconducttheprayerbyofferingthedeitiesliquor,cigars,dried fish,cookedmeatandbyplayingmusicalinstrumentslikepambai,udukai,urumi andothertypesofdrums..BesidestheIndianslivinginestates,theSriLankanIndiancommunityliving

111townareasestablishedtemplesfortheirfamilydeitiessuchasAmman,Mumgan

andVinayaga(RajakrishnanR,1988).Inthelateof1970'sandthebeginningof

1980's,thetrendoftempleworshipandreligiouspracticeofMalaysianIndians

WitnessedsomechangeswhentheIndianslivinginestatesmovedtourbanareas andothertypesofsettlementssuchastamanandkampung(village).Thelifestyleof Indiansaccustomedtolivingwiththeirowncommunitywitnessedchangeswhen theybegunlivingtogetherwithmultilingualandmulticultural(JanakeyRaman Manickam,2009).Yettheirreligiousbeliefandpracticeswererelentlessandthat theybegunbuildingshrinesfortheirfamilyaswellasguardiandeities.Mostofthese shrinesarebuiltunlawfullywithoutobtainingalegalpermitfromtheauthorities concerned.Moreover,astheyhaveashrinewithintheirresidencecompound,they begunconductingspecialPoojasandfestivalsfortheirdeities.Itmakespeopleof otherracesandfaithslivingaroundthemfeeluncomfortable.Insomecases,italso makesthemlodgecomplaintstotheauthoritieswhichuntillegalactionsaretaken againstthoseshrinesbuiltillegally(IdaLim,2013November10,TheMalayMail)

62JOURNALOFINDIANCULTUREANDCIVILIZATION

Asamatteroffact,suchshrinesarebuiltillegallyanditisaproblemtothoseof otherfaithswithwhomtheHindushavingshrineswithintheirresidencecompound livingaround.Soarigorousresearchmustbeconductedinordertoascertainifthe MalaysianHinducommunityneedssuchshrineswithintheirhousecompoundand buildingofshrinesareallowedintheVedasandAgamicrulesofHinduism.Thisarticle looksatthepreliminaryoutcomeoftheresearchconductedonthephenomenonof buildingshrineswithintheresidencecompoundamongstMalaysianIndianswhich wouldbehelpfultootherstoconductaresearchinthefutureonthesamefield. ResearchMaterialsServingAsAGuideToConductAResearchOnThe

BuildingofShrinesWithinTheResidenceCompound

AcademicresearchesonMalaysianIndianscanbeclassifiedintothreemaincategories. i)researchonhistoryandlocationofMalaysianIndiansinpre-independentMalaya. ii)researchonIndianestatelabourersinMalaysia.iii)othermultifacetedresearches onprogressoftheMalaysianIndiancommunityinpolitics,social,economy,culture, religionwhichoccurinthecommunityitself.Thecurrentresearchisclassifiedin thethirdcategorywhichinvolvesprogressandmanychallengesconfrontedby MalaysianIndians,Hindusespecially.Also,theHindureligionencountersvarious typesofchallengesalongsidetheprogressofMalaysianHindusinmultifarious fields.AsfarHinduismisconcerned,therefoundmanybooksandscholarlyworks. TherearealsomanybooksandscholarlyarticlesfoundaboutHindutemplesand HindufestivalscelebratedbyHindus.Butnomuchworkisfoundabouttheshrines builtwithintheresidencecompound. Afteralongandinsightfuldeliberation,itisknownthatthecommon phenomenonofconformationofshrineswithintheresidencecompoundamongst MalaysianIndiansiscompletelynew,especiallyinthestateofSelangorandWilayah Persekutuan.Therefoundonlyafewworksonthephenomenon.Thatisoneof thereasonswhythisphenomenonmustberesearchedonthebasisofexploratory researchprinciples.Firstandforemost,theestablishmentofshrinesreceivesno consentofreligiousleadersandexperts. Therefoundcertainscholarlyworkswhichaidinholisticallycomprehending thebackgroundofthenewphenomenonofinstitutingshrineswithinthecompound ofthehousesamongstMalaysianHindus.Theworkscanbedividedintotwoi) Worksdirectlyrelatedtotheresearchonthephenomenonofbuildingshrineswithin theresidencecompoundamongstMalaysianIndians.ii)Worksindirectlyrelatedto theresearchresearchonthephenomenonofbuildingshrineswithintheresidence compoundamongstMalaysianIndians.

WorksDirectlyRelatedToTheResearch

Inthiscontext,thebookentitledaalayangkalumaagamangkalum(Hindutemplesand Hinduscriptures)writtenbyNajan(2000)isindeedimportantforthisresearchand itisalsodirectlyrelatedtotheresearch.Inthisbook,theauthorpresentshiswork basedon28HindureligiousAgamictexts.Unfortunately,nomuchinformation foundontherulesgoverningthebuildingofHindutemplesinanychapterofthis book.Butitcanbeusedasaguideinordertoascertainadditionalexplanationsby theresearcher.Althoughthechapterisbrief,thechaptergivesinsightaboutthis

ANEVALUATIONOFLITERATURESRELATEDToTHEPHENOMENONOFBUILDINGSHRINESWITHINTHERESIDENCE63COMPOUNDAMONGSTMALAYSIANINDIANS

~nte~.poraryphenomenonandthechapterguidestheresearcherinunderstanding eHm~ureligiousritesconcerningestablishmentoftemplesbetter. InthBesl~estl:at,theaca~~micwo!kofPremla~andakUI~arane~titIedMal~siy~vil f.u~ovIIUdmppu(demohtlOnofHindutemplesIIIMalaysIa):aVIew(2010)ISvital t Ol~sresearch.Althoughthisisagraduationexercise,tileworkisofagreathelp ~:~IS~esear~h.Inthiswork,theresearcheralsohashadaquan~itativetableofrare ..layslanHindutemplespublished.ItincludesthenumberofHindutemplesfound

111~alaysia,numberofHindutemplesaccordingtostates,numberoftempleslegally

~:gIste.redandvice-versa.Theinformationa.bout17temples~adtoberelocatedand Imohshedfrom2006to2007isalsofoundmherwork.Inthiswork,theresearcher asospeaksabouttherudimentaryfactorswhichledtothedemolitionof17temples and.thewaythematterwasresolvedbytheauthoritiesofthetemplesandother ~artJesconcerned.Themainpartmainlyconcentratedistheanalysisandsuggestion ISverylittleinthiswork.Yetthisworkisofgreathelptothecurrentresearch,for alotofinformationfoundinthisworkcanbeusedasthebasicdataforthecurrent research.Althoughthisisagraduationexercise,itisregardedimportantinthe researchonshrinebuildinganddemolition. PaTl:ewrite-upoftheauthorS~ganthiRajagopalentitl~dHindraj: .lkalazkalakaMmlavarkalinKaruttlluOrAyvujHmdm!researchonvarsitystudents' VIew.sISoneofthescholarlyworkstobefocusedonthecurrentresearch.The mainmotiveofthisresearchistocollecttheviewsofvarsitystudentsonHindraf movement.SothisresearchconcentratesonthefoundationofHindrafandthefactors Contributedtothefoundationofthisorganisationin2007.Backthen,demolition ~n~rel~cationofHindutemplesinMalaysiagra?bedtheattentionofMalaysian ruversitystudents.Universitystudentsarealsosaidtohaveagreedonthefactthat ~emo1itionoftemplesinMalaysiaistherootcausefortheHindrafassemblyin2007 InBatuCaves,Selangor.Theauthoralsoaddedmanyschedulesandquantitative chartswhichareonlyusedtoexplainortosupportthemainorcoremattersby theauthor.Thosematerialsarestilldeemedtohaveinadequateinformationonthe p~enomenonresearchedwhichisthecultureofconstructingshrinesortemples WIthinthecompoundofthehousespopularamongpresent-dayMalaysianHindus. .Inrelationtothisresearch,thepaperworkofC.5ivapalanentitled, Hlll~rafPeranikkupPinthiyaMalaysiaInt1ziyargalinNilai/TheStatusofMalaysian IndIansAfterHindrafRally(TamilagaMalaysiaTamilUravuEndowmentSeminar,

2011,16Feb2011to18Feb2011,DeparhnentofTamilLiterature,Universityof

Madras.)Inthispresentation,hestatesthebackgroundoftheHindrafassemblyand thefactorscontributingtotileHindrafassembly.Alsoinhisworkhestatesthelife styleofMalaysianIndiansaftertheHindrafassemblywhichexplainsthementalstate andemotionsofMalaysianIndians.Inthispresentationthe'templeproblem'issaid tobethemainaspectperturbingtheMalaysianIndiancommunity.Thepresenter alsoproposesthatthismattermustbegivenseriousconsiderationandthistype ?fproblemmustnottakeplaceagain.Thefeedbackofsomechosenrespondents ISalsousedasthebasicanalysisinthepresentation.Suggestionsandviewsofthe respondentsoughttobedeemeddeeplyandwidenedsothatausefulunderstanding canbeproducedfromtilecurrentresearchconducted. Rajooinhisarticleentitled,SanskritizationintheHinduTempleofWest Malaysia",(1984,lndianStudiesJoumalVoL2.pp-159-170)discusseschanging

64JOURNALOFINDIANCULTUREANDCiVILIZATION

non-agamictemplestoagamictemples.Thisarticleisuseful,forinformationon templesbuiltaccordingtotherulesofAgamaSastraandtemplesnotbuiltaccording toAgamaSastraisfoundwithexamplesfromMalaysiainthisarticle.Thisdiscussion isacademicinnatureandfactsareanalysedinapropermannerinthisarticleand supportedbyproofs.Hepresentsagoodreviewaboutthesanskritizationprocess andhiscriticismabouttheconceptisalsoclear.Thephenomenonisenvisagedin theperspectivesofthetemplestructure,templeworshipanddeityworship.These areimportantaspectsforsomeonewhowishestoconductaresearchonMalaysian templesasthepreviousknowledgeenablestheresearchertocomprehendbetterthe basicconceptsofhistoryofMalaysianHindutempleprogress. AnothervaluablebookaidsthiscurrentresearchisthatwrittenbyKrishna GopalRampalwhichisentitled,'Sacredstructures:ArtisticRenditionsofHindu TemplesinMalaysiaandSingapore(2008).Thisbookcontainscomplexpaintings oftemplesinMalaysiaaswellasSingaporeproducedby10professionalartistsof multifariousraces.Thispicturesplayacrucialroleinresearchingandanalysingto whatextentthetemplesconformwiththestandardrulesofbuildingtemplesfound inHinduholyscriptures.Thisbookalsocontains4bestarticles.Amongstthearticles arethewrite-upofK.Ramanathanentitled,'HinduTemplesinMalaysia,',analyses thebasichistoryoftemples,classificationoftheHindutemplebuildingbasedonthe agamicandnon-agamicstructure.Besidesthat,theauthoralsostatestheclassification ofHindutemplesinestates,Hindutemplesbuiltbygovernmentservantsintowns andcitiessincetheBritishrule,templesmaintainedbyNattukottaiChettiyar,temples institutedbythe'Pattar'clan(goldsmiths),Ceylonesetemples,historicaltemples erectedbythe'MalaccaChettis',individualtemples,templesownedandmanaged bythepublic,societies'temples,NorthIndiantemples,templesmaintainedbythe Hinduconstituenciesandotherbodies.Thisarticleisveryusefulinthecurrent researchinobtainingacompletepictureabouthistoryoftempledevelopmentand classificationsofHindutemplesinMalaysia. InthiscontextthearticlewrittenbyS.Manimaran,entitled,'HinduTemples: Architecturesandsculpture(2008)'mustalsobefocusedinthecurrentresearch.This isregardedasanimportantarticlebytheresearcherasithasbeenwrittenbasedon theHindutemplesinMalaysia.Itisevidentthatthisarticleisofagreathelpforthe currentresearch.Inthisarticletheauthorgivesusinformationonhowtheaspects oftemplearchitectureareexplainedinHindureligiousscriptures,Furthermore, theauthoralsogivesdetailedinformationonproperly-builttemplesconforming withtherulesoftempleinbuildingstatedinHindureligiousscriptures.Matters concerningthearchitectures,symbols,holysculpturesofdeitiesarealsostatedin thisarticle.AlsotheauthorgivesageneralpictureaboutthesituationofMalaysian templesinthismatter.Itmustalsobenotedthatthisarticlesfitsinsomeinformation onhistoryoftemplesinMalaysiawhichisveryusefulforthecurrentresearch. SundramGovindasamyinhisgraduationexercise(1998/1999)entitled StrukturPembinaanKuilHindu:KajianKesSriRamalinggeswararKovilBangsar,Kuala Lumpur,discussestheaspectsoftemplestructureexplainsabouttemplearchitecture basedonHindutradition.Thisresearchdoesnotinvolveotheraspectsand morefocusisgivenonthattemplealoneandjustdiscussesthearchitectureand architecturalways.Itmustalsobenotedthattheauthorexplainsthecharacteristics

ANEVALUATIONOFLITERATURESRELATEDToTHEPHENOMENONOFBUILDINGSHRINESWITHINTHERESIDENCE65COMPOUNDAMONC5TMALAYSIANINDIANS

oftemplestructurestipulatedinHindureligioustextsandthisresearchalsobenefits theresearcher.

WorksIndirectlyRelatedToTheResearch

Als?,anotherresearchentitledPengantarHinduisme(firstandsecondpublishing2012) WllIC.hiswrittenbyM.Rajantheran,K.SillaleeandR.Viknarasamustalsobegiven conSiderationasfarasthisresearchisconcerned.Thisbookmainlycomprises14 chaptersand13ofwhichspeaksaboutteachingsofvarioussectsofHinduism.This ~ookisregardedanimportantmaterialasitmeetstheneedsofMalaysianHindus InunderstandingHinduismbetter.Sothisworkisimportantasitiscreatedoutof previousresearchesonHinduritualsandrulesgoverningthebuildingofHindu temples. AmongstthehistoricalresearchincludestheresearchconductedbyK.S.Sandhu (19~9),Netto(1961),Mahajani(1960)andArasaratnam(1979).Sandhuinhisbook, indIansinMalaya:SomeAspectsofTheirimmigrationAndSettlement,1786-1957,givesa comprehensivepictureaboutmigrationandplacementofIndiansinMalaysiafrom theyearof1786to1957.Arasaratnaminhisbook,IndiansInMalaysiaAndSingapore, alsodiscussestheaspectbyemphasizingontheprogressoftheMalaysianIndian communitysincethemiddleofthe19thcentury,politicalstatusbeforeindependence, whichistheBritishandJapaneseimperialperiod.Theauthoralsodiscussesthe changesundergonebyMalaysianIndiansinthesectorsofsocialandreligionuntil theyearof1970.BesidesthattheauthoralsoalsopicturisesthesituationofMalaysian IndiansinMalaypoliticsfrom1957to1970s.Althoughtheauthor'sdiscussionis aboutthesocio-economicalsituationofMalaysianIndiansduring1970s,problems regardingHinduismandHindutemplesarenotdeeplydiscussed. .Besidesthem,RajeswariAmpalavanar(1981)inherbookentitled,Theindian MznorityandPoliticalChangeinMalaya1945-1957,discussesMalaysianIndians PoliticalhistorysincetheJapaneseerauntilindependencein1957.Theauthorgives anobjectiveevaluationabouttheinfluenceofnationalistmovementinIndiaon MalaysianIndians.TheauthoralsostatesthecontributionofIndianstoworkers unionmovementandtheirrespondstowardsMalaysianlegalsystembackthen. RajooalsoexaminestheeffectsofHinduismonIndianeconomicstatusin anarticleentitled,'HinduReligiousvaluesandEconomicRetardationAmong theIndianPlantationWorkersinPeninsularMalaysia:AMythorReality'(1986, JurnalPengajianIndiaVo1.4.pp.42-50).TheauthorstatestowhatextenttheHindu beliefssuchasKarma(thefruitsofpastdeeds),dharma(justiceorobligations)and ~ebirtllaswellastraditionalsocialorganisationvalues(castesystem)playtheirparts

111.theprogressofsocialstatusofMalaysianIndianslivinginestatescomparedto

nlIddleclassIndianslivingincitiesinpeninsularMalaysia.Theauthorconcludes thatthosefactorsdonothaveanymajorimpactsonIndianslivinginestates.Inthis researchtheauthordidnotdiscussindetailaboutHindutemplesandproblems relatedtothem. Ramanathan(1996)andWiIHord(1998)aretworesearcherstobefocusedon asfarasthecurrentresearchisconcerned.Ramanathanstatesthatprogressand revivalismofIslaminMalaysiaputspressureonMalaysianHindustotakepositive stepstowardsbolsteringthestatusoftheirreligioninMalaysia.Itincludestheeffort tointroducenewchangesrequiredandmakesimpleinterpretationsofthemain

66JOURNALOFINDIANCULTUREANDCIVILIZATION

teachingsofthereligion.WhereasWillfordevaluatesthesocio-economicstatusand politicalsituationwhichcontributetotheformationofethnicfeelingandreligious awarenessamongstMalaysianTamillians.Heopinesthattheriseof'Tamil-Hindu' awarenesscouldbeseenamongsttheMalaysianTamilestateworkersmoreproneto receivingpopularreformationsinHinduismandtheywereintheprocessofforming culturalorganisations. AnotherarticletobefocusedisthatwrittenbyParameshwariKrishnaninthe Tamillanguageentitled,ThimmuruganAlaya11l-SabakBerna11l,Seumgor-oaralatrinmutn alkannottam(KuilMuruganSabakBernamSelangor-thefirstanalyseaccordingtothe perspectiveofhistoricalfacts.Thisisoneofthearticlesinthecollectionofarticles ofthebookFalsa!ahMuruganBicaraPelbagaiPerspekh!(2012).Inthisarticletheauthor statesabriefhistoryaboutMurugantemplesinMalaysiaaswellasdetailedhistory ofMurugantemplesinSabakBernam.Thisarticleiswrittenacademicallywithgood proofs.AlthoughthisarticlejustfocusesonlyonaMurugantempleinSabakBernam, explanationandanalysisofthisarticlearegoodandhelpustounderstandtempleof thatnatureislocatedinMalaysia.Thisarticleisalsousefulforthecurrentresearch intermsofhistoricalvaluesofMalaysianHindutemples. SujatavaniGunasagaraninhergraduationexercise(1999)entitled, KajianPerkembanganKuil-KuilYangTerpilindiIpohdani'erbondingandarisegiicesenian, explainstheaspectsofIndianartsintermsoftemplearchitectureandcompares themwithtempleschosenforthisresearch.Inthisresearchtheauthorhasspoken aboutaspectsoftemplearchitectureintermsoftheartisticperspective.Inthisthe authordoesnotdiscusstheproblemwithbuildingtemplesandmattersandproblems concerningrelocation. PuvanaArulArumugaminhergraduationexercise(2003)entitled,'A ComparisonofArchitecturalhistoricalstudiesonHinduTempleinSelangor',states historicalbackgroundsofarchitecturalofsometemplesinSelangor.Thisresearchis usefulinfindingtogaininformationonsomeimportanttemplesinSelangorandthis researchexplainshistoryofsometemplesandthedevelopmentofthetemplesfound inherresearchlocation. Analyseshowsthatasyetthereisnospecificresearchabouttheproblemof thecurrentresearch.Buttheinformationintheabove-discussedresearcheswill helptheresearchertounderstandabouttheIndiancommunityandtheproblemof constructingshrineswithinthecompartmentofthehousesinMalaysiaandtheywill alsobeusefulinanalysingtheproblemsthatthetemplesencounter.Thesepiecesof informationarealsoimportantinfindingresolutions,thathaveyettobeobtained fromthecurrentresearch.

Conclusion

Inanutshell,thephenomenonofestablishingshrineswithintheresidencecompound isbeingstudiedandthestudyonthisphenomenonisfundedbyEducationResearch GrantScheme(ERGS)oftheUniversityofMalaya.Thisstudyisexpectedtoprovide asolutiontothephenomenonaswellastheproblemscausedbytheshrinesbuilt unlawfullytotheowner,authoritiesandthepublic.Asyethereisnoanyconcrete explanationavailableonthisscenario.Hencetheresearchwhichisbeingconducted isexpectedtoproduceanddeliverthebestexplanationandsolution.Inorderto understandthephenomenawelttheresearcherisrequiredtopossessgoodand

ANEVALUATIONOFLITERATURESRELATEDToTHEPHENOMENONOFBUILDINGSHRINESWITHINTHERESIDENCE67COMPOUNDAMONCSrMALAYSIANINDIANS

rofuseknowledgeonhistoryofMalaysianIndians,historyofMalaysianHindu templesandrituals,rulesandregulativeprinciplesinvolvedinbuildingofaHindu emple.Thisstudyascertainsifitispermissibleorpropertobuildshrineswithinthe ;esIdencecompound.Ifitisfoundpermissible,thisstudywillbeaguidanceabout I~o_w.toaccommodatethenewreligiouspracticeamongotherpracticesofHinduism. ItISfoundimpermissibleaccordingtothereligioustextsandscripturesbutthe peoplestillneedsuchshrines,thestudywillsuggestwaystobuildtheminsucha waythatitneveraffectsanypartiesandbreachesthelaw.

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