The Indian Ellora Caves constitute a specific cave complex ; they house the sanctuaries of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism Centres of worship of local animist
Abstract: The article presents the complex of Batu Caves which is on the one hand, one of the most recognizable religious centres of Hinduism in the area of
of the Batu Caves complex, about 13 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia believed to represent the most significant Hindu festival outside India
outside India The best exemplification of the differences is the religious practice of Malaysian Hindus as they have introduced a new trend in the Hindu
![[PDF] 162015101pdf - CORE [PDF] 162015101pdf - CORE](https://pdfprof.com/EN_PDFV2/Docs/PDF_1/27926_1162015101.pdf.jpg)
27926_1162015101.pdf
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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