Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Penang

Sri Mahamariamman Temple
Sri Mahamariamman Temple Location in Malaysia
Name
Proper name	Arulmigu Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Penang
Tamil	அருள்மிகு ஸ்ரீ மகா மாரியம்மன் கோவில்
Malay	Kuil Sri Mahamariamman
Chinese	马里安曼兴都庙
Pinyin	Mǎ lǐ Àn Màn xīng dū miào
Geography
Coordinates	5°27′54.46″N 100°17′12.20″E / 5.4651278°N 100.2867222°E / 5.4651278; 100.2867222Coordinates: 5°27′54.46″N 100°17′12.20″E / 5.4651278°N 100.2867222°E / 5.4651278; 100.2867222
Country	Malaysia
State	Penang
Location	George Town
Culture
Primary deity	Mahamariamman
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture
History and governance
Date built	1833
Creator	Unknown

Built in 1833, the Arulmigu Sri Mahamariamman Temple situated in George Town Penang is the oldest Hindu temple in Penang, Malaysia, and features sculptures of gods and goddesses over its main entrance and facade. It is located at Lebuh Queen,George Town.

It is also known as Mariamman Temple or Queen Street Indian Temple. Throughout the years, the Sri Mahamariamman temple has also been known by several names: Sri Muthu Mariamman Temple, Sri Arulmigu Mahamariamman Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple. All these names refer to the same temple. The temple is open daily from 6.30 am - 12.00 noon and 4.30 pm - 9.00 pm. It became a place of worship as early as 1801 and became a temple in 1833. It has stood at the same place for more than 200 years.

The temple is in central Georgetown on Lebuh Queen (Queen Street) and the back entrance is on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (Pitt Street), in between Lebuh Pasar and Lebuh Chulia. Located in Penang’s Little India, in the capital city of Georgetown, the Sri Maha Mariamman temple reflects the city’s rich cultural heritage.

Visitation to this temple is limited to morning and evening. Temple opens starts from morning 6 am till 12 pm and evening from 5 pm till 9 pm. The temples closes after the prayers are performed at 12 pm and 9 pm respectively. Daily there will be Pujas (prayers), mornings 7.30 am and evening 6.30 pm. Prayers are usually conducted by the temple priests in these times and visitors may observe these prayer sessions taking place. If you wish to enter the Sri Mahamariamman temple, it would be polite to ask permission from any of the priests and please remember to remove your shoes before entering the temple grounds.

Darshan (meaning open to the public) hours are from 6 am to 9 pm.

The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. Abishegam or Thirumanjanam is anointment of the idol with oils, sandalwood paste, milk, unguents and the like and then bathing it with water in an act of ritual purification. The most prominent abishegams are conducted at the ceremonies to mark the hours of the day. These are four in number - the Kaala Santhi, early in the morning, the Ucchikālam, in the afternoon, the Sāyaratchai, in the evening and the Ardha Jāmam, at night, immediately prior to the temple being closed for the day.