By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 30: Weighing more than 2,000 tonnes, the towering Raja Gopuram (main tower) of Sri Maha Mariamman Temple along Rock Road stands as a striking landmark of Hindu faith, cultural identity and architectural craftsmanship in Sarawak.
Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Association Kuching president Dato Shankar Ram Asnani said the main tower was constructed according to traditional Hindu architectural and religious specifications, involving detailed calculations and expertise from specialists in India.
He said temple construction was not simply a matter of putting up a building, as every aspect, including its orientation, height, proportions and placement of deities, had to comply with established religious principles.
“We needed specialists from India to actually do all the computations so that we have a proper temple. This is probably a very well-coordinated temple,” he said during the temple’s Maha Kumbhabhishegam (consecration) ceremony today.
Shankar said the temple’s Raja Gopuram, which weighs more than 2,000 tonnes, required particularly careful structural planning, including the foundation piling to support its immense weight.
He also recalled how the tower’s positioning had to be adjusted during the planning process to comply with the required setback under planning regulations.
He said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who chaired the relevant State Planning Authority (SPA) meeting, had highlighted the tower’s height, resulting in the structure being shifted backwards.
The temple’s restoration and rebuilding began in 2019, but progress was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic before it was finally completed this year.
Shankar said the project initially carried a budget of approximately RM3.5 million, but additional expenditure on imported granite deities, handcrafted religious sculptures and bronze items, as well as the consecration ceremonies, pushed the overall cost to an estimated RM5.5 million to RM6 million.
The temple’s granite deities and bronze religious items were brought in from India, while Indian artisans undertook specialised decorative and craftsmanship works.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the local Chinese contractors, describing their cooperation and generosity as instrumental in completing the project.
“They really helped. They don’t want to make money out of it. They said even if we do make money, we will give it back to the temple. That is how good they are,” he said.
Shankar estimated that constructing a temple of comparable standards today would cost at least RM10 million.
He said the temple’s architectural quality had attracted attention beyond Sarawak, with visitors and representatives from temples in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, Singapore and India travelling to Kuching to see the building.
He added that representatives from Batu Caves and other temples had also visited to witness the temple’s development and exchange knowledge.
Describing Hindu temple architecture as a combination of art, science and spiritual tradition, Shankar said its design was guided by ancient texts and religious principles passed down through generations.
He said the sanctum, pillars, carvings and Raja Gopuram represented a living heritage that would allow younger generations to understand their religious roots and preserve their cultural identity.
The restoration was also made possible through support from the Sarawak government, particularly funding channelled through the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor).
Shankar expressed gratitude to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Deputy Premier and the temple’s patron Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, and Unifor director Dato Georgina Apphia Ngau and her team.
He said the temple’s completion represented the collective efforts of the management committee, sponsors, devotees, volunteers and people from different communities.
While the main temple has been completed, Shankar said the association still needed approximately RM3.5 million to construct additional facilities, including a main hall, kitchen, proper toilets, an office and priests’ quarters.
He appealed for continued support from the Sarawak government, Unifor, benefactors and devotees to complete the remaining facilities.
Shankar said the temple was intended to serve not only as a place of worship but also as a centre for community gatherings, religious education and the preservation of Hindu traditions for future generations. — DayakDaily
