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Kek Lok Si Temple

Kek Lok Si Temple

by | Apr 15, 2021 | Out And About

Kek Lok Si Temple

The Kek Lok Si Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. It is an important centre of pilgrimage for Buddhists from Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore and other countries in Southeast Asia. The complex has a striking seven-storey Pagoda of Rama VI.

Temple History

Chinese New Year

2021 Chinese zodiac is Year of the Ox

Chinese New Year 2021 falls on Friday, February 12th, 2021, and celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival on February 26th, 2021. Celebrations last up to 16 days, but only the first 7 days are considered a public holiday (February 11th–17th, 2021)

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Photos: 7 Feb 2021
Instrument: iPhone 12 Pro Max

The Realms of the Universe
The great tragedy of existence is that it is both endless and subject to impermanence, suffering and uncertainty.

Wall Murals George Town Malaysia

Wall Murals George Town Malaysia

by | Apr 4, 2021 | Murals

George Town Street Art

Wall Murals

In 2012 the George Town Festival commissioned Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic to create wall murals in the UNESCO Historical District of George Town, Penang Island, Malaysia. Though some murals are now in disrepair or are painted over, a few of the originals still exist. These are presented along with more recent creative expressions completed by local artists and found in various locations on the island. This is a continuing project that I started in April 2021.

Beautiful Eritrean Ladies

Beautiful Eritrean Ladies

by | Jan 1, 2021 | Portraiture

Young, beautiful, Eritrean Lady

The people of Eritrea come from nine different tribes and each tribe is different from the other in terms of language, music, clothes, food, customs and culture.

This lady is from the Kunama ethnic group indigenous to Eritrea, a Nilo-Saharan ethnic community living between the Gash and Setit (Mareb) rivers in Southwestern Eritrea, defining the boundary between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

She is a relative of Faytinga, a well known international singer and musician from Eritrea, though her mother.

Note: These are digitaliszed Images of original prints taking with a 35mm Nikon film camera (Oct 2000).

Eritrea

The term “eritrea” derives from Sinus Erythraeus, the name Greek tradesmen of the third century B.C.E. gave to the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and the Africa continent (now known as the Red Sea). Later, during the Roman Empire, the Romans called it Mare Erythraeum, literary meaning “the red sea.” When Italy colonized a strip of land along the Red Sea in 1890, they gave it the name Eritrea. Read about Eritrean culture, history, and society.
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Kuil Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Hindu Temple

Kuil Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Hindu Temple

by | Sep 22, 2020 | Out And About

Kuil Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani

The Kuil Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Hindu Temple , officially the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Kovil, better known as the Waterfall Hill Temple or “Thaneer Malai” (Tamil: அருள்மிகு பாலதண்டாயுதபாணி கோயில்) by locals, is a temple complex located close to the Botanical Garden, and near to my home in George Town, Penang.

The main deity of this temple is Murugan, the god of love and war. Visitors need to climb 513 stairs to reach the temple. It is the focal point of the Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia, after the Batu Caves. The hilltop temple, with its seven-storey 21.6m-tall gopuram (main tower), has been touted as the largest Lord Murugan temple outside India.

Location: 17, Jalan Kebun Bunga, Pulau Tikus,
George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia 10350. 14 May 2017.

Murugan

God of Love and War. The six most sacred abodes of Murugan as mentioned in Tamil sangam literature.

1. Thiruparankundram

According to the legend it is where Murugan slayed the demon Surapadman and married Deivayanai, the divine daughter of the king of heaven, Indra, and he is said to have worshipped Shiva here as Parangirinathar.
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2. Tiruchendur

It is believed to be the place where Muruga conquered the demon Surapadma. It is believed that the demigods of Muruga wanted to worship him in a place where there was a mountainous tract, sea and river and hence Tiruchendur was chosen.
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3. Palani

The 1st of 6 Abodes of Murugan, it is located in the city of Palani. Palani temple is considered synonymous with Panchamritam, a sweet mixture made of five ingredients.
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4. Swamimalai

As per Hindu legend, Muruga, the son of Shiva, extolled the meaning of the Pranava Mantra (AUM) to his father at this place and hence attained the name Swaminathaswamy. The temple is believed to be in existence from the Sangam period from 2nd century BC and was believed to have been modified and rebuilt by Parantaka Chola I. Read More

5. Thiruthani

Thiruthani Murugan temple is a Hindu temple, on the hill of Thiruttani, Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to Lord Muruga. The hill has 365 steps indicating 365 days of the year. It is fifth among the six abodes of Lord Muruga (Aarupadai veedugal). Read More

6. Pazhamudircholai

The great Tamil poet and saint Avvaiyar was tested by Muruga here. In an episode of Divine Play with Avvaiyar, one of the most famous devotees of Muruga, the Lord enacted a great drama here.
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Tamil Religions

Tamil religions denotes the religious traditions and practices of Tamil-speaking people. The Tamils are native to modern state of India known as Tamil Nadu and the northern and eastern part of Sri Lanka. Tamils also live outside their native boundaries due to migration such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, South Africa, Australia, Great Britain, United States, Canada, Réunion, Myanmar, Mauritius and in countries in Europe. Many emigrant Tamils retain elements of a cultural, linguistic, and religious tradition that predates the Christian era.
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Early Tamil Religion

A Neolithic cattle-herding culture existed in Tamil Country several millennia prior to the Christian era. By the fifth century, a relatively well-developed civilization had emerged. It is described in some detail in Tamil texts such as the Tholkappiyam (third BCE) and by the Sankam poets—an “academy” of poets who wrote in the first two centuries of the Common Era.
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