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CHETTI VILLAGE AT MALACCA
RESTORATION
Kampung Chetti is a heritage village that was gazetted by the Melaka Museum Corporation (PERZIM) in July 2002. Kampung Chetti is located next to Gajah Berang High School. Kampung Chetti has a unique community and has interesting historical elements in this village. The area of Chetti village is 4 acres.
FRAMMING OF THE SRI MUTHU MARIAMMAN TEMPLE
HISTORY OF THE SITE
The Sri Muthu Mariamman Temple (GPS: 2.20432, 102.2394) within the Chetti Village is the main temple of the village in Malacca. Also called Dato Chachar temple is located at the end of the country lane that leads into the village. The temple was built in 1822 and has been renovated a number of times. Mariamman, Muthu Mariamman, Mariyaiee, are various names used to call the Rain Goddess (Sri Muthu Mariamman). The Muthu Mariamman because she is the goddess of smallpox. This goddess is popularly worshiped by many people in Indian Mariamman is a symbol of sacrifice and motherhood and She will offer abundant wealth and good health to her faithful devotees. At that time she was also worshiped as a Goddess who would save her people from viral diseases such as smallpox, measles and chicken pox. Neem trees and leaves, turmeric powder and rain are things associated with Goddess Mariamman. This temple has been the main temple that been held the festival and religious ceremony in Chetti Village.
STAKEHOLDERS
The main stakeholders of the Sri Muthu Mariamman temple are their residents communities of Chetti Village. The community’s affairs and temple properties are managed by the community’s headman in the style of the Indian panchayat (Hindi: village council) system. In accordance with Hindu practice where devotees donate properties to the deity's service, many communities Chetti Melaka have donated lands to the Sri Poyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple Trust.
LOCAL CULTURAL PATTERNS OF LAND USE
Traditionally, the Chetti Melaka community were staunch followers of Saivite Hinduism and key Chetti Melaka festivals coincide with major religious events in the Tamil Hindu calendar. These include including Pongal (Harvest Festival), Mahashivratri (Festival of Shiva), Puthandu (Tamil New Year), Navaratri (Festival of Nine Nights) and Deepavali. As the Chetti community also includes many Christians, Christmas and Easter are also important festivals for the community.
The most important annual festival, Sembahyang Dato Chachar or Megammay Thiruvizha, is dedicated to the goddess Mariamman. During the festival, thousands of devotees attend the festivities held at the Muthu Mariamman Temple in Gajah Berang. Other temples such as the Kailasanthar and Angalamman Paramesvari, also host festivals dedicated to their central deities, such as Mahashivratri and Theemithi, albeit on a smaller scale.
While some festivals are celebrated at the temples, there are also many home-based observances and ritual practices. The most notable Chetti observances are the parachu prayers that take place twice a year – Bhogi in January and Parachu Buah Buahan in July. Both prayers are dedicated to ancestor worship and involve the preparation of special foods laid out in odd-numbered banana leaves for the ancestors to partake.
Although these festival related ritual practices were strictly adhered to in the past, few families outside Melaka continue to observe them when celebrating traditional Chetti Melaka festivals today.
MAPPING & SITE ASSESSMENT OF SRI MUTHU MARIAMMAN TEMPLE
THE CULTURAL CHARACTER SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TEMPLE
In 1822, this temple was built to provide convenience to the people around Chetti Village. Among the main facilities provided is to pray according to Hindu beliefs. At the same time, this temple is also their place to celebrate various activities. Among the activities provided at this temple are the main festival activities such as Deepavali.
Next, wedding and engagement activities for new couples to start a family. At the same time, this temple is also home to many other important festivals like Parvati. The most popular is the Diwali festival. The festival of Diwali is celebrated in the month of Ramadan. During this period, people gather to celebrate the holy day of fasting. During this celebration, they eat sweets and drink alcohol. The food eaten during the Diwali festival is called 'Dhaba' or dhabas.
The main purpose of this festival is to spend time with your relatives and friends. The best part about this festival is that it is not just a festival but also an opportunity to meet.The history of the temple preservation has been restoration and reconstruction through times to times according to their passage of time. Literally, Ālayam means “Ālayam deva śarīrah bhūtam” that is, the temple is the physical appearance of God. In other words, form something A Hindu temple is a symbolic representation of God in form of humans.
Ideally, a Hindu temple should have twelve structure, but in Malaysia, at least, these nine structures should have to build a temple. For example:
1. Garbhagṛha / Mulasthana
2. Stūpī & Vimāna
3. Artha Maṇṭapa
4. Vāhana
5. Balipīṭha / Balipīṭham
6. Kodimaram / Dvajastambha
7. Māha Maṇṭapa
8. Vasanta Maṇṭapa
9. One Prakāram
Vāhana:
The majority of Hindu deities are vhanas or vehicles. Usually, animals or birds serve as this transport. The gods often move or sit on their various chariots. Puranas describe the myths and allegories surrounding Vhana. It is said that Vhana is the manifestation of Gods and Goddesses. For the god muthu mariamman temple Simha (Singa) be the vehicules.
Garbhagrha or Mulasthana:
The main part of a temple is the Garbhagṛha or Mūlasthana. Garbhagṛha means “womb chamber”. the main god of the temple will be pleced on here. At this temple the Muthu Mariamman placed at here. In temple construction, this part must be built first compare to other structure. More over mulasthana must be in square shape and has a low roof. The door outside the Garbhagṛha should be made of wood.
Vimana:
The Vimāna or Śikhara is the dome over the Garbhagṛha. After worshiping the Lord who resides in Garbhagṛha, a devotee is required to go out and worship the Vimāna. There are three forms of Vimāna namely: Vesara, Nagara, and Dravida Vimāna is built with bricks and coated with cement. The carving on the Vimāna should correspond to the Mūla Mūrti (The main god in the temple). Bhūta and Vāhana must adorn the four directions of Vimāna.
Artha Maṇṭapa
The area between Garbhagha and Vahana is known as Artha Maapa. • By one count, Artha Maapa is just half as large as Vahana of the Garbhagha's dimensions. That's because "artha" is Sanskrit for "half." The length of Artha Maapa can match that of Garbhagha. In the Vaiava tradition, this area occasionally transforms into yana Maapa, or God's combat area.
Balipīṭha / Balipīṭham:
This is where the food is served. A Gurukal will start the procession to serve food to the Parivra Devat after offering Naivedyam to the Lord at the Garbhagha. The first offering given to the Utsava Mrti or "balibera" carried in the procession. Food offerings will be placed at Balipha after circumambulating the main arc at Garbhagha. Materials used to build Balipha include stone, metal, dirt, or brick. Balipha can be circular, octagonal, square, irregular square, sixteen sided or square.
Māha Maṇṭapa:
Maha Maapa is the name given to the area where people can stand. People often sit or stand here to observe the religious ceremonies that take place in the Garbhagha. In half of the temples, this area is often a separate structure from the Garbhagha. The size of the Garbhagha determines the size of the Maha Maapa, which cannot be decided randomly. Its width should be twice as wide as the Garbhagha, and its length should be three to five times that of the Garbhagha.
Vasanta Maṇṭapa:
This is the place that Utsava Mūrti and His consort be placed for prayer in the temple
Kodimaram:
Temple flagpoles are an important component of traditional Hinduism. If the flag is waved in front of the temple, the deity will be pleased. The Pcartra inscription mentions the importance of Kodimaram and gives details about the size of the temple, location, type of wood, color of the flag, etc. The wood of a tree must also be used to carve kodimaram. To make Kodimaram, only hard wood like teak should be used. Religious writings, however, do not mention using metals or other materials.
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