The Sri Muniswarar Temple, Hospital Road, Sungai Petani. Kedah. Malaysia
editThe Sri Muniswarar Temple, Hospital Road, Sungai Petani, Kedah in Malaysia is situated at the upper Hospital Road. Ordained by a Nadar dovotee who resided at the back of the temple, its history could be traced before the Second World War. The area was surrounded by coconut trees and toddy tapping was the main mode of trade in the area then. It must also be noted that this narrow road from the present old hospital then led straight to the Sungai Petani town via the Clock Tower. There was a manned railway gate towards the town as Jalan Badlishah (named after the then ruler of the State of Kedah, Sultan Badlishah) was yet to be built (It was built and opened to the public in 1958 . This narrow road was much narrower near the site of the temple. As a result a lot of accidents were said to have occurred at this site which was then the main road from Sungai Petani to Alor Setar, the said resident by some miraculoss effect built a small shrine enclosed within a hut. As time passed on the temple progressed and in 1959 an ardent devotee made some renovation making it larger and finally surendering to the Committee of The Sri Subramania Swamy Devastanam at Jalan Kuala Ketil, Pekan Lama. The Temple further underwent renovations by another resident devotee during 1969/1970 era thus attracting more Hindu residents around the small town of Sungai Petani. The temple is unique by itself with the structures like Muniswarar standing, populary known to the locals by 'Muniandi' holding a sickle on the right hand. A horse with the rider (Savariar)and a hunter dog (Bairavar) on one platform and 'Munadiar' sitting and holding a sickle on his right hand in and another platform.
Sri Muniswarar or Muniandy is actually a reincarnation of Jaddhe Muni like Virabhadra (Veera Bakhtar) created by Lord Siva for his special task of preseverence and guardiance.