Mount Edgecombe Mariammen Temple

By Marimuthu Subramoney A temple started by an indentured woman labourer at Mount Edgcombe on the North Coast in 1891 has progressed to become one of the most popular religious institutions today. The Shri Mariammen Hindu Temple, which at one time faced demolition by the sugar bosses, today, nearly 120 years later, attracts more 300 000 devotees and visitors annually during the Easter period. The woman, who was identified as Velatchee, was working in the area as a gardener when she discovered a Puthoo or sacred mound. "Our information is that the woman wrapped the mound with a saree and thereafter the community built a tin shanty around it," said 67-year-old Ruthnam Veeran, who was secretary general of the temple in 1980. "The site was called the Mariammen Temple and the woman became the priest. Thereafter once a year in July the Mariammen or porridge prayer used to be observed at the make-shift temple," said Mr Veeran, whose indentured grand-father hailed from the state of Kerala in south India. The "tin shanty" temple served the community until the 1920s when the owners of the sugar estate, Natal Estates, helped the community to build a wood and iron building and a road to the temple. Some of the early pioneers who helped in the temple work included Harilall(chairman); Vadi, K. Nagapan, Short Peru, Dorasamy, Peri Boy, P. Ramsamy, Kadai Perie, and Sam Pillay, who taught Tamil and acted as a priest. In the late 1970s and early 1980s the number of devotees visiting the temple began to increase dramatically following the establishment of the Phoenix township. But the future of the temple was threatened in the early 1980s when the Tongaat-Hulett Group, which took over ownership of the estate from Natal Estates, decided to close down the barracks and move the people. Mr P. Dixon Chinsamy, who was another senior official at that time, said Tongaat-Hulett wanted the temple officials to breakdown the temple and move it to Campbells Town. "But the temple officials refused and informed the white bosses that if they wanted to demolish the temple they should do it themselves," said Mr Chinsamy. "They told us they will give us two weeks to change our minds because as far as they were concerned 'the temple is only an ant-heap'. Our officials, led by K. Nagappa, insisted that we will not bow to any pressures. "They then told us that they will bring in a bulldozer and smash the wood and iron building. One of the bosses, Van Rooyen, said he would drive the bulldozer himself. When he was just about to drive the bulldozer, he collapsed and died of heart-attack on the spot. "The personnel manager, Des Brewer, who was there at the time phoned his boss and told him of what had just taken place. Brewer then tried to intimidate us. He pulled off his shoes and went inside the temple. He found two eggs that we had offered as prayer. "When he broke the eggs and found that they were empty he took fright and told us that we would be informed in two weeks about the future of the temple. After two weeks he telephoned to tell us that we can keep the temple," said Mr Chinsamy. Over the next two decades the temple underwent major improvements and renovation under the leadership of Mr Arumagum Archary, Mr Ruthnam Veeran, Mr Dixon Chinsamy and other officials. Today the temple boasts facilities for both Hindi and Tamil-speaking devotees, offices and a modern hall. One of the officials who assists in the running of the temple today is Mr Pat Palliam, a Tamil scholar and cultural leader. "This temple has become a major place of spirituality because the people experience the divine power of the mother," said Palliam in fluent Tamil. "The powers of the mother is all embracing and the devotees feel her presence. That is why we have devotees here everyday and during Easter more than 300 000 visit the temple. All of us who help here are the mother's servants." The chairman of the Temple, Gonaseelan Archary, said they promote the temple as a spiritual insititution for all people and for all faiths. "We want the temple to be a place of spirituality for all people. But at the same time we take great pride in acknowledging our roots and promoting our cultures, traditions and languages. Our forefathers have sacrificed a great deal for us and we have to keep alive their legacy," said Archary. "In addition to the religious activities, we also become involved in social upliftment and community development. We are part and parcel of the community we serve." ends