Mariamman Hindu Temple

Mariamman Hindu Temple in Ho Chi Minh City has an orange and red facade. The Main Hall and the place of worship are located on the second floor of the structure. The structure has two entrances on Truong Dinh Street. The left exit is narrower and lower than the right. The 12 m high Raja gopuram above the right entrance draws the attention of travelers and visitors with statues of Amman, Luxshimi, Ganesha, Muruga, angels, dancing girls, and stunning figurines of lions and lotus decorations in various colors.

Mariamman, the statue on the left (and right), depicts a chubby woman seated in the middle of two yellow lions, holding a trident. She looks powerful in a blue shirt and pink trousers with floral motifs.

When people enter the temple, they feel transported away from the bustling city and Truong Dinh Street. The ground floor is supported by square stone pillars with Indian-style embellishments on top. The brown circular flowers with light bulbs adorn the ceiling. Ceiling borders are adorned with Naga snakeheads, Goddess figurines, and animals such as elephants. The presence of a number of colorfully painted vahanas for utsava murthis is one of the temple’s attractions. All of these elements are reminiscent of old Indian architecture.

Beautiful floral patterns are painted on the walls and between the pillars. They are known as “Bao lam” in Vietnam and are often manufactured by cutting wood. The “Bao lam” in the temple is simpler and more colorful, but it demonstrates that the design was inspired by traditional Vietnamese architecture. Furthermore, the temple’s window shutters are identical to those found on Vietnamese dwellings.

The modest shrine where Mariamman is adored is located in the center of the ground level. On either side of the Mariamma shrine are two shrines dedicated to Uncle or Pechiamman (right) and Aunt or Maduraiveeran (left). Middle Hall and Main Hall are the names of three shrines.

Many texts regarding Hinduism, Gods and Goddesses, temple information, and rules may be found on the walls. The ground level features 18 statues of Amman in various incarnations, as well as other deities. Outer Hall refers to the region surrounding the shrines, which includes the front outer hall, back outer hall, left and right outer hall. Mount Meru and Deity statues are located in the back outer hall, while reading areas and the office are located in the left outer hall. Siddharta Gautama and Ganesha, a lion with a crimson coat, are worshipped in the front outer hall.

A statue of Mariamman in black, wearing a colorful attire and accessories such as pomelo bloom necklaces and blossom garlands, may be found in the shrine in the middle of Main Hall. In front of the Mariamman figure are two lingas signifying male force and yoni representing female nature power. Two glass cases carrying statues of two deities are put in the space in front of her.

The shrine and the holy ground in front of the shrine are surrounded by railings. Visitors can sit on their knees, bow down, and deposit their offerings on tables in front of the fence.

Above the shrine of Mariamman in the Main Hall, there are figures of Ganesha, Mariamman, Siddharta Gautama, two deities on two sides, lions, peacocks, dogs, and elephants on the ceiling of the shrine. Mariamman has four hands with a trident, knife, rice bowl, and a drum wrapped in a snake.

Maduraiveeran is honored at the Maduraiveeran Shrine. Maduraiveeran’s ebony statue is adorned with flower garlands and elegant clothes. On top of the shrine are various Maduraiveeran statues, two lions, and other deities.

Goddess Amman’s sons Ganesha and Muruga are on her right and left in the main outer hall. Every 6th October – the festival of Mariamman Hindu Temple – the Lion (Simma Vahanam) to the left of the gate was carried around Saigon in a street procession.

There are 18 statues of Amman in various forms, as well as other deities, on the left, back, and right walls. The 18 statues reflect 18 human wishes. Kaliyamman, Birman, Birmasakthi, Samundi, Bhuvaneswari, Tirumagal, Mageswari, Indiradurgai, Meenakshi, Mahavishnu, Andal, Valambigai, Kanniiga Paramiswari, Kamatchiamman, Parvathi, and Murugan, Paramasivam, and Nadarajar are among them.

Mount Meru, a sacred mountain with five peaks in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology, is located in the back outer hall and is thought to be the center of all metaphysical, physical, and spiritual universes.