Sokalingum Meenatchee Ammen Temple: A Historical Landmark

Mauritius Times – 60 Years

On Monday, the Maha Kumbabishegam (consecration ceremony) of the renovated Sokalingum Meenatchee Ammen Temple on Nicolay Road, Port Louis, took place amidst a large gathering. One might wonder why an age-old temple, existing for over a century, is being consecrated now. The answer is straightforward: timely and costly repairs were necessary to prevent the temple from falling into ruins. How much did these repairs cost? Thousands of rupees, we are informed. And why invest thousands in this old temple? Delving into its history reveals that the Sokalingum Meenatchee Ammen Temple of Port Louis is one of the oldest historical edifices on the island.

True to the grand traditions of Indian art, the temple’s builders left no trace for us to ascertain who constructed it and when. Not a single inscription adorns its walls. True artists and craftsmen eschew self-promotion; they seek to perpetuate the glory of God, not their own fame. However, fragmentary oral accounts suggest that the temple was erected in the early 1840s by South Indian sailors who arrived in Mauritius. It is believed that Indian architects conceived the entire temple complex, which was then crafted by Indian artisans.

The anonymous creators of the Sokalingum Meenatchee Ammen Temple stipulated, in keeping with ancient Hindu traditions, that the temple be situated beside a river. Hence, it was built near the Riviere des Lataniers. Though the river now runs almost dry, the temple remains—a silent witness to the eternal flow of history.

An intriguing aspect of this temple is the presence of a Buddha statue within its compound. It’s noteworthy that over 2400 years after his passing, his statue was erected for the first time in Mauritius. This isn’t the only nod to Buddhism: opposite the temple’s entrance stands an Arasa Maram tree, a specimen of the Maha Bodhi Tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment in Gaya, Bihar.

This is a subject that should pique the interest of all students of Mauritian history.”

Sockalingum Meenatchee Ammen Temple

A Historical Temple

On Monday the Maha Kumbabishegam (consecration ceremony) of the improved Sockalingum Meenatchee Ammen Temple of Nicolay Road, Port Louis, was performed in the presence of a large gathering. One may be tempted to ask why should an old temple which has existed for over a century be consecrated now. The answer is clear: the temple would have fallen into ruins but for the timely and costly repairs which have been effected on the temple buildings. How much did the repairs cost? Thousands of rupees, we are told. And why should thousands of rupees be spent on this old temple? One has only to go into the history of this temple to realise that the Sockalingum Meenatchee Ammen temple of Port Louis is one of the most ancient historical buildings of the Island.

True to the great traditions of Indian art, the builders of this temple did not leave behind any clue which can help us to learn about whom and when the temple was built. There is not a single inscription anywhere in the temple. Real artists and true builders don’t bother to have publicity around them: they don’t like to be known. It is their desire to perpetuate the glory of God, not to perpetuate their own name. But according to disconnected bits of information which have come down to us verbally it appears that the temple was built in the early 1840s by South Indian navigators who came to Mauritius. It is held that the whole temple and its spacious compound was conceived by Indian architects and built by Indian artisans.

The anonymous builders of the Sockalingum Meenatchee Ammen Temple insisted that the temple, again in accordance with immemorial Hindu traditions, should be by the side of a river and naturally it was sited near the Riviere des Lataniers. The river is almost dry today, but the temple is there — unfortunately as a mute witness of the eternal flow of History.

One of the interesting things about this temple is the presence of a statue of the Buddha in the compound of the temple. It is really remarkable to note that over 2400 years after his death his statue was put up in Mauritius for the first time. And that is not the only manifestation of Buddhism: just opposite the temple’s entrance stands an Arasa Maram* tree, a specimen of the Maha Bodhi Tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment in Gaya, Bihar.

Here is a subject which ought to interest all students of Mauritian history.

* Ficus Religiosa in Latin (sacred fig) or Arasa Maram in Tamil ( king of tree ), the peepal tree is sacred in Indian tradition — it is also known as the Bodhi tree or Aswatha tree. This sacred tree native to the Indian subcontinent is a storehouse of medicinal value.

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 14 June 2024