๐๐ข๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ฆ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉโ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ข๐?
๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ 17๐กโ ๐๐๐ 18๐กโ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ฆ!
Located on Jalan Air Itam, the Arulmigu Sri Ruthra Veeramuthu Maha Mariamman Devasthan
am has a hidden artifact hiding in plain sight. Those driving past would notice a rare figurehead of a turbaned Indian warrior adorning the faรงade of the temple and it had pique the curiosity of many as it has no religious significance to the temple.
As shared by Mr Ganesh Kolandaveloo: "Interesting artifact of Sri Ruthra Veeramuthu Maha Mariamman Temple @ Ayer Itam. (Article published in 1991 with a recent picture from 2015)"
According to a newspaper clipping from 1991, the rare figurehead of a turbaned Indian warrior is believed to be between 150 to 200 years old. It has been on the templeโs compound for some 60 years, after it was found on a hill in nearby Hye Keat Estate and was brought to the temple.
Made from chengal wood, the figurehead is believed to be from a vessel belonging to Messrs Young & Co, a former Penang shipping firm!
Photo credit: Kapal Sekawan.
Photo of the figurehead taken in January 2022 by Penang Hidden Gems.
Photo of the figurehead taken in January 2022 by Penang Hidden Gems.
Entrance to the temple.
A picture of a figure head. A figurehead is a carved wooden decoration found at the bow of ships, generally of a design related to the name or role of a ship. They were predominant between the 16th and 20th centuries, and modern ships' badges fulfill a similar role. Photo credit: Vulkano Uwe Horst Friese, Bremerhaven ๐ณ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐? ๐ช๐๐๐๐ "๐ณ๐๐๐" ๐๐๐ "๐บ๐๐๐๐"! Special thanks to @Ganesh Kolandaveloo for sharing the information on Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) Discussions.