Source: New Straits Times
JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA, January 20, 2002: More than 25,000 Hindus, including many from Singapore, converged at the 50-year-old Sri Muniswarar temple in Tampoi, to witness the third Asthabhanthana Maha Kumbabishegam (consecration ceremony) here this morning. Kuala Lumpur-based priest, R. Krishnamurthy Gurukkal, was invited to perform the Mahayagam (fire sacrifice) as part of the worship of the temple’s three deities — Sri Muniswarar, Sri Murugan and Lord Ganesha. In a three-hour ceremony, Krishnamurthy, assisted by 27 priests, chanted a series of mantras to cleanse the temple of negative vibrations and bestow spiritual radiance. Temple building committee chairman S. Munusamy said a unique feature of the newly-renovated temple was the crafting of over 200 statues at the temple by 11 foreign experts led by T. Muthu, from Madurai, South India.