Sri Kunj Bihari Temple

Sri Kunj Bihari Temple is a Hindu temple situated in George Town, Penang, Malaysia.[1] It is the oldest Vaishnavism temple in Penang which was established in 1835. The temple is dedicated to Krishna who is worshiped in the form of Kunj Bihari with his chief consort Radha in the central sanctum of the temple.[2]

Sri Kunj Bihari Temple
Shri Kunj Bihari Temple, Malaysia
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DeityRadha Krishna
FestivalsKrishna Janmashtami, Radhashtami, Holi
Location
Location224, Jalan Penang, 10000 George Town, Pulau Pinang,
StatePenang
CountryMalaysia
Geographic coordinates5°41′41″N 100°32′38″E
Architecture
Date established1835
Website
http://www.skbtpenang.com

History

Among residents of Penang, this temple is also known as Krishna Mandir or Thakorwadi.[3] The earliest version of the structure is believed to have been built on this spot in the 1830s.[4] It was built with an endowment from Hindus in Bihar, North India.[5]

During the foundation years of George Town's urban development, the area favoured by North Indian traders was around Beach, Bishop, Penang and Chulia Streets. However, this temple is further west, along Penang Road, in an area which was then more associated with Malarbri Indians from the south.[6]

A religious centre

Sri Kunj Bihari Temple serves as a Hindu religious centre for the Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi and Sindhi people of Penang.[7] The Temple is administered by The Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB).[8] The current Commissioner of the Temple is Markend D Joshi.[9] The nearby Sri Bahari Road takes its name from this temple, although the spelling is slightly different.[5]

References
  1. Rampal, Krishna G. (2007-12-01). Sacred Structures: Artistic Renditions of Hindu Temples in Malaysia and Singapore. Bluetoffee. ISBN 978-981-05-9585-2.
  2. admin (2023-09-12). "Origins and History of Sri Kunj Bihari Temple and some other temples". Penang Tourism. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
  3. "Shri Kunj Bihari | Welcome To the Penang Hindu Endowments Board's Official Website". Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  4. admin (2015-08-08). "Origins and History of Sri Kunj Bihari Temple and some other temples". Penang Tourism. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  5. Khoo, Salma Nasution (2007). Streets of George Town, Penang. Areca Books. ISBN 978-983-9886-00-9.
  6. Jenkins, Gwynn (2008). Contested Space: Cultural Heritage and Identity Reconstructions : Conservation Strategies Within a Developing Asian City. LIT Verlag Münster. ISBN 978-3-8258-1366-6.
  7. Khoo, Salma Nasution (2007). Streets of George Town, Penang. Areca Books. ISBN 978-983-9886-00-9.
  8. "GJAT | JUNE 2016 | VOL 6 ISSUE 1 | 72" (PDF). Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah, MALAYSIA.
  9. Joshi, Markend D. (2017-01-18). "The significance of the Golden Chariot". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
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