Sri Sakthi Velan Temple, where the forest surrounds you and the breeze carries your prayers. It was here that Velayutham Pillai, the owner of the land, experienced a profound spiritual moment that would later shape the destiny of this sacred place.

While immersed in dhyanam (meditation), his tranquillity was suddenly broken by the call of a mayil (peacock). The sight was unusual, as peacocks are not native to Malaysia. The bird briefly perched upon a massive tree above him before disappearing into the dense jungle. Deeply moved, Velayutham Pillai perceived the incident as a divine sign from Lord Murugan. He felt an inner conviction that the tree was sacred and that the land had been divinely chosen for worship. Guided by this intuition, he built a modest shrine beneath the tree in 1965 and generously donated an acre of land for the establishment of a temple.

In 1979, the shrine was renovated, and a statue of Lord Murugan was consecrated in the main sanctum. With the continued support of devotees and residents, the first kumbabishekam was conducted in 1999. The second kumbabishekam, held in 2024, was performed in a grand and elaborate manner, made possible through the collective contributions of devotees whose lives had prospered under Murugan’s grace.

Over the years, many extraordinary incidents were reported near the sacred tree. On one occasion, a devoted volunteer climbed the tree to prune its branches, as falling leaves and twigs frequently covered the temple roof. Suddenly, he heard a thunderous voice warning him to climb down immediately. Shaken, he obeyed, and moments later, the very branch he had been standing on crashed to the ground. Realising he had been saved from certain death, the devotee prayed fervently for forgiveness. Upon consulting the temple priest, he was reassured that Lord Murugan had intervened to protect him. The priest advised him to continue his service to the deity with devotion.

During the temple’s early years, the surrounding forest was rich with wildlife. In one notable incident, a Chinese landowner who lived nearby was driving through the area when a young boy suddenly darted across his path and climbed the sacred tree. The child appeared regal and was dressed in fine attire, unlike anyone from the locality. Alarmed, the man stopped his vehicle to search for the boy, fearing he had lost his way in the jungle. To his astonishment, the boy vanished without a trace. When he later recounted the incident to temple devotees, a wise elderly woman known for her spiritual insight explained that it was Lord Murugan playfully revealing his divine presence.

The sacred tree that symbolised Murugan’s manifestation was later struck by lightning and fell. Devotees, though deeply saddened, gathered the remaining bark and placed it atop a concrete structure to preserve the memory of the temple’s humble beginnings. To this day, the remnants of the divine tree remain a focal point of worship. During Thaipoosam, kavadi bearers first gather near this spot to seek Murugan’s blessings before commencing their vows. Many devotees also place their palms upon the bark, believing the shakti comes out from it purifies the soul and removes accumulated sins.

Following the temple’s establishment, a puttu formed nearby. Devotees occasionally sighted a rare white cobra, believed to be a divine guardian protecting the temple grounds. One individual who accidentally entered the temple vicinity late at night later fell gravely ill with chickenpox. Realising his transgression, he prayed silently to Nagamma for forgiveness. After recovering swiftly, he returned to the temple to offer prayers and gratitude.

Another significant incident occurred during the manjal neer attam ceremony held as part of the annual temple festival. A young devotee with hearing and speech impairments, known for his selfless service at the temple, encountered the white cobra as it appeared before him and gently raised its hood in silent blessing. Unafraid, the devotee offered the cobra a bowl of milk, which it accepted before disappearing into the forest. Overcome with devotion, the young man gazed at the Krithigai natchatiram and expressed his gratitude to Lord Murugan.

Numerous devotees have also experienced Murugan’s compassionate grace in times of hardship. A mother facing severe financial distress and imminent home repossession attended the temple’s kumbabishekam with a heavy heart. Shortly after returning to participate in the mandala abisekham, she received a call from her bank informing her that her loan would be restructured under favourable terms. Overwhelmed with relief, she credited Murugan for alleviating her suffering.

In another instance, a transport entrepreneur burdened by debts continued attending weekly pujas despite his failing business. One night, he dreamt of renewing his lorry’s road tax after ten days. Trusting the dream, he purchased lottery tickets bearing the vehicle’s registration number on the tenth day and won the first prize. The winnings enabled him to settle his debts, revive his business, and contribute generously to the temple.

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A young couple, newly married and forced out of their home due to family disputes, sought refuge at the Sakthi Velan Temple. An elderly temple caretaker advised them to light six ghee lamps for Lord Murugan. That night, the husband dreamt of winning a large sum of money. Though the dream served only as hope at the time, faith led him to later win a substantial lottery prize. The couple rebuilt their lives, established a successful business, and expressed their gratitude through service and donations to the temple.

Among the temple’s revered devotees is Krishna Ammal, who has worshipped at the temple since childhood. Her melodious recitation of Thevaram hymns enhances the spiritual atmosphere during temple functions. Endowed with divine intuition, she occasionally offers arul vakku to devotees. She advises those suffering from naga dosham to seek Nagamman’s blessings through circumambulation and humble offerings of milk and turmeric and encourages those facing financial difficulties to pray to Lord Murugan on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sasthi days.

There's something truly magical about the Sakthi Velan Temple. It's a place where wishes come true and spirits are lifted, especially in tough times.

Image Credit / Source : mysticaltemplesofmalaysia , Sri Sakthi Velan Temple Kampung Taman Jaya