Arulmigu Sannasimalai Andavar Temple in Cheng, Malacca is calling your name!

Its origins trace back to a mysterious jeeva samadhi, a spiritual tomb of an unknown Hindu saint who is believed to have come from India and settled in this part of Malacca nearly 130 years ago.

The saint was known for his deep devotion to Lord Shiva, performing daily worship to a Shivan Lingam and meditating on a nearby hill. Over time, this sacred hill became known as “Sannasimalai,” meaning “the saint’s hill,” and eventually gave the temple its name. The saint used to perform abisekham for the Shivan Lingam using fresh milk from a local cowherd. One day, in a miraculous turn of events, a cow and her calf appeared at his residence and began providing milk for the rituals. In memory of these divine creatures, a sculpture has been enshrined in the temple, symbolising purity and service.

Gifted in herbal medicine, the saint was often sought by the local community for remedies to ailments that modern medicine could not cure. Among his devotees was a man of Nattukotai Chettiar heritage, who cared for the saint and later donated the land where the temple now stands. Before attaining jeeva samadhi, the saint entrusted the Shivan Lingam to his devotee, instructing him to continue performing the sacred rites. The devotee later built a temple around the Lingam and consecrated it as a shrine dedicated to Lord Murugan, the divine son of Lord Shivan.








Many devotees have reported visions of a radiant, golden-hued Lord Murugan smiling from within the sanctum, blessing them with divine grace. The appearance of a peacock believed to be Lord Murugan’s celestial vehicle, further deepened this divine connection. The bird appeared mysteriously one day, and even after inquiries with the Malacca Zoo confirmed that no peacock had gone missing, devotees believed it to be a sign of the Lord’s presence and blessings.

Thousands of devotees from across Malaysia undertake a pilgrimage to the Sannasimalai Andavar Temple for Masi Magam festival. The two-day celebration begins with a grand silver chariot procession carrying the idol of Lord Muruga, beautifully adorned with flowers and offerings. The journey starts from the historic Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple in Malacca and continues for about 8 kilometres to Cheng. Barefoot devotees follow behind, breaking coconuts, carrying paal kudam (milk pots), and fulfilling vows made to the deity in gratitude for blessings of health, prosperity, and happiness.

Source / Image Credit : Theiva Darisanam தெய்வ தரிசனம், mysticaltemplesofmalaysia, Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthy & Sannasimalai Andavar Temple