The Ceylon Tamils living in both these areas were devout Saivites and as they fervently believed that 'no one should live in a place that has no Temple ', they soon began to organize themselve into Associations. The Government provided accommodation for the white and the blue collar workers in these areas. In British Malaya, the Ceylon Tamil population, who was then mainly employed in the railway industry, was mainly concentrated in Brickfields and Sentul because of the proximity of the Administrative Centre of the Malayan Railway (opposite the railway station) and the Sentul Workshop in Kuala Lumpur. The temple provide religious services such as house warming ceremonies and child 31st day ceremony. The Sri Kandaswamy Kovil is managed by the Malaysian Ceylon Saivites Association. The Kalamandapam hall which holds wedding ceremonies and is owned by this temple was officiated by the 2nd Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdul Razak.

The temple architecture is said to be inspired by the Nallur Kandaswamy temple in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. It is huge and showcases rich Sri Lankan Tamil architecture and has become a popular tourist attraction in Kuala Lumpur. The temple is one of the most prominent Sri Lankan Tamil or Ceylonese Tamil temples in Malaysia. Sri Kandaswamy Kovil is a Hindu temple located along Jalan Scott, Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Location = Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Proper_name = Sri Kandaswamy Kovil, Brickfields MPH Group, Kuala Lumpur.Creator = Selangor Ceylon Tamil Association PenangВ : An Inside Guide to Its Historic Homes, Buildings, Monuments and Parks. P.049 Tanjong Member of ParliamentВ : Ng Wei Aik (Democratic Action Party) N.26 Padang Kota State AssemblymanВ : Chow Kon Yeow (Democratic Action Party) Political Representation Penang State Government The temple is open daily between 0630 hours and 1200 hours, as well as 1630 hours and 2100 hours.ДЄs of July 2016, the temple is undergoing renovation works. The temple serves as the main focal point for annual Hindu festivals like Thaipusam and Navarithri.ДЄs of July 2016, Arulmigu Mahamariamman Temple is undergoing renovations. It was only renamed Sri Arulmigu Mahamariamman Temple in 1980, and has since also been known as Sri Mariamman Temple. When the temple was completed in the 1830s, it was named Sri Muthu Mariamman Temple. Also known as the gopuram, it also has four serious-looking swans. One of the most imposing features of the Dravidian-style temple is its 23-feet tall tower at the front facade that contains 38 statues of Hindu deities.

The deity is portrayed as a motherly figure in Hindu mythology, as well as the patron deity of southern Indian peasants. Dedicated to the Hindu deity, Sri Muthu Mariamman, its name was derived from the words mari, meaning power, and amman, meaning mother.

However, it was only in 1833 when the temple we see today was built. Thus the temple had its origins as a small Hindu shrine founded in 1801, which was intended to ensure that southern Indians remained in one particular locality, allowing the British easier management of the different ethnic groups on Penang Island. The land on which the temple stands was given in 1801 by British authorities to Betty Lingam Chetty, the Kapitan (leader) of southern Indians at the time. Most worked as harbour workers in the newly-established Port of Penang. By 1801, about 2,000 southern Indian workers were living within the vicinity of what will become today's Little India.

Kovai sri muthu mariamman