Batu Caves- Home Of The God Of War by Pushpitha Wijesinghe

The religious site known as the Batu Caves is located in the Gombak District in Malaysia. The cave temples which can be found here are positioned within the massive limestone hill at the site. The name "Batu Caves" was given to these shrines due to its location which puts it within easy reach of the Batu River. Regarded as a Hindu worship site, these temples have been dedicated to the Hindu god called Lord Murugan. Probably the most colorful festive occasion linked to this temple is the Thaipusam Festival which is a celebration that usually takes place during the months of January and February. This festival is said to celebrate a significant event in the history of Hinduism where Parvati handed a spear to Lord Murugan which he eventually used to put an end to the life of a demon known by the name of Soorapadman. This is the same spear Lord Murugan is seen holding in most of the paintings and sculptures done in honor of him by various artists. Lord Murugan's defeat of this demon is seen as a significant happening as the demon is said to have had possessed a boon which gave him the ability to protect himself against attacks by any god. At the base of the steps that lead the visitor to the caves on the hill you will see a larger-than-life golden statue of Lord Murugan himself. While these limestone caves are thought to be over 400 million years old, three primary cave sites and a number of other caves which are smaller in size can be found at the site. A visit to these amazing shrines is an experience not to be missed by anyone who plans to go on a sightseeing holiday to Kuala Lumpur.