Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple
| Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple (Vinayagar Temple) | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| Deity | Ganesha |
| Location | |
| Location | Jalan Tukang Emas |
| State | Malacca |
| Country | Malaysia |
Location in Malaysia | |
| Coordinates | 2°12′20″N 102°14′33″E / 2.205575°N 102.242448°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Chitty style simplified Dravidian architecture |
| Creator | Thaivanayagam Chitty |
| Completed | 1781 |
Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple is the oldest existing/intact Hindu temple in Malaysia and one of the oldest functioning Hindu temples in Maritime Southeast Asia. Located in the state of Malacca, the temple is one of the few existing Chitty temples in Malaysia.
The temple is situated on Jalan Tukang Emas, also known as "Harmony Street" because of its proximity to the Kampung Kling Mosque and Cheng Hoon Teng Temple.
The temple was built by Thavinayagar Chitty, the leader of the Chitty people, in 1781 after the Dutch colonial government of Malacca gave him a plot of land. The temple is dedicated to Vinayagar or Ganesha, the elephant deity. In the back room is a sculpture of the deity with the head of an elephant and the body of a man with four hands. There is another altar dedicated to Lord Muruga, the younger brother of Lord Vinayagar.