Sri Muthumariamman Temple Hannover

The Sri Muthumariamman Temple in Hanover is a faith center of Tamil Hindus and one of the largest temples in northern Germany.

In Lower Saxony, about 5,000 Hindus live. They established the Hannoversche Tamil Hindu Cultural Association in 1994 with approximately 300 members, mostly Tamils from Sri Lanka and a few members from Tamil Nadu.

They met from May 1994 every Friday in Döhrener Freizeitheim in their community and celebrated their puja (Poojah = ritual sacrifice and worship celebration in front of a statue of the Virgin). The members desired building a temple, so that they and their children will not lose touch with their native culture.

Particularly active was Mr Karunanithi who totally campaigned for the establishment of a Hindu temple. In an old factory building in Hanover-Badenstedt they found a suitable space. The Muthumariamman temple is the first Hindu temple in northern Germany thanks to the active support of the club members and the support of Mr. Rolf Häcker. A skilled Tamil artist from North Rhine-Westphalia was brought in to design and build the temple complex. The deities were created by ritual tradition in India at Mamallapuram by hand and transported by ship to Germany.

Shortly before the completion of the temple, the efforts took a severe blow. The initiator, Mr. Karunanilty, met with an accident on 16 June 1995 in Barsinghausen and lost his two children. After sometime the work continued and finally the Sri Muthumariamman Temple’s construction was completed. On August 28, 1995 at 8:40 the inauguration ceremony was held based on the muhurat decided. Six guest priests supported the former Hanoverian priests Kirupakarasarma at first, the most important day of the ceremonies, which is designated by an ancient Indian Sanskrit term as “Kumbaabishekam”: The temple which until then had no spiritual significance, now breathed life.

Sri Muthumariamman Temple Hannover

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The main goddess Muthumariamman also called Mariamman is the South Indian goddess of illness and rain. It is the main mother goddess in South India and predominantly in rural areas of Tamil Nadu , Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh , where there are numerous shrines for them. Mariamman is also one of the many manifestations of the Hindu Goddess Parvati.

The building was constructed between 2007 and 2009 for 300,000 euros. It is a simple building with about 140 m² usable space in a commercial area .

Inside the closest shrine with the statue of the main goddess, Muthumariamman. It is framed by two figures, the Guardians of the Goddess. Links this is the statue of the elephant-headed god Ganesha, right the god of the Tamils, Skanda (Murugan), both regarded as sons of Shiva and the Goddess. At the other end of the temple room there is the shrine of the statues of the Navagraha , the nine planets personified. Between the two main shrines is the companion animal of the goddess, the lion. Moreover, there is still another figure of the goddess in the temple, traditionally made of five metals or panchaloham. All idols were by ritual tradition in India at Mamallapuram designed by hand and imported.

Temple is located at Carl-Buderus-Straße 3A, 30455 Hannover. Hannover Main Station is the nearest railway station present. Hannover Airport is the nearest airport present.

Monday-Friday: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm & 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

Some of the major festivals celebrated annually include Ram Navmi, Janmashtami, Shivratri, Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali. Marking the Hindu New Year, Diwali is one of the grandest Hindu festivals, and attracts many visitors and devotees to the mandir.