Mystical Kedah and My Nomadic Rituals

Image: Kodiang mountain. Let's go catch a geodude.

Rural Kedah is a world of its own. It is heavily concentrated with mysticism. It is no wonder that this kṣetra finds her unique reference in ancient texts.

The land of Kedah is unique to its region. No other state in the Peninsular has its land as vibrant as what you get in Kedah.

The very space of this land still preserves its ancient aura. 

Most of my late teenage years were cupped by this mystical land.

I am not native to Kedah. I was born in Subang Jaya and subsequently did my schooling in the legendary SMK Seafield, and then A-Levels in Taylor's College. That is very grey indeed. My exposure was mainly to skyscrapers and buildings. 

The little rural exposure I got was when I followed my father, a veterinarian to work, which involved visitation to poultry farms ( typically during disease outbreaks ) that decked the northern states. 

It was only in August 2014 when I moved to Kedah to pursue medicine at AIMST University, an institute with a very ancient link.

So for 4 years, I was a resident of this campus which was located at the foot of the Jerai Mountain 

Image: Sharing of a fellow Malaysian on an online forum.

Image: AIMST University, 2014. Mist from the Jerai Mountain shrouding the campus.

The institute

 

Image: View from my room on an early morning, 2014.

Image: Campus' temple. 

Video: Gāyatri japa as a worship to Lord Sūrya who ascends as dawn peels over the sky.

As mentioned, the campus, set at the foot of the Jerai Mountain, had already provided me many glimpses of the powerful space of Kedah. The residue of its ancient magic, mysticism, supernatural beings and dimensions is still intense in this space.

Not saying everything here is spiritual, it is just very, very mystical. There are hidden dimensions within this space that can be potentially harmful, as they can dampen your connection with the plane or world you physically exist in. There are many interdimensional overlap here.

Image: A hidden temple which opens only once a year, located in Semeling, Kedah.

From 2017, I started exploring other hidden parts of Kedah as I was getting frequent calls to events for Veda recitation.

It started with a very grand Maha Kāla Bhairava Yāga in Nandhi Ashramam, Sungai Petani. Many śivācarya-s were involved in it. The network started there and many of them would call me for events throughout the year.

This continued for 3 years until my graduation in 2019. In these years, I had the grace to step foot into many hidden sites in Kedah. The mystical experiences got denser.

Till date, I am still in awe when I recall certain sites and temples. Their mysticism is so intriguing that I am still left with unanswered questions to date. 

This includes the pathways and routes which are alien to many who are native to Kedah itself. Long drives here are very therapeutic too.

Video: Long-drive to Kupang's Mariamman temple. I have done a writeup of the temple in this website. Click here to read.

Image: A temple which never witnessed its completion. 

The image above has a lot of fond memories. This temple is now abolished. This Shiva temple was constructed in one the the deepest rurality of Semeling, close to Jerai Mountain.

It unfortunately never witnessed its completion. In 2019, I got a surprise call to visit this site early in the morning, hours before sunrise. A Rudra homa was arranged with the resolution for the completion of the temple consecration. 

Despite not having a completion in its consecration, this temple went viral in social media and myriad frequented it. However, most visits were followed by unpleasant experiences. Many witnessed non-human beings who seemed hostile. Hence, people were not advised to stay in the temple beyond 3pm or visit it before sunrise.

There were some who chose to challenge this instruction, only to meet with severe life-threatening mishaps.

Once, a Vārāhi upāsaka from India was brought to this place. Upon scanning the land, he revealed that this particular land was occupied by nāga-s and possibly other beings. They never liked humans visiting their home. It was due to this reason that the temple could never attain its completion. Fair enough.

Image: 2019; setting up the homa kuṇḍa in pitch dark, mildly illumined with lamps.

Sunrise..

After my graduation, I went back to Kuala Lumpur, worked in Johor and then now, somehow fate brought me back to a Deja-vu ride. The difference now is I am initiated into śaiva tantra.

My preference now is more to isolation and self-rituals. I still get called to events but it is less of a priority now. I think I have had complete contentment and gratitude for all the opportunities which enabled me to recite in many sites of Kedah. Thanking all the ācarya-s who have invited me to all the lovely sites and temples.

Image: Chemor's Vīramākali- amman temple, 2023

Image: Rudra homa for a friend, 2023

Image: Kupang Thiruvizha 2024

Image: For the past 2 years, Mahāśivarātri has been a personal celebration. A rudra homa which took approximately 7 hours to complete, when done with elaborate āgamic procedure from kumbha sthāpana, pratiṣṭha, and agni kārya.

I realise that I actually enjoy a nomadic-vedic lifestyle. I have my homa items ( sruk, sruva, ahūti etc ) stored in my car. If the mood to long drive arrives, I engage in one. Gradually, the inspiration to perform homa at attractive places which I pass by occurred to me. I trialed. It went well. Now it is a favourite hobby.

Image: Mahāśivarātri yāga

Image: Me after the ritual.

It's simple. I drive. I see a nice spot. I spend some time. I cherish the moments. I drive back.

Video: A blissful drive after hospital, heading to one of my favourite spots in Kedah.

Image: A patient in the hospital was storying an ancient temple within the short radius I was not familiar with. The same, day, I lost track when driving back home and stumbled upon this temple out of nowhere.. it was then I realised that this, was verily the temple described by the patient. Calling temples, as we term them.

Image: Just a typical drive in Kedah.

Image: Performing an Agni Kāryam in a place like this is indescribable.

It is just you amid dense greeneries. No humans. Just you, the deity, and cute monkeys and doggies as your audience.

Image: Puppies sleeping peacefully under the protection of the divine mother who presides the tree.

Video: Feeding the boys while enjoying the rain. No trace of humans...

When I perform a ritual in these places in Kedah, the experience is simply beyond bliss. I feel so complete, especially when I can take my own time to wholly go into every ritual and step.

Surprisingly, this being one of my favourite shrines, was established by my samskṛta teacher who happens to be local to this region. Destiny works in a miraculous way.

Video: A memorable homa in a 200 year old Muniandy shrine in Bedong. I was greeted by śrī devi in the form of cows right after the ritual.

Video: This was post-homa in a small shrine in a rural estate. There is barely any electricity here. No sight of anyone either. At 7.30 pm, the homa ended and there was a beautiful downpour.

Image: I capture moments so I can share with my close contacts. When joy overloads you, it overpours as sharing.

Image: A random temple by the residence in Selama. This area is beyond GPS

Image: In the dense greenery, reciting āraṇyāni sūktam of ṛg veda an attaining oneness with the forest mother is so fulfilling.

Video: Most beautiful temples were discovered incidentally. Imagine driving somewhere and just stumbling across a heavenly abode atop a hill like this. Me being me, I start by fun.

Image: A dip in this nature made pool with some pavamāna sūktam maybe?

Image: A waterfall in Kedah. Tales of locals spotting gigantic nāga-s and other beings who find reference in ancient architectures or scriptures is common in waterfall areas here. 

Video: A cendol, coffee in a tiny small-town stall after a homa ritual(s). I am addicted to self-dates. 

Image: Downpour is not uncommon after a homa. Perfect for a small bowl of Mee rebus.

Or cendol....

Image: I did not spare my campus' temple as well. A ritual in a shrine adjacent to a beautiful lake, which envelopes the campus, overseen by my beloved āditya.

Image: The previous Vice Chancellor of the institute, Prof. Dr. Ravichandran and I partying with a 4 am homa. I was so sleepy that I misplaced the kalasha. This was two months back when the grand inauguration of the late Chancellor, Tun Samy Vellu's statue in the institue. Back in my undergraduate days, Prof Ravi and I worked on many research ideas and projects on Vedic chanting and its effect in environment.

Image: A tiny trunk road in the midst of the estate houses in Sungai Batu, Kedah. Just continue traversing this route and you will stumble across this beauty below

Image: A 200 year old Rāma temple

Image: A beautiful experience after a homa for Lord Sūrya using Suryopaniṣat. My face started glowing with the lustre of the Sun. Sadly, it was not permanent. Nevertheless, I can vouch for the effectiveness of a ritual when done properly as per the scriptures ( with application of full-fledged ācamana, nyāsa, bhūta śuddhi etc ).

Image: Returning to vāhana after homa. Those are the vastra, sruk, sruva and unused samid sticks.

Image: Sitting with Dyauḥ pita at Kodiang Hill.