Mardevirin Temple

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Mardévirin Temple, also known as the Patley Karly Temple or Kovil Moutoussamy Sangly Temple, is a Hindu building located on Rue du Petit-Bazar in Saint-André, on the island of La Réunion. Built in the late 1950s, specifically in 1957-1958, it was initiated by Maurice Sinama, a local entrepreneur in the Petit Bazar district. This temple, of architectural style typical of the Hindu religious buildings of the island, is distinguished by its concrete masonry, its two vimanams (ornate towers) and its mast of Nargoulan, emblematic elements of the meeting kovils. It is surrounded by four edicles and a porch supported by concrete pillars, reflecting a synthesis between Tamil traditions and modern materials.

The Mardévirin temple is part of the history of the Hindu places of worship in Reunion, marked by an evolution of materials, from straw or wood constructions from the first koylous to hardwood buildings of the twentieth century. It illustrates the transition to more sustainable urban temples, often linked to wealthy communities or families, such as that of Maurice Sinama. Its inscription in the inventory of historical monuments on 17 September 2010 underlines its heritage importance, both for its architecture and for its role in the religious and cultural life of Saint-André.

Architecturally, the temple consists of a main concrete building, covered with a terrace and surmounted by two vimanams, symbols of the divinity in Hinduism. Three edicles under the porch and a fourth in front of it complete the whole, each covered in terrace and decorated with polylobed frontons. A mast of Nargoulan, used during ceremonies, and an annex building complete the composition. These elements, combined with a metal frame for the porch, demonstrate the adaptation of traditional forms to the construction techniques of the period.

The Mardévirin temple shares its history with another nearby building, sometimes referred to as the "Petit Bazar temple", reflecting the density of places of worship in this neighborhood of Saint Andrew. Its official address, rue du Petit-Bazar, and its cadastre (AM 97) are referenced in the Mérimée base, confirming its territorial anchoring. Although the sources mention an approximate location (1956 Avenue Île de France), the temple remains a major spiritual and architectural landmark for the Hindu community.

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