Loyang Tua Pek Kong Vinayagar Temple, Singapore

Address

20 Loyang Way,

Singapore 508774

Moolavar

Vinayagar

Introduction

The Loyang Tua Pek Kong Vinayagar Temple is a unique Ganesh temple located at Loyang Way, Singapore. The temple is part of a larger religious complex, Loyang Tua Pek Kong, which combines Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism under one roof. It is renowned for housing the tallest statue of Lord Ganesh in Singapore, measuring an impressive 2 meters in height. The temple is a marvel of intricate wooden carvings and hundreds of sculptures representing various deities, attracting devotees and visitors alike. Open for prayer 24 hours a day, the temple has a rich history dating back to the early 1980s, when statues of different deities were discovered along the coast of Loyang Way.

Puranic Significance

Origin: The temple’s story began when a group of friends, while fishing near the industrial area of Loyang, discovered statues of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism scattered along the beach. This serendipitous discovery led the group to build a small shrine, initially a makeshift hut made of bricks and zinc sheets, to house the statues. This humble structure soon became a place of worship, attracting devotees from various faiths.
The Multi-Religious Heritage: In the early days, the temple’s area was expanded when a Muslim individual built a keramat (shrine) for Muslim prayers, adding to the multi-religious nature of the site. This blend of Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, and Islamic worship formed the foundation of the temple’s unique identity.
Fire of 1996: In 1996, a devastating fire destroyed the original hut that served as the temple. Remarkably, the statue of Tua Pek Kong, the Taoist God of prosperity, was the only statue to survive the blaze unscathed. This miraculous survival led to the temple being named Loyang Tua Pek Kong in honor of the God whose statue endured.
Rebuilding and Relocation: After the fire, the community came together with public donations to rebuild the temple on a 1,400 square meter plot of land. The new complex was established with the continued support of the public, and the temple’s name was formally changed to Loyang Tua Pek Kong. However, in 2003, the lease for the land expired, and the temple had to relocate. A new site was procured at 20 Loyang Way, where the temple was relocated in 2007. The new complex, costing SGD 12 million, was funded entirely by donations from devotees and the public.