Singapore Sri Thendayuthapani Temple

Address

15 Tank Rd,

Singapore 238065

Moolavar

Sri Thendayuthapani

Introduction

Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, better known as the Chettiars’ Temple, is one of Singapore community’s most important temple Completed in 1984; it replaces a much earlier temple built by the Chettiars. The temple was gazetted as a National monument of Singapore on 20 October 2014.

Puranic Significance

This Shaivite temple, dedicated to the six-faced Lord Subramaniam (Lord Muruga), is at its most active during the festival of Thaipusam, where the procession ends here. It is here, during the annual Thaipusam festival, that hundreds of pilgrims, their bodies pierced by hooks, spears and spiked steel structures called kavadi, end their walk from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on Serangoon Road. The act of penance is carried out by devotees in gratitude to Lord Subramanian or Murugan, son of Lord Siva, for granting their prayers of supplication.

The main deity of this temple is Lord Thendayuthapani also called Murugan. Lord Thendayuthapani has other names such as Balasubramaniam, Shanmukhan, Swaminathan, Vallimanalan, Palaniandavar, Arumugan, Saravanan, Sevar Kodiyon, etc. At the entrance of the main sanctum, Lord Jambu Vinayagar has been erected on the right and Idumban on the left. In 1878, two separate sanctums were built for Lord Sundareswarar and Meenakshi Amman (incarnation of Lord Sivan and Goddess Sakthi). Later, all other important deities including the Navagrahas were erected. The Temple has a beautifully decorated “Alangara Mandapam” which is used on auspicious days to place the procession deity. Poojas are performed by Pandarams for deities in Sri Thendayuthapani Sanctum and by Sivacharyas (Brahmins) for deities in other sanctums. As a landmark of all the Temples in Singapore, 75 feet tall Rajagopuram was completed in 1983. The consecration ceremony was conducted on 24-11-1983. Subsequently the whole temple was renovated and repainted again in 1996, followed by Maha Kumbhabishegam (Consecration Ceremony) held on 29-11- 1996. In 1983, modern amenities were added to the temple facilities along with the consecration ceremony, including a Wedding and dining hall. Now, the temple has a separate staff quarters, a library, an office room and a spacious and well-decorated stage for cultural performances during special occasions.

Festivals

Every year six important festivals are celebrated with great pomp and grandeur, which are: ThaiPusam, Letcha Archanai for Meenakshi Amman & Durgai Amman, Navratri, Skanda Sashti and Thiru Karthigai.