Origin
The Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple is situated on three adjoining plots of land that were acquired between 1855 and 1912.
The temple was built in 1855 on the largest plot owned by a Hindu settler named Narachingam, and was called ''Narasimha Perumal Temple.'' There was a pond next to the temple. Before going to the temple, devotees would bathe in the pond and worship the shrine with purity. The pond was covered with soil about 50 years ago.
In 1894, Moona Sithumbram Pillay, the temple's then-trustee, gave the adjacent plot to the temple. The Mohammedan and Hindu Endowments Board, which was administering the temple from 1907, purchased a third plot on 15th August 1912 from the East India Company.
Worship
The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Sri Vishnu, worshipped as the embodiment of the powers of preservation and protection.
The old temple, which was named Narasimha Perumal Temple, had an entrance facing Serangoon Road at that time. In addition to the shrines for Sri Narasimha Perumal, Mahalakshmi, Andal, and Sri Anjaneya in the temple, the Sri Ganesha shrine under a pupil tree was under worship.
Sri Vishnu, in the form of Sri Srinivasa Perumal, is the presiding deity here today.
Early Management
For the first fifty years, private trustees managed the temple. In 1907, the property was taken over by the Mohammedan and Hindu Endowments Board (MHEB). Vested as Endowment 1, it was one of four Hindu temples administered by the MHEB.
Current Administration
Since 1969, the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple has been administrated by the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB), a statutory body. Its day-to-day operations are supervised by a Management Committee under the HEB.
Temple Rebuilding
The original temple was a lime plaster and wood structure. Under MHEB’s administration, the temple underwent minor improvements, including the augmentation of concrete domes in 1916. No restoration was carried out to the temple and its vast grounds over the next five decades. The City Council of Singapore approved the construction of a much-needed new temple in 1961. Reconstruction started in 1963 and was completed by 1966.
At this time, the temple had been renamed from “Narasimha Perumal Temple” to “Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple”, with Sri Srinivasa Perumal becoming the presiding deity of the temple.
Significant refurbishments were undertaken between the late 1970s and early 1990s, including the Rajagopuram (entrance tower) to the temple’s façade in 1979. Sanctum domes were remodeled, and a covered walkway was added to link the temple mandapam (pillared hall) to the Rajagopuram. The Vasantha Mandapam (spring hall) was remodeled and consecrated in 2005. A dining hall, a dedicated kitchen to prepare deity food oblations, and a chariot store were added by 2018.
Wedding Hall
Housed within the temple grounds is a wedding hall. Built in 1965, the wedding hall was known as PGP Kalyana Mandapam. It was named after its benefactor P. Govindasamy Pillay, a community leader and philanthropist. The two-storey building was then the first public hall for the Hindu community. Renamed as PGP Hall in 2014, the wedding hall is now a three-storey complex with an auditorium, a multi-function room, and a dining hall. PGP Hall is a popular venue for weddings, arts performances, and celebratory ceremonies.
Festivals
While all Hindu festivals are celebrated in this temple, and significant among them are ‘Purattasi Sani Kizamai’ and ‘Vaikunda Ekadasi.’ These two festivals have been celebrated here since early 1900. During ‘Purattasi Kizamai,’ all the devotees who visit the temple are provided food [Annadhanam].
Sri Hanumath Jayanthi is celebrated during Margazhi month with Homam and Thirumanjanam
National Recognition
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple was declared a National Monument in 1978.
Note from author: I had been to the temple fifteen years back when on an assignment to that country. During my stay there, I used to visit the temple every Saturday, getting down at the Bus stop near the temple while returning to the stay place. The information given here is from the Singapore Government website.
I salute Thee to give me inspiration, magnanimity, and Santhi.
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple,
397 Serangoon Road Singapore
Singapore – 218123
Phone : (65) 62985771 & (65)62989884
e-mail : [email protected], [email protected]
Working Hours of Temple : Sundays to Fridays 5:30am to 12:00pm
Evening Working Hours : Sundays to Fridays 5:30pm to 9:00pm
