| Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, Singapore | |
|---|---|
Gopuram of Sri Thendayuthapani Temple |
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| Name | |
| Other names: | Chettiar Hindu Temple |
| Proper name: | Sri Thendayuthapani Temple |
| Tamil: | ஸ்ரீ தண்டாயுதபாணி கோவில் |
| Location | |
| Country: | Singapore |
| Location: | 15 Tank Road |
| Architecture and culture | |
| Primary deity: | Murugan |
| Architectural styles: | Dravidian architecture |
| History | |
| Date built: (Current structure) |
1859 |
| Creator: | Nattukkottai Chettiar Community |
The Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, better known as the Chettiar Hindu Temple, is one of Singapore Hindu community's most important monuments. It was built in the year 1859 by Nattukkottai Chettiar community.
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.
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As quoted in their website, the slab stones found at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple show that the temple was consecrated on 4.4.1859. That would mean that the building works had started one or two years earlier. In fact the community bought the land, where the present temple stands, from the estate of Mr Oxley, the first Surgeon General of Singapore. The temple in its original form was of a simple structure. At the entrance to the temple, two raised platforms similar to that found in Chettiar households in Tamil Nadu were erected. It had an alangara mandapam and an artha mandapam. The alangara mandapam was used to house the decorated deities on special occasions while the artha mandapam was the centre hall leading to the main sanctum. The main sanctum was of course dedicated to Lord Muruga in the form of Sri Thendayuthapani.
The old temple underwent some renovation and restoration works on two occasions when the consecration ceremonies were held in 1936 and 1955. However, the community felt the need to upgrade the temple with modern facilities so as to keep pace with the development of Singapore. The Nagarathars decided in the late seventies, to rebuild the temple on the same site. The temple was to be in the centre with a wedding hall and staff quarters flanking its sides. The food courtyard known as the karthigai kattu was replaced by a wedding hall with car parking facilities. The piling work started on 4 Jan 1981 and was completed on 19 Jan 1983.
The temple was consecrated again on 29, November 1996. Thousands of devotees were present during the occasion. Gold and silver medallions were released to commemorate the occasion.
The next consecration was on Friday, the 27th of Nov 2009. This was a grand event with a turn up of over 20,000 devotees.
Knowing the needs of the Singapore Hindu Community, the temple has a beautifully decorated and spacious wedding hall for conducting marriages and such functions. Some highlights:
Ex : Stone (called "Ammi" in Tamil)
The temple, has over the years built up a reputation of being managed well. At the head of the management is the trustee who is assisted by representatives of the various Kittangis. The Trusteeship is rotated annually amongst the representatives of the Kittangis. Important decisions regarding the temple are made at a gathering of the entire Chettiar community called the Nagara Koottam. This management also takes care of Arulmigu Sri Layan Sithi Vinayakar Temple, located at 73, Keong Saik Road.
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