Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Singapore

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (10 July 2006)


Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (GPS: 1.3133, 103.85607) is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore. Also called Sri Perumal Temple, it is located on Serangoon Road in Little India, and is noted for its massive 20-metre tall gopuram, or tower, which shows the different incarnations of Vishnu.

The Sri Srinavasa Perumal Temple dates back to 1851, when Hindu community leaders including Arunachala Pillay, Mr Cootaperumal Pillay, Mr Ramasamy Pillay, Mr Appasamy Pillay, Mr Chockalingam Pillay and Mr Ramasamy Jamidar sought to purchase a piece of land from the East India Company for the purpose of worshipping Vishnu. They were granted a 2 acre plot which cost them 26 rupees and 8 annas - at that time, Indian currency was still legal tender in Singapore.

After the initial temple was built, the temple management committee managed to secure two adjoining plots to be added to the temple. Another 25,792 square feet was donated by devotees Moona Sithumbaram Pillay and Vinasithamby Murugesu. A further 3,422 sq ft was added when the Mohammedan Hindu Endowments Board, which administered the temple from 1907, managed to secure it from the East India Company on a 999 year lease, on 15 August 1912, for a fee of 1 Straits Dollar per annum.

At one time, the compound of Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple was filled with ponds and vegetable gardens. There was even a stream that flows into the temple compound and was used by devotees for ritual cleansing. Today a well marks the spot where the stream used to flow.

The original temple structure remained unchanged until the early 1950s by which time it was in dire need of a facelift and upgrading works. In 1952, the MHEB decided to rebuild and reinstate the Temple. Redevelopment was only carried out in the early 1960s when well known Indian community leader and philanthropist Mr P. Govindasamy Pillay financed much of the works. Mr Pillay is credited with building the first two storey marriage hall within the temple. It was officially opened by Enche Yusoff Bin Ishak, the first president of Singapore on 19th June 1965.

The appearance of Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple remained more or less unchanged for the next fifty years. By the 1950's, it was pretty much run down and in dire need of restoration. The Mohammedan Hindu Endowments Board decided to have the entire temple rebuilt. The reconstruction project took place in the early 1960's, with funds coming from P. Govindasamy Pillai, a well-known Indian community leader and philanthropist, who also gave money for the construction of the five-tier rajagopuram, completed in 1966 at a cost of S$300,000. The first two storeys of the marriage hall at the temple was also financed by Mr Pillay. The rebuilt temple was officially opened by Yusoff bin Ishak, the first President of Singapore, on 19 June, 1965.

The Sri Srinavasa Perumal Temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Krishna, which is one of the incarnations of the pan-Indian deity Vishnu. Perumal happens to be another name for Krishna. Within the temple is the statue of Perumal with his consorts Lakshmi and Andal, and his vehicle, the mythical bird Garuda. The ceiling of the temple is painted with colourful patterns depicting the planets of the universe. The temple is the starting point for devotees during the annual Thaipusam festival which honours Lord Murugan.

Today the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple is managed by the Hindu Endowment Board under the purview of the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.

Contact

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
397 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218123
Tel: 6298 5771
Fax: 6298 9884
Email: heb_sspt@pacific.net.sg
GPS: 1.3133, 103.85607

How to go to the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple

To come here direct, the nearest MRT station is the Farrer Park MRT Station (NE8).

The rajagopuram of Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (10 July 2006)


Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (10 July 2006)


Another view of the rajagopuram of Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (10 July 2006)


Located next to the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple is PGP Hall, a multipurpose hall that is used for Indian weddings and other activies.

PGP Hall (26 July 2017)

Updates on the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple

26 July, 2017
When I passed by the temple, I saw that the temple is undergoing its scheduled reconstruction. The banner at the temple announces that a Maha Kumbabishegam (reconsecration ceremony) will be held on 22 April, 2018.

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Singapore (26 July 2017)

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on Google Street View

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple is on the Map of Serangoon Road, Singapore

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple is on the Map of Hindu Temples in Singapore

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple is on the Map of Hindu Temples in Singapore

List of the Hindu Temples in Singapore; Discover Singapore

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About this website

Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.