Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple or Sri Perumal Temple is one of the oldest temples in Singapore. It is located in Little India on Serangoon Road, where its tall Gopuram (tower) shows the different incarnations of Lord Vishnu. This large complex, dedicated to Vishnu, dates from 1855, but the 20-metres-tall Gopuram is a relatively recent addition, built in 1966 at a cost of S$300,000.
In 1851, a group of influential Indian community leaders – including Arunachala Pillay, Cootaperumal Pillay, Ramasamy Pillay, Appasamy Pillay, Chockalingam Pillay, and Ramasamy Jamidar – collectively purchased a piece of land from the British East India Company for 26 rupees and 8 annas. They constructed a temple dedicated to Narasimha Perumal, an avatar of Vishnu, on the site in 1855. This was the foundation of the present-day Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple.
In 1851, a group of influential Indian community leaders – including Arunachala Pillay, Cootaperumal Pillay, Ramasamy Pillay, Appasamy Pillay, Chockalingam Pillay, and Ramasamy Jamidar – collectively purchased a piece of land from the British East India Company for 26 rupees and 8 annas. They constructed a temple dedicated to Narasimha Perumal, an avatar of Vishnu, on the site in 1855. This was the foundation of the present-day Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple.
The land that the temple sits on was purchased from the government in the 1850s, but the temple was constructed only in the 1870s. A large pond and the mandapam or main hall were the main features of the original temple, known as Narasinga Perumal Kovil.
The traditional South Indian-style Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple features a magnificent five-tier gopuram (entrance tower). Added when the temple was rebuilt, the tower is striking for its depiction of various avatars of Vishnu and other Hindu deities, as well as the floral and abstract patterns. Due to its monumental height, the gopuram can be seen from a great distance; this allows devotees who are not able to visit the temple to still offer prayers to the deities from afar.
Elaborate relief carvings and colourful circular mandalas, symbolising the universe and nirvana, decorate the mandapam (prayer hall). Inside, a statue of Srinivasa Perumal is enshrined in the main sanctum where only priests can enter to perform religious rituals. Flanking the entrance to this sanctum are two figures known as Dwarapalakas, or door deities. The various avatars of Vishnu line the top of the walls just in front of the entrance to the main sanctum.
There are also shrines dedicated to other Hindu deities in the temple. On the two sides of the main sanctum are the shrines of Vishnu’s consorts, Lakshmi and Andal. Hanuman, the monkey deity (known as Anjaneyar to Tamils), and the elephant-headed god Ganesha are also honoured in the temple. Crowning each of the temple’s sanctums is a vimanam, a highly decorated dome.
The traditional South Indian-style Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple features a magnificent five-tier gopuram (entrance tower). Added when the temple was rebuilt, the tower is striking for its depiction of various avatars of Vishnu and other Hindu deities, as well as the floral and abstract patterns. Due to its monumental height, the gopuram can be seen from a great distance; this allows devotees who are not able to visit the temple to still offer prayers to the deities from afar.
Elaborate relief carvings and colourful circular mandalas, symbolising the universe and nirvana, decorate the mandapam (prayer hall). Inside, a statue of Srinivasa Perumal is enshrined in the main sanctum where only priests can enter to perform religious rituals. Flanking the entrance to this sanctum are two figures known as Dwarapalakas, or door deities. The various avatars of Vishnu line the top of the walls just in front of the entrance to the main sanctum.
There are also shrines dedicated to other Hindu deities in the temple. On the two sides of the main sanctum are the shrines of Vishnu’s consorts, Lakshmi and Andal. Hanuman, the monkey deity (known as Anjaneyar to Tamils), and the elephant-headed god Ganesha are also honoured in the temple. Crowning each of the temple’s sanctums is a vimanam, a highly decorated dome.
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