Update: Sri Veeramakaliamman temple has gone through some reconstruction, closed its main doors for sometime, but opened again by the Maha Kumbhabisekham festival (22.06.2014), with a new six storey building which contains kitchen, wedding hall, multi purpose hall where yoga-, music-, dance classes will be held.
I like the new look of the temple, finally they removed the grey temporary walls, and it got a spacious space in front of the gate!
The most popular temple (Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple) among devotees and tourists, dedicated to Goddess Kali located at the Eastern side of Singapore, in Little India. Kali's name derives form the kala (काला ) word which means black, that is why they call her sometimes as the goddess of death. But for those who respect her and live a good life and worship her no need to worry. As she is the most merciful god also, devotees can ask anything from her she will fulfill it, and protects her devotees as her children like a real mother from anything and anyone.
It was the first hindu temple I visited after I came to Singapore. I had never seen hindu temples before, so as a first encounter it was a good experience. Most of the hindu temples invite all visitors, without any restrictions. The only thing you have to follow to leave your footwear behind, do enter only with barefoot :) Surprisingly they have lot of chinese devotees too. You can sit on the floor to observe what is happening around you( this is what I generally do) or walk around to experience some rituals at the different sanctums inside the temple.
The main concept of a Kali temple: she is sitting in the central sanctum, with their sons by her sides. At left hand is Ganesh (Vinayagar, Pillayar)-everyones favourite with the elephant head, and on her right we can find God Murugan with his "vel" ( spare).
Kali is a quite contradictory deity. As sometimes we can not decide whether is it an evil or a god. Her images show her with decapitated heads in her hand, while she is standing on her husband's body, removes insides of her enemies, she has big tongue, multiple arms and frightening look.
Against this, mainly in Bengal she is a very popular deity, people rather focus on her sweetened personality then the frightening, powerful one. Else, this temple has been built by Bengali labourers in 1881. Here in Singapore the building represents the typical south indian style while in Bengal the construction quite differs.
Other deities:
Sri Lakshmi Devi
Sri Periyachi:
While we are walking along the Serangoon road, we can find another Kali temple, which is more spacious, contains 4-storey multi purpose hall, lighter ambience but generally less crowded.
Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple:
Bharatanatyam dance class next to the main hall. Ganesh ji supervises them in practicing the art of dance :)
Sri Periyachi Amman who considered as the protector of children and mothers:
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| 07. January 2015 |
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| 07.January 2015 |
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| The new 6-storey building |
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| Main hall 07. January 2015 |
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| Main shrines 07. January 2015 |
The most popular temple (Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple) among devotees and tourists, dedicated to Goddess Kali located at the Eastern side of Singapore, in Little India. Kali's name derives form the kala (काला ) word which means black, that is why they call her sometimes as the goddess of death. But for those who respect her and live a good life and worship her no need to worry. As she is the most merciful god also, devotees can ask anything from her she will fulfill it, and protects her devotees as her children like a real mother from anything and anyone.
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| An earlier picture of the temple from July 2013 |
It was the first hindu temple I visited after I came to Singapore. I had never seen hindu temples before, so as a first encounter it was a good experience. Most of the hindu temples invite all visitors, without any restrictions. The only thing you have to follow to leave your footwear behind, do enter only with barefoot :) Surprisingly they have lot of chinese devotees too. You can sit on the floor to observe what is happening around you( this is what I generally do) or walk around to experience some rituals at the different sanctums inside the temple.
The main concept of a Kali temple: she is sitting in the central sanctum, with their sons by her sides. At left hand is Ganesh (Vinayagar, Pillayar)-everyones favourite with the elephant head, and on her right we can find God Murugan with his "vel" ( spare).
Kali is a quite contradictory deity. As sometimes we can not decide whether is it an evil or a god. Her images show her with decapitated heads in her hand, while she is standing on her husband's body, removes insides of her enemies, she has big tongue, multiple arms and frightening look.
Against this, mainly in Bengal she is a very popular deity, people rather focus on her sweetened personality then the frightening, powerful one. Else, this temple has been built by Bengali labourers in 1881. Here in Singapore the building represents the typical south indian style while in Bengal the construction quite differs.
Other deities:
Sri Lakshmi Devi
Sri Periyachi:
While we are walking along the Serangoon road, we can find another Kali temple, which is more spacious, contains 4-storey multi purpose hall, lighter ambience but generally less crowded.
Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple:
Praying devotees on the day of Pongal:
Sri Periyachi Amman who considered as the protector of children and mothers:
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