Sri Muneeswaran Hindu Temple, Singapore Overview

Sri Muneeswaran Temple, considered to be the largest shrine in Southeast Asia dedicated to Sri Muneeswaran, is situated on the Tanglin Halt Road at Commonwealth Drive Singapore. The grand temple gets its name from the merging of the two words: 'muni' meaning 'saint', and 'ishwar', signifying 'god'. Along with the presiding deity, Sri Muneeswaran Temple also includes the idols of several well-known Hindu gods like Lord Vinayagar, Sri Durgai Amman, Sri Ayappan, Sri Krishna and Sri Mariamman, to name a few. It is also said to be the only temple in Singapore to house the deities of Sri Naga Raja and Rani.

Interestingly, Sri Muneeswaran is said to be the God of acting and the protector of the South Indian villages. Several local actors offer their prayers at this temple since it is a strong belief that worshipping Sri Muneeswaran will improve one's acting skills. The dignified temple was originally a shrine built by the Malayan railway workers at Queensway in 1932 in order to worship the deity. In 1998, it was relocated to Tanglin Road where it stands till date. Apart from being a place of worship, Sri Muneeswaran Temple also holds counselling and matchmaking sessions and doubles as a free yoga centre on Sundays and Mondays. The management committee of the temple also offers food to the needy in and around this place, irrespective of race and age. Not only is this sacred temple visited by numerous visitors throughout the year, but it is also believed to specifically draw in worshippers who are transformed criminals. Devotees flood in large crowds from distant places to pay their offerings and connect to their spiritual selves.

Architecture of Sri Muneeswaran Temple

The outer walls of this beautiful temple are gaudily adorned with statuettes of various Hindu deities and creatures belonging to the South Indian culture, while its interiors comprise several wooden doors, each housing a shrine dedicated to a particular deity within it. It also contains a wedding hall inside it.

The ornate temple is built following the Western Chalukya style of architecture, also known as Gadag. This style originated from the Dravidian architecture and one can see influences of both the North and South Indian architectural styles incorporated in it. The inner sanctum is devoid of central pillars in order to offer a complete view of the rituals to the worshippers.

History

The magnificent Sri Muneeswaran Temple began its journey in a hut as a bijou shrine containing a single stone and a trident. In 1932, several Indian workers set up a shrine adjacent to the Malayan railway tracks in Queenstown. It was referred to as the Muniandy Temple then. Queenstown used to be a sparsely populated area in those days. Gradually, the number of residents began to increase, and along with it, the Muniandy Temple also started receiving a large number of devotees, being the sole Hindu temple in this area. Moreover, plans of widening Queensway were also being finalized, as a result of which, the management committee decided to purchase another place for the reestablishment of the shrine. A suitable place was bought in 1991, and it took seven years for the completion of the new structure with assistance from Indian architects and artisans.

Best Time to Visit

Sri Muneeswaran Temple receives visitors all year round. However the crowd is the most exuberant and lively in February, during Masamagam, a ten-day festival celebrated with grandeur.

How To Reach Sri Muneeswaran Hindu Temple

From the Commonwealth MRT station, take the exit A and walk towards Kofu food court. Take a left from there and after walking for a while, you will reach HBD Flats. From there, it is a short walk to the temple.