Sri Arasakesari Sivan Temple

The history of Sri Arasakesari Sivan Temple goes back to more than 100 years when it was established by Ceylon Tamils living in the Woodlands area.

In 1924, these Tamils set up a shrine dedicated to Lord Siva and other Hindu deities on a plot of land along Woodlands Road, near the Causeway. In 1966, V Kathirasoo, a Johor Bahru resident, donated the land where the shrine stood, leading to the construction of a brick temple in 1968. Notably, it was the only Hindu temple in Singapore with a Siva shrine that featured a ceremonial pond. The temple's re-consecration in 1982 was attended by then President Devan Nair and approximately 2,000 devotees.

In 1997, the temple was relocated to its current site in Sungei Kadut area to accommodate industrial developments. To create a larger temple compound for devotees, the architects covered a part of the nearby canal (Sungei Pangsua), and a new ceremonial pond was constructed.

In addition to major festivals such as Deepavali and the Tamil New Year, the temple is also famous for hosting Aadi Ammavasai festival, when devotees perform special prayers and offerings to ancestors, as well as Maha Sivarathiri , which honours Lord Siva. Nowadays, Sri Arasakesari Sivan Temple serves as a place of worship and a community hub for all Hindus.



For more information
“Sri Arasakesari Sivan Temple,” RootsSG. Accessed on 1 August 2025. https://www.roots.gov.sg/places/places-landing/Places/landmarks/A-Journey-Through-the-Woods/Sri-Arasakesari-Sivan-Temple
“President at Ceremony,” The Straits Times, 1 July 1982, 8. (From Newspaper SG)

தமிழில் வாசிக்க

Return to home page

About the Encyclopedia

The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.