Sri Thendayuthapani Temple

The Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, also known as Tank Road Murugan Temple and Chettiar Temple, is over 150 years old and a national monument of Singapore.

The temple's origins are closely tied to the Nattukkottai Chettiar community, a Saivite Hindu denomination that prioritises the worship of Murugan. As a seafaring business community, the Chettiars established Thandayuthapani (Thendayuthapani is a colloquial variation) temples throughout their business locations. In Singapore, in the early 19th century, their worship is said to have begun simply with a vel placed under a peepal tree. Subsequently, in the 1850s, the land where the temple is now located was purchased from Thomas Oxley, a surgeon who owned extensive property in what is now Oxley Road. A small temple was built and consecrated in 1859. The temple grew gradually, with the Sundareswarar and Meenakshi Amman shrines added in 1878, followed by other shrines, including the Navagrahas in 1936.

The temple was redesigned and rebuilt in the late 1970s. The new temple included a three-storey building containing an audience hall, library, staff quarters, multi-purpose hall, wedding hall, and parking space. The crowning feature was the 75-foot-high Rajagopuram (main tower), considered the tallest in Southeast Asia. The new temple was consecrated in 1983. Following the tradition of consecration once every 12 years, subsequent ceremonies were held in 1996, 2009, and 2023. It is notable that a library has been functioning in the temple since its inception.

The Thaipusam festival, which is very popular in Singapore, was inaugurated in the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple in 1860. Beyond Thaipusam, the temple celebrates other major Hindu festivals, including Navarathiri and Kaarthigai. In addition to prayers and festivals, the temple also provides community services such as scholarships and blood donation programmes.

The Sri Thendayuthapani Temple was declared a national monument in 2014 for its historical and cultural significance.



For more information
Sri Thendayuthapani Temple. Accessed 1 August 2025. https://sttemple.com/about-stt
“Sri Thendayuthapani Temple.” Roots.sg. Accessed 1 August 2025. https://www.roots.gov.sg/places/places-landing/Places/national-monuments/sri-thendayuthapani-temple

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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.