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Dear friends,
Next temple in Singapore whose details we are going to see now also a famous Amman Temple. It is Sri Vadapathira Kali Amman Temple, located on the Serangoon Road close to Little India area. All year round they will be celebrating some festival or other.
Let us learn about this temple now.
Varadarajan
Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple
Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple is widely believed to have started in 1830 with a sole female devotee. She had placed a picture of Amman under a banyan tree that was located near the present temple. The location of the temple, at the junction of Balestier, Serangoon. Race Course and Rangoon roads, was very popular because it had several wells and water points. Many residents from nearby areas frequented the area to collect water for themselves.
In I935, Mr Rengasamy Mooriyar converted the premises into a full-fledged temple and conducted the consecration ceremony, paying for the expenses from his retirement savings. Sri Vinayakar, Muruga and Ambal were the main deities of the temple.
In 1943, Mr Kottavai Govindasamy further expanded the temple to include Sri Periachi, Madurai Veeran and Muneeswaran. During this period, the end of Aadi Urchavam Festival was celebrated with an Ambal procession in a bullock cart to the Sri Manmathan Temple at Potong Pasir, where they would remain for about 2 weeks for prayers.
After the demise of Mr Govindasamy in 1948, Mr S L Perumal took the management of the temple. He was later joined by Messrs Murugaiyan, Samiyappan, VairappaThevar and Thangavel Mandor as committee members. The temple was manned by Mr Karuupiah who doubled up as the priest and the day-to-day administrator of the temple. In the early 70s the temple was further renovated and improved upon. Separate sanctums were created for the main deities. Vinayakar, Murugan and Ambal. In I9th March 1975, a consecration ceremony for thetemple was conducted under the leadership of Mr S L Perumal.
In 1979, the Ramar Bhajan Matt operating in Cross Street relocated to the Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple. Soon after in 1982, another round Temple renovation was embarked on. The Ramar Bhajan Matt was converted into a full-fledged temple. In I984, Mr S L P Mohhann, the son of Mr S L Perumal led the consecration ceremony for the two temples.
In 1994, the temple volunteer ubayakars formed a registered society and played a key role in the management of the temple. Subsequently, the Society was dissolved and a new Board of Trustees comprising of seven (7) members, was constituted in 1998.
In 2003, this committee undertook further development projects that included, among other things, a 4-storey multi-purpose hall and renovation and repair works to the deities. As part of the efforts, the deities of Sri Periyachi, Madurai Veeran, Muneeswaran were relocated within the temple.
Culminated in the Maha Kumbabishegam (consecration ceremony) of the temple on 23rd January 2005.
Sri Ambal
Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple One of the most important forms of worship in Hinduism is the worship of goddess Mother as Ambigai, Shakthi or Devi. This is the most ancient form of worship before men became knowledgeable in other things. It was the worship that was prevalent throughout the world. Before the advent of western civilization, the westerners offered their prayers to goddess Freia. The ancient Egyptians offered their prayers to Isis, a goddess of magical power and divine blessings. The roman and the Greeks too had worshipped goddesses such as Hera, Juno, Diana and Venus. In the Far East countries such as China and Japan, people workshipped goddesses like Kwan Yin and Amaterasu. Even in countries like Malaya and Indonesia devotees workshipped goddess Chandi.
The goddess worship among the Hindus today takes different forms. There are many village goddesses who take the human form. The worship is dictated by customs rather than the agamas. Every section the community has its own deity called the kula devatha. But these kula devathas may not have a human form. They worshiped them in the form of lamps, trident, stone pillars or in other symbols. The goddesses enshrined in the temples are worshipped in accordance with the agamas. Each goddess may have her own form of poojas or prayers. Shaktham, a sect dedicated to the worship of Shakthi or goddess, had branched
into a variety sub sects. Later it came under the six codified system of Hinduism as devised by Adi Shankara. Subsequently it began to be incorporated into both Saivaism and Vaishnvism. The worship of Kali is also ancient in practice. The Tamils of yester years had offered their prayers to her as Kaadukizhal, Pazhayol, Moothozh and Kottravai. After the Sangam period, she was also worshipped, among others, in the form as Iyai, Nisumbasoothini and Chamundi. Nisumbasoothini became the kula devatha for the Tamil rulers.
Sri Devi Mahathmiyam is a book that contains seven hundred mantras and three historical parts. The three parts talk about the killing of Madhukadipa, Mahishasura and Sumbanisumba respectively. During the killing of Nisumba, Kali appears as one who killed the three asuras(demons), namely Chandan, Mundan and Rakhthapeejan. The oldest temples found today in Tamilnadu are dedicated to this particular form of Kali known as Nisumbasoothini(the one who killed Nisumba). there are also other forms of Kali such as Adhya Kali, Maha Kali and Dasamukhi. Badrakali or pathirakali as she is known here at this temple represents all that is auspicious. The meaning of the word badra or pathira is bliss, peace and auspiciousness. However at present the word BadraKali or Pathirakali has gained the opposite meaning.
The MahaKali at Ujjani, north India, is one of the oldest form of Badrakali. This is the city of Vikramadhitya the great king whom the folklore associates with the worship of Sakthi. The city is also known as the birthplace of Kalidasa the greatest Sanskrit poet and author of Sakunthalam, Megasandhesam and other works.
Mother Kali's appearance is very natural and one need not have fear or apathy towards her appearance. We should offer prayers to her as the epitome of peace, tranquility and auspiciousness. That's how Swami Ramakrishna and his disciple Vivekanada worshipped her. We should remind ourselves the true meaning of Pathira Kali - she is the Blissful One, the Auspicious One who at this temple resides as the main deity.
Sri Murugan
Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple Amongst Hindu gods and goddesses, Murugan has been given pride of place. This is particularly evident in the southern parts of India and some countries in the Far East where Tamil-speaking people form a significant segment of the population.
The word "Murugu" signifies beauty and thus Murugan means "the beautiful one". Murugan 'arrived' on this planet as the son of Lord Siva, as the younger brother of Lord Ganesa and as the nephew of Lord Narayana. He is venerated as Kaliyuga Varada, the God who blesses and protects those who ardently seek His grace.
The form of Murugan with his consorts also serve to explain the 3 main Shaktis he possesses. Valli represents "Icha Shakthi", Theivanai represents "Kiriya Shakthi" and the "Vel" or spear he holds represents "Gnana Shakthi".
The three integral elements of Muruga's personality are spear(vel) in His hand, peacock as His mount and cockerel adorning His banner. The peacock displays the divine shape of Omkara when it spreads its magnificent plumes into a full-blown circular form, while the cockerel proclaims loudly the Pranava sound OM. Muruga shines as the very essence of the Vedas and Mantras.
Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple
555 Serangoon Road,
Singapore 218174
Phone:+65 6298 5053
Fax: +65 6297 2994
Email: pathira@singnet.com.sg