Sri Manmatha Karuneeswarar Temple Timings, History

Sri Manmatha Karuneeswarar Temple History:

The temple was established on January 1, 1888 in a lease from the Governor of the Straits Settlements to the Tamil community as a place of worship, this temple is known to its devotees as the Kallang Gasworks Sivan Temple. It was established shortly after the installation of the municipal reservoir gas plant on Kallang Road. The large number of Hindu employees created a shrine and installed the main deity to seek his protection and maintain their Hindu traditions and values.

In 1909, the 8,255 square foot (766.9 m2) site was granted a government lease for 99 years to four people; Soona Veloo Vendir, Nagalingam Kathiraysonm, Annamalai Mecppa Komarasamy and Veerapatra Mudaliar. In 1934, after his death, the children of A.V. Irullappa Pillay, V. Pakirisamy Pillai and V. Narayanasamy Pillai funded the reconstruction of the temple in memory of their late father at the request of devotees of Hindus. Although the lease was renewed in 1909, the project to build a concrete mandapam (main hall) encountered financial difficulties. In March 1937 the Chief Justice of Singapore appointed three trustees; they were V. Pakrisamy, V. Narayanasamy and Balakrishna Murugase Thirunalam. After the consecration ceremony of August 19, 1937, a Management Committee was formed with A.V. Irullappa Pillay, foreman of the municipal gas plant, as chairman.

In 1974, further renovations were carried out and the sons of V. Parkirisamy and the grandsons of V. Narayanasamy now run the temple.

Although there are not many Hindus in Kallang and Kampong Bugis, the Hindu employees of the gas depot had houses near the depot, so they built the shrine. At that time, the Indians were concentrated in the area of Tanjong Pagar and Serangoon.

Lord Siva is the Destroyer, while his wife, Parvati, is seen as an all-powerful mother figure who pleads with Lord Siva on behalf of mankind and creatures. However, although he represents destruction, Lord Siva is considered a positive force or even the Destroyer of Evil, as creation follows destruction. Lord Siva has five jobs: creator, curator, destroyer, hide sins, and bless.