Today’s
The World Around Us
will be presented in Tamil,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian,
Japanese, Korean,
Malay, Persian,
Portuguese, Russian,
Spanish, (Tamil,) and Thai.
Hinduism, originally
called Santana Dharma or
Righteousness, is known
more as a way of life
than as religion.
There is no single divine
prophet responsible for
its origin and development.
Temple worship
is an important part of
the daily life of Hindus.
They believe that
the images or statues of
the deities at the temple
are equivalent to their
permanent residence there.
Hinduism is one
of the earliest established
religions in Singapore,
a cosmopolitan and
multi-religious nation.
In the early 19th century,
a wave of immigrants from
southern India arrived
in Singapore to work.
Their arrival saw
the building of temples
throughout the island
and the beginnings of
a vibrant Hindu culture.
Hindu temples are built
on the principles
of Vastushastras.
The Vastushastras
describe a temple
as the representation
of the cosmos
in a miniature form.
The design
and construction of
Hindu temples are set out
in the religious texts
or Shastras which cover
a wide range of subjects.
A typical Hindu temple
consists of an entrance,
one or more
attached or detached
mandapas or halls,
and the inner sanctum
called the garbagriha.
The tower built
directly above garbagriha
is known as the gopuram .
Hinduism in Singapore
today is primarily
governed by
the Dravidian concept
of bhakti or devotion,
as devotees make
offerings to the deities
installed at the temples
or in their homes.
At present, there are
approximately 31 Hindu
temples in Singapore
serving 250,000 Hindus.
Due to Singapore’s diverse
ethnic mix of people,
racial and
religious harmony
is the top priority of
the governing institutions.
The Singapore Hindu
Endowments Board
is a government body
that manages
4 of the Hindu temples,
namely the Sri Mariamman,
Sri Srinivasa Perumal,
Sri Sivan and Sri
Vairavimada Kaliamman.
Located in Chinatown
and serving the needs of
the South Indian
city dwellers,
the Sri Mariamman Temple
is the first
and oldest Hindu temple
in Singapore.
It was the inspiration
of Naraina Pillai,
a trader and a leader
of the Indian community
who arrived in Singapore
with Sir Stamford Raffles,
the founder of Singapore,
in 1819.
The Sri Mariamman
Temple is dedicated
to Goddess Mariamman,
known for her power
in curing epidemic
illnesses and diseases.
Due to its architectural
and historical significance,
the temple has been made
a national monument
and is a major
tourist attraction.
Located near
the Little Indian town
in central Singapore,
the 154-year-old
Sri Srinivasa Perumal
Temple is
one of the most popular
and largest Hindu
temples in Singapore.
It was declared
as a national monument
by the Preservation of
Monuments Board in 1978.
This temple was built
in the Dravidian style,
a style commonly seen
in Tamil Nadu India.
This style of architecture
is known for its
imposing entrance towers
or grand tower
called Rajagopurams,
adorned with figurines
from Hindu mythology.
There are also complex
friezes, intricate carvings
and paintings or murals
done on the walls and
ceilings of the temple.
The main sanctum houses
the principal deity.
Sanctums for other deities
flank the central sanctum.
Sri Srinivasa Perumal
Temple is dedicated
for Lord Vishnu.
In this millennium, it
remains a divine gateway
for all its devotees
seeking the
Lord Perumal’s blessing.
Visitors to the temple
today can witness
the great efforts
undertaken by
the temple’s successive
management committees
to ensure that
its conservation status
is maintained.
From well laid out
sanctums, rich Sculptural
embellishments,
to an ornate mandapam
(pillared pavillion)
built for the worship
of processional deities,
these and
many more new features
make the temple
a symbol of Hinduism.
The social and educational
needs of devotees
are also addressed
through the temple.
Visitors and devotees
to this temple
are able to experience
Hindu spiritual worship
as well as witness Hindu
customs and practices
at its best here.
According
to the Hindu Calendar,
there are about 38 festivals
celebrated each year,
from Tamil New Year,
Chitra Pournami,
Fire Walking Festival
to Deepavali and Pongal,
just to name a few.
What you are about to see
is a typical
Chitra Pournami –
the Full Moon Day
prayer ritual.
Before entering the temple,
devotees wash their feet
in a specific manner
as footwear is considered
impure and it is not worn
in the home and temple.
The devotees pay
their respects by ringing
the bell at the door.
Upon entering
into the temple,
one hears lively music
playing, normally
drums and trumpets,
as it is considered
auspicious for the deities.
The Chitra Pournami
is observed
on the full moon day
in the month of Chitirai,
in April or May.
In this month,
the sunshine is
in its entire splendor, and
the moon which borrows
its luster from the sun
is just as bright.
This day is believed to be
conducive to the happiness
of humanity in general.
Accordingly people
make special offerings
to please Lord Yama,
and special prayers
are arranged
at all the Hindu temples
on this revered day.
The devotees may make
offerings of incense,
jasmine flowers garlands,
fruits, coconut
and other foods
to all or any of the deities
during their visit.
Typically a lamp is lit
symbolizing
the light of knowledge
and expressing their wish
for a prosperous life.
When we return, we will
continue our visit to the
beautiful Hindu temples
in Singapore.
Please stay tuned to
Supreme Master
Television.
Halo and welcome back
to The World Around Us
on Supreme Master
Television.
The basis of Hindus
worship and practice
is set out
in the ancient scriptures
known as Vedas, meaning
knowledge in Sanskrit.
The Vedas are
considered to represent
the foundation of
the Hindu way of life.
Rituals and recitation
from the Vedas are
almost always carried out
by specially
trained priests.
Modernday Hinduism
combines the belief
and practices
of the Dravidians,
or the indigenous people
of India, with
the philosophy and rituals
of the Aryans.
A visitor to a temple may
request the performance
of puja, or daily prayers,
at the temple
and make a donation
for that purpose.
These rituals express
the personal nature
of Hindu devotion
to their deities.
In general, priests
in the temples help make
offerings to the deities.
The priests are required
to undergo rigorous
training and have
a thorough knowledge
of the scriptures
and prayer rituals so that
they are able to act
as intermediaries between
the devotee and deity.
Only priests are allowed
to enter the inner sanctum
where the deity is housed
while devotees
offer their prayers
from the outer sanctum.
Devotees would sit
on the floor quietly and
watch the ritual service
being performed.
There is always
musical procession
carrying the deities around
so that the devotees
can take a closer look
at the deities or
touch the feet of the deities
as a mark of respect.
On special occasions,
devotees also seek
the blessing of the deities
through a Sadari,
on which God’s feet are
engraved in the form
of a crown used by
the Hindu priests to bless
the heads of the devotees.
After seeking
the blessing of the deities,
blessed raisins
or turmeric rice were
given to the devotees.
Only vegetarian food
is served in the temple –
no meat, no eggs, no
alcohol, and no cigarettes
are allowed.
On the right side
of the temple
sits the dining hall and
a garden with sculptures
of auspicious animals
like the elephants
and peacocks.
The architecture
of Hindu temples
varies considerably
between North
and South India, although
the basic religious tenets
remain the same.
Although Sivan Temple
is modern and one of
the newest Hindu temples
in Singapore, it is
actually 188 years old.
However,
due to city regulations,
the temple was relocated
to the current location
10 years ago.
The Hindu Endowments
Board had intended
to make this new temple
unique in appearance,
features and facilities.
Well-known temple
architects in India
were consulted and
a team was sent to study
the best of both
the North and South
Indian Temples.
What followed
was a unique design with
an octagonal structure
with a multi-purpose hall,
priests’ residence,
staff quarters, and gardens.
It was build
at a cost of $6 million
on a 3,000 sq. meter
plot of land.
The new site is
considerably larger than
the temple's former site
by around
by four and a half times.
The Sri Sivan temple is
dedicated to Lord Shiva
of the Holy Trinity in
Hinduism – Lord Brahma,
Lord Vishnu,
and Lord Shiva.
This three-story building
has three beautiful
prominent domes
standing on its rooftop.
There are 108 different
female dancers, who
are goddess figurines,
each beautifully carved
on the exterior side walls
of this octagonal temple.
Inside the temple
prayer hall are housed
different sanctums
for each respective deity.
In the middle
of the main hall stands
the tall metal flagpole
used for raising the
temple’s flag, which is
decorated with figurines
and religious texts.
Also, various
intricate and beautiful
floral carvings
can be seen on the ceiling
of the main hall.
Visitors to the
Hindu temple can usually
observe some form
of prayer ceremony
such as the special
Deity Bathing ceremony.
The fragrant water
collected at the end
of the bathing ceremony
is given to the devotees
by the priest
as a form of blessing.
Hindus treat temples
like their second home.
After the prayer session,
they sit around
and enjoy the company
of their friends
and family members.
The gathering always
ends with happy
and blissful notes,
and very much so for
the Hindus of Singapore.
Precious viewers,
thank you
for being with us
on today’s episode of
The World Around Us.
Up next is
Words of Wisdom, right
after Noteworthy News,
here on
Supreme Master Television.
May the Providence’s love
be with you, always.
Words cannot
fully describe
the ancient beauty of
Afghan traditional music.
This one’s sound
is delicate,
but very beautiful.
I love it, and from
thousands of instruments
I have chosen
the dutar and rubab.
They have been
my friends all my life.
Explore the treasures of
traditional Afghan music,
with esteemed musician
and singer
Mr. Shamsuddin Masroor.
This Wednesday,
August 26,
on Supreme Master
Television’s Enlightening
Entertainment.