An ornate shrine
Visiting a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural city has its benefits. One of them includes mingling with people of different ethnicities and religions and experiencing various cultures and traditions. Singapore is one such country that comes to mind.
Being a city-state, Singapore has an excellent and efficient public transport system. From metros and buses to cabs, moving around to explore this dynamic city is not too hard. And depending on where you are located, it is worth your time to simply slip on your comfortable walking shoes and go take a stroll around its beautifully laid-out neighbourhoods. Like Bugis.
One such place that is worth your time to see in this vicinity is Sri Krishna Temple, on Waterloo Street. Also referred to as Bugis Hindu Temple, what makes this place of worship unique is that it is the only South Indian temple dedicated to Krishna and Rukmini.
As a British administration, the government had brought a large Hindu community to the island. In time, most of them had settled around what is now Brash Basah Road, Victoria Street, and Albert Street. It was only in 1870, when Hanuman Beem Singh, a wealthy trader, placed images of Ganesha and Krishna beneath a banyan tree. As more and more people began to offer their prayers, and the shrine began to gain popularity, he added a platform that could hold Krishna’s image.
On an interesting side note, because of its proximity to Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, it also started to attract several Chinese devotees who would come to light their joss sticks at the Hindu temple. In time, the management of Sri Krishna Temple decided to build an altar dedicated to Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. Today, this social practice, known as cross-worshipping, has evolved to the extent that devotees of one temple will pray and make their offerings at the other temple also. Another divine example of Singapore’s tolerant, multi-religious society.
It was finally gazetted as a national monument of Singapore in 2014.
While you may need to confirm what time the temple gates open, which I understand are between 6:30 and 11:45 am and 5:30 and 8:45 pm, should you should reach the temple when it is closed, let that not stop you from marveling at its intricate carvings on the outside facade of this temple.
Akhnaten Mallya
Part time nomad | Dreamer | Pretend entrepreneur | Advertising professional who's hardly at his desk
2 Comments
Zen Rose
This is a wonderful write-up about Sri Krishnan temple. You are absolutely right about the cross-worshipping. The Kwan Im Chinese temple is just next door. Lots of Chinese people pray at Kwan Im Temple and then walk over to pray at Sri Krishnan temple as well. There are always huge crowds at both places.
Akhnaten Mallya
Thank you so much for your feedback and insight, Zen. And am glad you enjoyed reading this blog post. It is audiences like you that encourage me to keep writing and sharing my experiences, exploring nooks and corners around the world. I am hopeful that when I visit Singapore next, you could be my local guide and show me sights and sounds that one doesn’t see, or read about. Many thanks.