15 Much of the present building is believed to date from 1862/63, constructed by Indian and Chinese craftsmen. The temple has since undergone several rounds of renovations and additions. 14 Besides being a place of worship, the temple was also closely intertwined with the Hindu community as it served as a first refuge for new immigrants, dispute mediation venue, and an early registry of marriages for Hindus. “Mari”, meaning “rain” in Tamil, is an important life-giving element in rural life, while Goddess Mariamman is also known as the curer of diseases. 12 The walkway between the main entrance and the building was once covered by attap, but this was destroyed by a fire in 1910. In 1843, this wood-and-attap temple was replaced with a brick structure built by Indian convict labour. The site was then expanded in 1831 with a land donation by an Indian landowner, Seshasalam Pillai. 11Ī temple made of wood and attap (palm fronds) was completed in 1827, with a small deity installed by Pillai. 10 Back then, southern Indians were referred to as “klings” or “kelings”, and Indian temples were marked as such. 9 It was marked out as “Kling Chapel” in Lieutenant Philip Jackson's first town plan of Singapore drawn up in 1823, and published in 1828. In 1823, the present South Bridge Road site was granted. The British East India Company had allotted a plot on Telok Ayer Street for a Hindu temple, but it was deemed unsuitable as freshwater supply required for rituals were unavailable nearby. With the assistance of Raffles, he revived his business in Commercial Square (later renamed Raffles Place). 7 Pillai’s business suffered greatly in 1822 when a fire destroyed his shop on Cross Street. Pillai was a government clerk from Penang 6 who accompanied Stamford Raffles to Singapore in 1819. 4 Sri Mariamman Temple, managed by the Hindu Endowments Board, was gazetted as a national monument on 28 June 1973. 3 Originally a wood-and-attap structure, the temple was reconstructed with bricks in 1843. 2 The temple was established by Indian pioneer Naraina Pillai (also spelt Narayana Pillay) in 1827. 1 Commonly referred to as Mariamman Kovil (“Mariamman Temple” in Tamil), the temple was constructed for the worship of Goddess Mariamman by immigrants from the Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts of South India. Sri Mariamman Temple on South Bridge Road is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore.
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