Administered by Hindu Endowments Board
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple was gazetted as a national monument in 1978. The temple was formerly known as “Narasinga Perumal Kovil” and was built on the land purchased from the East India Company by the wealthy Narasimhaloo Naidu in 1855. The temple’s name was later changed to Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple.
The South Indians established a simple shrine which was dedicated to Lord Perumal (Vishnu) - one of the Hindu trinity, the Preserver of the Universe. He represents mercy and goodness. The Hindu belief is that (Lord Vishnu) incarnates himself to conquer evil and to uphold righteousness.
The original temple was a simple brick building consisting of a mandapam or main hall and a large pond.
The Temple was rebuilt in 1961, when the Gopuram was added. In 1977, Indian craftsmen from South India were employed to work on the ornamentation and renovation project. This project was largely funded by the late P. Govindasamy Pillai, a leading Indian merchant and philanthropist.
The temple showcases many features of a traditional South Indian Hindu temple. The high boundary wall is decorated with colourful sculptures of animals, humans, gods and goddesses. The 6-level gopuram faces east and is covered with decorative sculptures, ranging from Hindu deities to floral and abstract patterns. The main temple or mandapam is also well-decorated, including a brightly painted ceiling with geometric designs. The wedding hall, which was constructed in the 1960s, was and is still a popular venue for Hindu weddings.
The main festival celebrated in this temple is Thaipusam, the Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Murugan, the younger brother of Lord Ganesha. It is a thanksgiving festival of penance that is observed in late January or early February depending on the Tamil calendar. Male devotees carry the kavadi and female devotees carry milk pots from Sri Srinivasa Temple to the Thandayuthapani Temple at Tank Road.
VISHNU AND HIS AVATARS
As you enter the temple, you will notice a row of statues on the walls of the gateway. These are the ten incarnations or avatars of Vishnu.
In the Hindu Trinity, Vishnu is known as the Preserver of the Universe. Lord Brahma (the four headed God) is the God of Creation and Lord Shiva the Destroyer of Evil.
Lord Vishnu has many other names, Perumal being one. The stories of Vishnu’s ten avatars are told in an ancient Hindu text called the Puranas. It is said that Lord Vishnu came down to the earth in different forms, over time to vanquish evil and uphold righteousness. The first nine avatars have played their role but the tenth avatar is yet to come.
The first nine avatars are: Matsya the Fish, Kurma the Tortoise, Varaha the Boar; Narasimha the Man-Lion, Vamana – the Dwarf, Parasurama – the Sage Warrior, Lord Rama - the King of Ayodhya; Balaraman – the brother of Lord Krishna and Lord Krishna. The tenth avatar known as Kalki is yet to come. In this avatar, Vishnu will appear seated on a white horse, carrying a drawn sword, signalling the end of the present era, and the final destruction of all evil forces. A new era will start with the restoration of purity and justice.