If you see the name of Hindu goddess Kali hidden in the name of Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, it is no wonder as this temple has been built specifically for her worship. The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is the oldest temple of Kali built in Singapore. Thanks to its really interesting and unique outlook, this is among the main attractions for tourists entering Little India in Singapore.
The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is really a building worth seeing. Having been built by the first main group of South Indian labourers who arrived in Singapore for work, the temple had been first only a wooden shrine dedicated to those wanting to pray for Kali, the wife of Shiva, one of the main gods in Hindu mythology. South Indians often praise Kali and in 1908, the first Kali statue was imported to the early Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and it has been finally totally renovated in a long construction that has started in 1987 and finished by 1992. The temple today looks its best, being made of limestone in classic South Indian Tamil style. From then on, it is counting as one of the unique temples of Singapore built to worship Kali. The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple fulfils all the attributes of Tamil style temple its gopuram tower is high enough to be seen from a distance, which is meant for those worshippers who are unable to get closer yet this way they also have a chance to pray for Kali. Interesting feature of the temple are the bells by the entrance, which the worshippers may ring in order to make sure, that the Goddess will hear their prayer so that these will be fulfilled.
Kali is an important goddess in the Hindu mythology, especially in the South Indian regions, where all workers must say a prayer for her especially before travelling in order for their travel to be protected from then on. The gopuram tower of the temple is especially beautifully decorated and it looks just divine in the evening in the lightning with all the figures coming alive. The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple has many statues and pictures all featuring Kali sometimes as the deity of destroying and as a protective and loving mother. Kali is often depicted with multiple hands and with war motives like having skulls around her neck. She is also the deity of war. In the Indian Hindu religion, all gods and goddesses have their own roles and attributes but this does not mean they do not or cannot do other actions. Kali also serves as a protector and she is the mother of two other important gods in the Hindu mythology Ganesha with the elephant head being one of them and Murugan being the other son.
The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple has quickly becomes not just an important place for worship but also the centre of Indian cultural activities and a main stop of all tourist groups who enter to the Little Indian quarter. It is especially interesting to see the very black stature of Kali upon entering Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple.