Sri Sivasubramaniar Temple

Sri Sivasubramaniar Temple in Adliswil is a Tamil Hindu temple at Sihlweg 3, in the Sihl Valley just south of Zurich. Wikipedia describes it as the largest and best-known Hindu temple in Switzerland, and it serves as a religious and cultural anchor for the country's Sri Lankan Tamil community.

Who built it, and why here?

The temple was established in 1994 as a non-profit foundation. In the 1990s an interreligious society in the canton of Zurich backed the idea of a spiritual and cultural centre for Sri Lankan Tamils, a community estimated at 30,000 to 35,000 people in Switzerland. The site is a former factory building beside the Sihl river. Worship started modestly, with services only on Friday evenings.

Which deities are worshipped?

The main deity is Murugan, also called Subramaniar, the Tamil god of war and victory and a son of Shiva. Shrines also honour Shiva, Ganesha (Maha Ganapathy), and the goddesses Durga and Rajarajeswari Ambal. Metal deity images were installed in 2000, and daily worship followed.

What can you see, and when should you go?

The evening puja begins around 7:30 pm every day, with three services on Tuesdays and Fridays. That is the best time to see the ritual: offerings, music and priests in traditional dress. The biggest event is the annual festival each August, lasting 10 to 12 days. Other observances include Navarathiri, Skandashasty, Gowery Kappu and Thirivenpa. A Maha Kumbabishekam, a ritual re-consecration, was carried out with priests from abroad.

How should you behave as a visitor?

This is a working place of worship, not a museum. Remove your shoes before the prayer hall, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and ask before taking photographs. Hours and festival dates can change, so confirm with the temple first. A phone number listed in directories is 044 709 06 30.

How do you get there?

Adliswil sits immediately beyond the Zurich city boundary in the Sihl Valley. Take the S4 train from Zurich or drive; the address for navigation is Sihlweg 3, 8134 Adliswil.

FAQ

Can tourists enter the temple? Yes, visitors are welcome as long as they respect worshippers and the rules inside.

When is the best time to see a service? In the evening, around 7:30 pm. Tuesdays and Fridays have three pujas, so there is more going on.

When is the main festival? Every year from August, running 10 to 12 days.

Why does part of the community worship in Dürnten? The Adliswil premises grew too small, so part of the community opened a separate temple, Sri Vishnu Thurkkai Amman, in Dürnten.