Shri Sanathana Dharma Aalayam, or also known as Jakarta Murugan Temple is a kovil (Indian Hindu temple) located at Kalideres district of West Jakarta, Indonesia. As planned, it is the first Dravidian (Indian) Hindu temple in Jakarta, as representation of Indian Indonesians who practiced their Indian Hinduism (as opposed to the Native Indonesian Hinduism).[1][2]
The temple is built on an area of 4,000 square meters, and also open to public as a tourist destination.[3][4] Not only place of worship, there are parks and multipurpose rooms for the public, especially for local residents.[5] On February 2 2025, the temple was opened to the public [6]
History
In 2019, a proposal for the temple's construction was submitted to the Indonesian government and approved the same year. The temple's construction was supported by the Jakarta under the leadership of Governor Anies Baswedan, who presided over the groundbreaking ceremony on February 14, 2020. The ceremony was also attended by the Ambassador of India to Indonesia. Due to the covid pandemic and restrictions, the temple's construction was postponed and resumed in 2022.
The temple serves all sects of Hinduism, including Shaivism and Vaishnavism. Among its prominent features are sacred icons of Kartikeya, Ganesha, Sakti, Siwa, Parvati, and other revered deities. The towering Rajagopuram, standing 131 feet tall, symbolizes divine grace, while the 69-foot-tall statue of Lord Murugan represents spiritual ascension.
The temple also features a multipurpose hall for community events, a museum highlighting the cultural ties between Indonesia and India, and tranquil gardens ideal for meditation and reflection. The temple's design blends Indian, Balinese, and Javanese traditions, emphasizing the values of Pancasila.
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