Arulmihu Sivan Temple

The temple maintains a consistent daily schedule of three poojas. Morning worship begins at 9:00 AM, midday pooja occurs at 12:00 PM, and evening worship takes place at 7:00 PM. These regular rituals form the foundation of temple life, providing devotees with multiple opportunities throughout the day to participate in worship and receive darshan (sacred viewing of the deity).

The temple tracks significant observance days through its published calendar and panchanga, a traditional Hindu astronomical almanac. On these special days, variations in ritual practice and timing may occur. Devotees interested in participating in specific ceremonies or poojas can arrange this through the temple, which accepts online reservations for certain rituals. This combination of traditional practice with contemporary booking systems reflects how the temple adapts to serve its community while maintaining established ritual forms.

Festivals and Observances

The temple observes major festivals central to Shaivite practice. Maha Shivaratri, the great night dedicated to Shiva, and Thai Poosam, celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai, form significant points in the annual calendar. An annual Grand Festival serves as the centerpiece of the temple's religious year.

Throughout the year, the temple marks numerous vrata (observance) days aligned with the Tamil and Hindu calendars. Recent announcements indicate observances including Vinayaka Chaturthi (dedicated to Ganesha), Pradosha vrata (observed on specific lunar days), and seasonal festivals following the Tamil calendar. The temple's calendar provides details of these observances for devotees wishing to participate in specific rituals or fasting practices.

Visiting the Temple

The temple is open from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the morning and from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the evening. These hours accommodate both those visiting during working hours and those coming for evening worship. Visitors should note that special observances may result in variations to these timings.

The temple is located at Industriestrasse 34, CH-8152 Glattbrugg. For inquiries, directions, or to arrange specific ceremonies, visitors can contact the temple by telephone at +41 (0) 44 371 02 42 or by email at info@sivankovil.ch. The temple's website, sivankovil.ch, provides additional information including the calendar of observances and details about available services.

Temples of the Shaivite tradition typically request that visitors remove footwear before entering the sanctum and dress modestly. Menstruating women are traditionally not permitted to enter the inner sanctum in orthodox Shaivite practice, though this varies by temple. Visitors unfamiliar with temple customs are welcome to observe from designated areas and should follow the guidance of temple staff.

Community Services

Beyond worship, the temple offers several community-oriented services. A food service (Siva Annam) provides meals to devotees and visitors. The temple also operates Sivan Television and Sivan Radio, extending its reach to the broader Tamil Hindu community. These services reflect the temple's role as a comprehensive community institution serving spiritual, cultural, and social needs.

The temple maintains a charitable foundation called Anbe Sivam (Love is Shiva), which undertakes community welfare initiatives including tree-planting programs and end-of-life services for community members. This demonstrates how the temple extends traditional religious practice into contemporary social responsibility.