SingaporeMotherhood | Pregnancy
September 2023
Praying to Zhu Sheng Niang Niang (注生娘娘) for a Baby
No, it’s not limited to the older generation — even young childless couples visit temples to pray that the deities will grant them a healthy baby. Zhu Sheng Niang Niang (注生娘娘), in particular, seems to be the bringer of hope and bundles of joy.
A fertility deity in Taoist culture, Zhu Sheng Niang Niang governs everything to do with pregnancy, delivery and birth. In Chinese, 注生娘娘 literally translates to “goddess who watches over birth”. Believed to protect both mother and child, Zhu Sheng Niang Niang is traditionally worshipped by the Southern Chinese, such as the Hokkien and Teochew clans. Even today, many childless couples turn to her in hopes that she will bestow a baby upon them.
Of course, it’s essential to seek your gynae’s advice should you have problems conceiving naturally. There may be underlying physiological conditions that need addressing, and advanced fertility treatments produce miracles every day. But there is surely no harm in praying for divine intervention either.
“While I’m a Taoist-Buddhist, I don’t really see myself as superstitious. Still, I would grab any chance just to have a healthy baby, so I kept an open mind and prayed to Zhu Sheng Niang Niang,” reveals Jo Tan, 35, who was blessed with a baby boy in 2013. She had been trying for kids for about three years prior but faced difficulties conceiving naturally. Hers is a centuries-old story that the deity still hears, even in present-day Singapore.
(See also: FERTILITY AND BABY-MAKING FACTS: 10 TRUTHS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GETTING PREGNANT)
Prepare Offerings for Zhu Sheng Niang Niang
If you hope to have a baby boy, bring an odd number of white flowers (11 stalks, for example) to offer to the goddess. This symbolises yang or masculine energy. To pray for a baby girl, prepare an even number (12 stalks) of red flowers. This represents yin or feminine energy. If you have no preference, then you can go with six of each.
Jo also suggests these ‘advanced’ offerings: “I also brought along a bottle of Butterfly brand cologne, an old-school brand of pressed face powder, and a spool of red thread to place on the altar.” (It’s optional, but you can purchase Butterfly Florida Water Cologne and Sam Fong Hoi Tong Powder at traditional Chinese medicine halls around the older neighbourhoods.)
At the temple, you can also purchase a set of basic offerings (from about $3 per set) that includes candles, joss sticks, and incense paper.
(See also: 17 PREGNANCY AND BIRTH SUPERSTITIONS YOU SHOULD NOT BELIEVE)
How to Pray to Zhu Sheng Niang Niang
Then simply approach Zhu Sheng Niang Niang’s altar and tell her of your wish to be blessed with a healthy child. Tell her yours and your spouse’s names and lunar dates-of-birth, where you live, and whether you would like to have a boy or girl. Some ladies say that they sometimes pour their hearts out to Zhu Sheng Niang Niang, often sobbing out their woes as they get caught up in their emotions. This is perfectly fine — the goddess will then better know your pain, they say.
(See also: CONDEMNED TO BE CHILDLESS AFTER TWO ECTOPIC PREGNANCIES AND IVF FAILS – OR SO SHE THOUGHT!)
Finally, if there are any red eggs by Zhu Sheng Niang Niang’s altar, be sure to take two, one for yourself and one for your spouse. You can eat them at any time, but it is advised to take them home and eat them on your bed together. Do eat them on the same day as soon as possible, so that they are still fresh. These are extra lucky red eggs!
If you’re still unsure about what to say or do, simply ask one of the friendly temple caretakers for pointers. They are usually more than willing to guide you. At the end of the day, the most important factor is your sincerity, so don’t worry if you get it ‘wrong’ — the deities are not petty mortals after all!
Congratulations on your BFP!
When you get a Big Fat Positive pregnancy test, you may wish to return to the temple to thank Zhu Sheng Niang Niang for her help. This is also the best time to pray for a smooth pregnancy and delivery, and of course, a healthy baby.
After observing your confinement and baby is a month old, it is important to take an offering of (hard-boiled) red eggs back to the temple. The number of eggs is usually in tens; some offer 50 eggs, some 100, while others choose to ‘return’ an auspicious-sounding 88 eggs. The red eggs have a two-fold purpose. First, to thank the goddess for her blessings. But perhaps more importantly, it is to spread lucky ‘baby dust’ to others who are still praying for a baby of their own. Remember the red eggs mentioned earlier? This is where they come from!
(See also: BABY FULL MONTH SETS & PACKAGES: 24 TRADITIONAL AND MODERN OPTIONS FOR 2023)
Many mums who have been blessed by Zhu Sheng Niang Niang continue to visit her even as their children are growing up. She is said to be assisted by a team of lesser goddesses — ‘nannies’ who help to protect and care for kids until they reach 12 to 14 years old. As one mum who goes by the moniker of “milogal88” on the SingaporeMotherhood forums shares, “My twins just turned one. I still go back periodically and pray to Zhu Sheng Niang Niang for them to be safe and healthy.”
Others, like Jo, return to pray for a second or even third child. “I prayed to Zhu Sheng Niang Niang for a second child and she blessed me with another boy. We are hoping for a third kid, so we may make another visit to her very soon!”
Where to Find Zhu Sheng Niang Niang in Singapore
There are several temples around Singapore where the goddess resides, including the ones listed below. One of the most popular among SingaporeMotherhood forum participants is the Shuang Lin temple in Toa Payoh. You’ll recognise Zhu Sheng Niang Niang as the lady deity who holds an open book and a calligraphy brush — these reflect the traditional Chinese practice of recording every newborn in the family lineage.
By the way, if you’re hoping to receive the lucky ‘baby dust’ when you visit Zhu Sheng Niang Niang, tune in to the latest posts on this SingaporeMotherhood forum thread. Mums returning to thank the deity with red eggs often share the wheres and whens beforehand or right after.
Ban Siew San Temple (Ban Siew San Kuan Imm Tong)
Where 2 Telok Blangah Drive
Opening hours 7.30am – 3pm
Phone 6271 2914
Giok Hong Tian Temple (Yu Huang Dian)
Where 495 Havelock Road
Opening hours 7am – 5pm
Phone 6733 5727
Goh Chor Tua Pek Kong Temple
Where 249 Balestier Road
Opening hours 8am – 4pm
Phone 6256 7908
Web facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064367362498
Kampong Tengah Thian Hou Keng (Ban Gang Tian Hou Gong, part of Sengkang Joint Temple)
Where 80 Rivervale Crescent
Opening hours 8am – 5pm
Phone 6386 5680
Kong Hock Keng Temple
Where 101 Telok Blangah Street 31
Opening hours 7.30am – 7pm
Phone 6276 3440
Kuan Im Tng Temple (Joo Chiat)
Where 62 Tembeling Road
Opening hours 9am – 4pm
Phone 6348 0967
Web www.kuanimtng.org.sg
Leong San See Temple
Where 371 Race Course Road
Opening hours 8am – 4pm
Phone 6298 9371
Web www.leongsanseetemple.com
Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong Temple (Jiu Cai Ba Cheng Huang Miao)
Where 15 Arumugam Road
Opening hours 6am – 8.30pm
Phone 6744 3187
Web www.shtemple.org.sg/en
Sar Kong Mun San Fook Tuck Chee
Where 124 Sims Drive
Opening hours 7am – 6pm
Phone 6747 4957
Web facebook.com/sarkongmsftc
Seng Wong Gong Temple (Seng Wong Beo)
Where 113 Peck Seah Street
Opening hours 8am – 5pm
Phone 6221 9930
Shuang Lin Cheng Huang Miao (Siong Lim Temple, part of Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery)
Where 184 Jalan Toa Payoh
Opening hours 8am – 5pm
Phone 6259 6924
Web www.shuanglin.sg
Soon Thian Keing (Tua Konsi)
Where 19 Lorong 29 Geylang
Opening hours 7am – 5.30pm
Phone 6742 8566
Tang Gah Beo (Dong Yue Miao)
Where 6 Bukit Purmei
Opening hours 7am – 4.30pm
Phone 6221 3872
Ting Kong Temple (Telok Blangah Ting Kong Beo)
Where 578 Telok Blangah Road
Opening hours 8am – 5pm
Phone 6272 3144
Tong Tien Kung Temple
Where 8 Bukit Batok Street 21
Opening hours 8am – 5.45pm
Phone 6562 3532
Yang Tao Yuan Sheng Hong Temple (Yang Tao Yuan Cheng Huang Miao)
Where 300 Pandan Gardens
Opening hours 8am – 6pm
Phone 6560 4760
Web facebook.com/shenghongtemple
Yueh Hai Ching Temple (Wak Hai Cheng Bio)
Where 30B Phillip Street
Opening hours 8am – 5pm
Phone 6536 6851
Web www.thengeeannkongsi.com.sg
Featured image: 桃園天惠堂
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