One of my highlights during my quick trip to Singapore:
the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum,
a Buddhist temple and museum complex located in the Chinatown district of Singapore.
Compared to other houses of prayer from other religions, guests from all cultures and religions are welcomed and ESPECIALLY taking photographs is not a problem at all in most of the parts of the temple.
The temple is based on the Tang dynasty architectural style and built to house the tooth relic of the historical Buddha. The ground breaking ceremony was conducted on 13 March 2005. So the temple is pretty new - not more than 10 years old!
Since opening, the temple has become a popular attraction within Chinatown.
Hundred Dragons Hall - Maitreya Hall
The Hundred Dragons Hall is located on the first floor of the Temple and is designed after Buddhist temples of the Tang Dynasty. It is solemn and dignified with a hundred Buddhas enshrined on both sides of the hall. The statues of One Hundred Buddhas are individually handcrafted by several sculptors.
The Hundred Dragons Hall is located on the first floor of the Temple and is designed after Buddhist temples of the Tang Dynasty. It is solemn and dignified with a hundred Buddhas enshrined on both sides of the hall. The statues of One Hundred Buddhas are individually handcrafted by several sculptors.
Whenever you have the chance to visit the temple, don’t forget to go up to level 5 (roof garden) to check out the Vairocana Buddha Prayer Wheel. The wheel is the
largest cloisonné Buddha Prayer Wheel in the world.
Being on the forth floor of the temple you feel like kilometers away from Singapore daily rush and hecticness.
On the
fourth floor is the Chamber of the Sacred Buddha Tooth. The gold Sacred
Buddha's Tooth Relic Stupa is the center of focus in this magnificent
room. There is a gold canopy above the stupas and the floor is lined
with gold tiles. Only the Sangha have access to the inner chamber to
conduct the various daily services. The visitors are only allowed to
observe the daily services from the public viewing area. No photography
is allowed in this hall! ;-)
Outside the temple you are quickly back in Singapore reality!!!
In my next post I'll put a focus on the temple's third floor - the Samantabhadra Hall - Nagapuspa Buddhist Culture Museum with its wonderful collection of Buddha statuary.
