KEK LOK SI - Attraction of Georgetown
January 11, 2018
The
Kek Lok Si Temple is a Buddhist temple situated in Air Itam in Penang facing
the sea and commanding an impressive view, and is one of the best known temples
on the island. It is said to be the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. It is
also an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhists from Hong Kong, the
Philippines, Singapore and other countries in Southeast Asia. This entire
complex of temples was built over a period from 1890 to 1930, an inspirational
initiative of Beow Lean, the Abbot.
Mahayana
Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism and traditional Chinese rituals blend into a
harmonious whole, both in the temple architecture and artwork as well as in the
daily activities of worshippers. The temple is heavily commercialised with
shops at every level and inside the main temple complexes selling all religious
paraphernalia.
Most
visitors approach the temple as they ascend a stairway, roofs of which provide
shelter to a multitude of shops selling souvenirs and other - mostly secular -
commodities. They pass by a so-called Liberation Pond, following the Buddhist
tradition of merit-making, turtles may be released into freedom, albeit a
limited one.
The
temple itself consists of several large prayer halls and pavilions for assembly
and prayer, statues of Buddha; various Bodhisattvas as well as Chinese gods are
being venerated. The architectural features include carved pillars, fine
woodwork, mostly painted in bright colours, and a plethora of lanterns add to
the visual impression. Fish ponds and flower gardens are also part of the
temple complex.
1 comments
love to see the temple building it symbolic of the religious and the culture
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