This Thai temple was built in 1845 by a Buddhist monk, who came from
Thailand. The five acres of land was donated by Queen Victoria to the
Thai community. The legend about the monk tells us, that he was very
fond of the local speciality of Penang, which is called "laksa". Even
today devotees bring a bowl of laksa as an offrand to his shrine.
You can find the temple of the Reclining Buddha in Lorong Burmah, Pulau
Tikus. The opening hours are from 6.00am till 5.30pm. The entrance is
free. Just as you get out of the Wat Chayamangkalaram temple across the
road you see the Dharmikarama Burmese Temple. This also worth a visit.
If you're walking in the courtyard
towards the main temple, you are greeted by two awesome looking
green-faced guards before the temple entrance. At their feet are
crawling two mythical dragon-headed serpents.
You are allowed to take photographs,
but don’t forget to take your shoes off before you go inside the
temple.
Inside is a 33-meter gold-plated reclining Buddha. It's said to be
third largest in the world, but that is not true. Actually is the 14th
largest in the world.
In the reclining position, Buddha lies on his right side with his head
resting in the palm of his right hand to the North.
He
sleeps by turning his body to right side and left leg put over right
one.
This position on the couch symbolizes the Mahaparinirvana (Enlighthenment or achieving Nirwana) of the Buddha which took place
at Kushinagara (Uttar Pradesh, India). A peaceful half-smile gracing
its serene face.
When you have a better look in the temple, you'll see a lot of
Buddha's all in different positions. At the back of the reclining
Buddha you'll find a lot of niches. They contain the ashes of the
devotees.
Behind the temple
is a small Thai village and a Thai cemetery.
Local Thais celebrate the
traditional Buddhist festivals (the Sonkran and the Loy Krathong)
at Wat Chayamangkalaram.
A reclining Buddha The reclining Buddha represents Shakyamuni Buddha (the
historical Buddha) at his death. It is said that the Buddha knew death
was approaching, and asked his disciples to prepare a couch for him in
a grove. He lay there, reclining on his right side, facing west, with
his head supported by his hand, as he passed into nirvana.
The statue of the Reclining Buddha is not
supposed to evoke sadness, but rather encouragement that all beings
have the potential to become enlightened and attain release from the
sufferings which characterize the cycle of rebirth. The reclining
Buddha's serene, composed, and restful demeanor (he is actually
slightly smiling) a reminder of the serenity that comes with
enlightenment.
The Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama, a
prince of the Sakya tribe of Nepal, in approximately
566 BC.
When he was twenty-nine years old, he left the comforts of his
home to seek the meaning of the suffering he saw around him.
After six years of arduous yogic training, he abandoned the way
of self-mortification and instead sat in mindful meditation
beneath a bodhi tree.
On the full moon of May, with the rising of
the morning star, Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha, the
enlightened one.
The Buddha wandered the plains of northeastern
India for 45 years more, teaching the path or Dharma he had
realized in that moment. Around him developed a community or
Sangha of monks and, later, nuns, drawn from every tribe and
caste, devoted to practicing this path. In approximately 486 BC,
at the age of 80, the Buddha died.
His last words are said to be...
Impermanent are all
created things;
Strive on with awareness.
Niches with urns. They contain the
ashes of the devotees.
