The beauty of Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple rises up at the heart of the china town.  The temple is considered as a living cultural monument inspired by the golden age of Buddhism in china during the Tang Dynasty. The temple looks very grand from outside. Photography is not allowed inside the temple. 

The first floor has a three door entrance that opens up to the South Bridge Road facing east. There is a courtyard that leads to the main temple worship area. The main prayer hall has vibrant warm colors and the walls are filled with Buddha statues. This hall is the Maitreya or the Hundred Dragons Hall. Just behind passing by a side entrance is the Universe Wisdom Hall and here the walls are filled with small statues. There is a tea house and cultural shop in the second floor. 

The third floor housed Buddhist Culture Museum. The museum is definitely worth the time and it is free to visit. The fourth floor is where they hold the actual Buddha Tooth Relic. You have to leave your footwear before entering the hall. The inner chamber contains the Relic Stupa said to be holding 420 kg of gold donated by the devotees.

The roof top has a nice garden. At the center of the garden is the Vairocana Buddha Prayer Wheel Pagoda. The wall inside the pagoda is covered with 10,000 miniatures Buddha images. The building makes you appreciate the art and beauty of Buddhism. 

A visit here is worthwhile, it is visually stunning and provides a feeling of peacefulness. They provide robes and footwear that must be worn when entering the temple. This temple is one of the main attractions of china town.

Don’t miss visiting this place when you are in Singapore.

Keywords : Buddhism, Singapore, Buddhist Culture Museum, Vairocana Buddha Prayer Wheel Pagoda, Maitreya, Universe Wisdom Hall.

Kanheri caves in Mumbai

It is located about 40 kms from Mumbai, in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali. The beautiful sculpture and carved pillars is the centre of attraction to this place. One can reach kanheri caves by hiring taxis, taking buses or by boarding local trains from Mumbai.

Through the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, you can reach the staircase that leads to the kanheri caves of Maharashtra. The caves were used by the monks during the 1^st to 9^th century. This caves portraits the rise and fall of Buddhism in India.

The name kanheri comes from the Sanskrit word krishnagiri which generally means black in color. Each of these caves has a stone plinth for bed. There is a hall which has huge stone pillars. Majority of the caves are intended for living, style and meditation. The unique figure of Avalokiteshwara captures the attention of visitors.

A trip to kanheri caves would be an interesting one.

Keywords: Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali, kanheri caves, Buddhism, krishnagiri, 

                   Avalokiteshwara.