Wat Buppharam, Penang

Wat Buppharam (Thai: วัดบุปผาราม; RTGS: Wat Buppharam) (also called as the Buppharam Buddhist Temple) is a Thai temple in Pulau Tikus suburb of George Town, Penang, Malaysia. Situated at Jalan Perak, the temple is the home to a renowned statue of Buddha, the "Lifting Buddha".[2] The temple became a focal point for the annual Siamese Songkran and Loi Krathong festivals within the city suburb and for the city yearly Buddha Day procession as well the Jathukarm-Ramathep-Ganesha blessing ceremonies.[3][4][5][6]

Not to be confused with Wat Buppharam, Chiang Mai. For other temples with similar names, see Wat Buppharam.

Wat Buppharam
วัดบุปผาราม
Front view of the temple
Religion
AffiliationBuddhism
DistrictNortheast Penang Island District
Location
LocationPulau Tikus
StatePenang
CountryMalaysia
Shown within George Town
Geographic coordinates5°25′32.562″N 100°18′58.376″E
Architecture
TypeThai temple
FounderPhra Phothan Srikheaw[1]
Date established1942[1]

History

The temple was built during the Japanese occupation of British Malaya in 1942 by Phra Phothan Srikheaw, a Thai monk who became the temple's first abbot.[1][7]

Features

The temple is renowned for a century-old Buddha statue nicknamed the "Lifting Buddha".[2] Urban legend has it that the statue contains the ability to predict whether a devotee's wishes can be fulfilled. If the statue can be lifted the first time the devotee concentrates on his or her wishes, and subsequently becomes too heavy to lift the second time, then the devotee's wish is indeed attainable.[2] Although founded as a Theravāda Buddhist temple with the layout of Thai tradition, the temple are decorated with various mythical religious creatures of Nāgas with the mixture of Hindu and Taoist deities such as the statue of Ganesha which is placed at the main entrance while in the left located a shrine specifically for Guan Yin.[1] On the far side leading to the burial grounds, there is a small shrine to Tudigong (Goddess of Land). In spite of the temple complex modest size, it has arguably one of the largest arches in the state.[1]

  • The temple as seen from its second entrance at Jalan Perak.

References
  1. "Wat Buppharam Thai (Siamese) Buddhist Temple". Malaysian Internet Resources. 2006. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  2. Lonely Planet; Isabel Albiston; Brett Atkinson; Greg Benchwick; Cristian Bonetto; Austin Bush; Robert Kelly; Simon Richmond; Richard Waters; Anita Isalska (1 August 2016). Lonely Planet Malaysia Singapore & Brunei. Lonely Planet. pp. 401–. ISBN 978-1-76034-162-6.
  3. "Temple ceremony". The Star. 21 September 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  4. Carolyn Ooi (24 November 2007). "Triple blessings for devotees". The Star. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  5. Cavina Lim (5 May 2015). "Wesak fanfare and fervour". The Star. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  6. "Devotees gather for double celebration". Bernama. The Borneo Post. 6 May 2012. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  7. Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. The Branch. 1988. p. 64.
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