4/5 Shankar R. 1 year ago on Google
The
Sakya
Muni
Buddha
Gaya
Temple
was
founded
in
1927
by
a
Thai
monk
known
as
Ven
Vutthisara.
The
temple
grew
in
popularity
and,
in
1930,
Ven
Vutthisasara
built
the
present
temple
building
with
a
donation
from
Aw
Boon
Haw
and
Aw
Boon
Par.
There
are
strong
Thai
influences
in
the
architecture
and
decor.
The
Sakya
Muni
Buddha
Gaya
Temple
is
one
of
the
most
prominent
and
widely
visited
Buddhist
temples
in
Singapore,often
referred
to
as
the
Temple
of
1,000
Lights.
It
features
a
15-meter
high
statue
of
a
seated
Buddha,
which
weighs
nearly
300
tons,
as
well
as
many
smaller
Buddha
images
and
murals
depicting
the
life
of
Gautama
Buddha.
The
large
central
statue
is
surrounded
by
a
stylized
aura
made
of
numerous
light
bulbs—
often
lit
with
a
donation
towards
the
temple(approach
the
friendly
staff
to
request)—from
which
the
temple
derives
its
nickname.
In
a
small
room
beneath
the
altar
is
an
image
of
a
reclining
Buddha,
Buddha
towards
the
end
of
his
life,
under
a
Yellow
Saraka
Tree.
On
Vesak
Day,
the
annual
holiday
celebrating
the
birth
and
enlightenment
of
Lord
Buddha,
devotees
donate
money
to
the
temple
and
in
exchange
are
allowed
to
place
gold
leaf
onto
a
small
statue
of
the
Buddha.
As
the
day
wears
on,
the
Buddha
statue
is
almost
entirely
covered
in
a
fresh
layer
of
gold
leaves.
The
temple
is
open
between
8.00
am
and
4.30
pm
daily.
Admission
is
free.
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