This statues is the largest in Malaysia… and I heard some rumours that largest in south east asia (I am not very sure about that… just a hearsay)

If you visit kelantan, and interested in local cultures and buildings, you may visit this place. The temple is actually a Buddhis temple in the local siamese community in Kelantan state. However, the statues and the building is more towards chinese art. I think it is because the chinese community contribute a lots in term of monetaries donation when the statues is build so the design is more chinese then siamese design.

The name of the statues is “Budha Barameedharm chamruslok”. The name is actually given by the king of Thailand. Based on the data stated in front of the statues, it is on 3 of may 1991.

I have a few photo of the place, hope you enjoy it.

I manage to take some photo, but not all of the functions today.

However, before I go further, some of you may not aware of what is katina ceremony is, I get this information from the net and it describe what is katina:

Katina Ceremony
By Ven Panditha M. Dhammagavesi

First of all I would like to draw your attention to the history of observing VAS (rainy) retreat. Secondly, about the Kathina ceremony and finally, the benefits of performing it.

For the first twenty years of establishment of The Order of the Sangha (Sangha community) the Buddha did not have to lay down any kind of disciplinary rules for monks, because the Sangha community was not so large, they were not too old in the Order and also their main intention was to eradicate defilements to lead a pure life. With the increasing of the Sangha community some of them entered The Order with the intention of obtaining material gains. Some of them did not know what they should or should not to do for their spiritual upliftment. Therefore, there was a need to implement some rules to correct them and show them the right way to practice for their welfare and also for the welfare of those who would enter in to the order.

Most of the monks did not stay in one place for a long time. They would travel from place to place, from village to village, from suburb to suburb practicing meditation, preaching and teaching, encouraging and stimulating people to engage in Dhamma. They did not stop travelling even during the rainy period of the year. During that time there were some other religious groups as well. One of them was Nighanta natha puthta and his disciples. They went to the extreme of practicing Ahimsa.i.e. they considered even grass as a living being and therefore did not walk about on grass for fear of killing them. They stayed indoors during the rainy season without walking anywhere so that they would not cause death or harm to any living thing. Under these circumstances Buddha and his disciples were accused of travelling during the period of rainy months. Taking into consideration this accusation and recollecting the actions of previous Buddhas, he advised monks to go into retreat during the rainy season starting from the day after the July Full moon.. Those who could not commence the retreat on this particular day due to unavoidable circumstances were advised to commence it following the August full moon. Each and every higher ordained monk is supposed to observe rainy retreat whether they were invited to do so or not by lay people and no matter where they live. The rainy period usually lasted for three months.

Monks are not allowed to use more than three robes during the Katina retreat.(The three robes are the inner robe, the outer robe and the double robe) When they get more robes they should be kept in the store.

On one occasion Vishakha Maha Upasika (The chief lay lady disciple) expressed her desire to offer a special piece of cloth to each monk and invite monks for Vas observation. Buddha accepted her invitation. Since then we have been following that custom. That is why people these days too invite monks to go into retreat and this is called Vas Aradana. This is done by offering a special piece of cloth at the beginning of the rainy period. From the beginning up to the end of this period monks are provided with food, domestic facilities, medicine and so on. These three months are very important for both monks and lay people because they could do more and more meritorious activities such as participate in dhamma sermons, dhamma discussions, meditation programs and Pirith chantings.

During Lord Buddha’s time a group of thirty monks went away from the place of retreat where The Buddha was to spend three months. At the conclusion of the retreat they returned to visit the Buddha. On the way they had to face heavy rains. They were in trouble. One of them got extremely wet. It was a very hard time for him. Some how they visited the Buddha. Seeing the monk whose robes were very wet the Buddha advised them to accept an extra robe as a KATHINA. The extra robe was always given to the one who needed it. (There are some rules to be observed by monks when using the kathina robe) If devotees offer a piece of cloth to monks in the name of kathina, the monks have to make a robe with that cloth on the same day. Lay people could do it as well. Offering of Kathina robe is considered as one of the greatest meritorious activities. Also whatever is offered on Kathina day, the same merit could be obtained by donors. That is why people make various types of
offerings on the day of the Kathina.

One of the stanzas chanted during Kathina glorifies the greatness of merit which one gets from performing Kathina. Even this solid Earth, or a solid rock or a piece of diamond could tremble, shake and break at times. However. the merit obtained by offering of kathina robe could not be nullified by any thing until one achieve the ultimate goal Nibbana. That is why

it is called KATINA. One of the disciples called NAGITHA expressed the glory of doing it. As a result of offering kathina robe to the MAHASANGA he was never been born in lower places (like the spirit world and the animal realm) and for the last thirty eons or KALPA he had been born in higher and blissful realms like the divine or human. The merit thus obtained was very helpful for him to realize the ultimate truth.

It is clearly mentioned in Buddhism that if one commits a GARUKA KAMMA which means serious unwholesome deeds such as:

1) Matricide
2) Patrricide
3) the Murder of an Arahant
4) the Wounding of Buddha
5) the Creation of Schism in the Sangha,

one has to undergo the unpleasant results during this life or in the next life immediately after death.

Even the merit of offering of Kthina robe cannot help such a person to avoid the suffering or bad karma. However the merit, the positive power of offering Kathina could reduce the negative effects of other minor bad deeds. Furthermore, one could be blessed with happiness, long life, good health, a good complexion, physical strength, and wisdom in this life and in the continuing lives in the cycle of rebirth until we achieve Nibbana.

Here is some photo that is taken during the ceremony:

Some of the ropes that the devotee donate to the temple

The chief monk starting the ceremony

Katina Tree. It made from banana tree and the devotee donate money and stick the donation money to the ‘tree’

Another view of the Katina tree

The devotee praying

The building, which was inspired by the Five Pillars of Islam, is where the Petronas Philharmonic Hall located housing both the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Petronas Performing Arts Group.Not forgetting Suria KLCC, the shopping complex at the base of the towers is another shopping paradise for the shopaholics. You can also pop by Petronas Sciene Centre at level 4 to learn about Malaysia’s oil and gas industry.Opening hours : Tuesday to Thursday from 9.30 am to 6 pm, Fri from 1.30 pm to 6pm and Sun & public Holidays from 9.30am to 7 pm.Closed on Monday & Hari Raya Puasa. Tel no : 03-233 1818. Website : www.petrosains.com.my

The photo was taken in the early morning … in the afternoon or late morning, there are lots of people visit this place especially during weekend. It is difficult to take good photo when the crowd is large.

Batu caves is one of the must visit if you come to Malaysia- Selangor especially. There are many Hindus temple, however the main one is inside the caves – The Batu Caves! The cave entrance is located a bit fruther up. You need to climb up a steep flight of 272 steps to reach the entrance.

During the hindus festival which will be conduct every year around January (the date will varry from year to year) which they called Thaipussam, there are thousand of Hindus devotees come to this place. Some of them carry kavadi, a metal frame attaching to the body, dancing in worshipping to their gods.

How to go there

The easiest way is by Taxi. Just take any taxi from your hotel or anywhere in Kuala Lumpur and inform the driver that you want to visit Batu caves. Every taxi driver will know this place as this place is very famous and it exist very long time ago.

I saw some buses passed by this place. However, I am not sure it is from where or how much is the fare.

What you can do here

Batu Caves contain lots of Hindus temple. therefore, you will able to see lots of temple buildings and figures at this place. All of them is unique to Hindus religion. I found that it is very attractive and beautiful.

The cave here is also very nice. There are lots of beautiful scenery that you can see in this cave. Btw, if you visit Batu cave and you don’t mind a bit tracking, you can try to visit Gua Gelap (Dark Caves). the price for a tour guides is RM35, which will take about 20 minute to finish exploring the caves. It is said that the rock formation is this cave aged up to thousand of years! The entrance to Gua Gelap (Dark Caves). The entrance of this cave is in the middle of the 272 steps that you need to take to visit Batu Caves.

During my visit, there are a fortune teller which use ring neck parakeet to pick to ‘topic’ for you. I try it and it cost RM3.00 per times the parrots pick the card for you.

There are many indian restaurant in this place. I didn’t try any of the food but one thing that attract me is the restaurant that sell fresh coconut. It cost RM2.00 per coconut. The worker that cut the coconut for you (to drink) have a very good skilled. It is fascinating to see him cut the coconut.

Based on the main shrine structure, it seem that local people that build it. There are not much ‘Thailand fine Art’ effect which many new generations temple have. Based on my rough estimation, it should be more than 100 years old. Well, the current chief abbot is about 80 plus years old and he is not the first in this temple.

How to go to Wat Sukhontharam

It is very easy to go to this temple. If you are from Kota Bharu (capital city of Kelantan state), you can take a bus and you will reach this temple easily. From the Kota Bharu bus station, take S.K.M.K Bus no.27. This bus will be from Kota Bharu to Pengkalan Kubur station. Inform the driver that you want to go to Kampung Kubang Panjang. This temple located next to a river.

What to do in this temple

There are not much activity that one can do. However, some of them is to pray and sometimes the buddhist will do dana here. There are a thai language school in this temple. The young generation of Thai decendent in this village will come here to learn the Thai language, read and write. The school is run by the local.

I think if we think about the Sukhontharam temple, one of the thing that should come into our mind is the Songkran Festival. In Kelantan, here is the place that have the grand Songkran festival in the Kelantan State. If you plan to see or join Songkran Festival in Kelantan, you definitely should visit this temple.

Here is some photo that I take during the visit. However, since it is very early in the morning, the photo is kind of dark.

The Chetawan Temple, in Petaling Jaya start way back in 1956. It is the time when the then Malaya was on the verge of gaining independence that the idea of building a sizable buddhist Temple close to the federal capital of kuala Lumpur was first conceived.

Based on the information that I gather, it was Phra kru Palat Vieng, a vetean member of the Sangha (community of monks) and an old time resident of Kuala Lumput who initiated the move. This noble initiative is supported by His Excellency Nai Sunthorn Hongladarom, the Ambassador of Thailand to Malaya, the Venerable Phra Dhamakosacharn (Chop Anucari) and a group of dedicated prominent local b\Buddhist such as Senator Dato’ T.H Tan, Mr & Mrs Goh Chin Keat, Mr. Lim Pek Nooi, Mr Ho Kean Tit and Mr Yap Ten Chai.

The initiative to build a temple had attracted generous donations from well-wishers as far back as 1956 when the idea was first mooted. His Majesty King Bhumiphol Adulyadej of Thailand’s Personal contribution towards the building funds had generated greater enthusiasm amongst those who aspired for the successful completion of the Temple. The Government of Malaya also rallied to the good cause by giving a grant of 100,000 ringgit through the prime minister, Yang Teramat Mulia Tengku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. Another 45,000 ringgit was also donated through Senator Dato’s T.H. Tan.

The Structure of Chetawan Temple will show a very fine architecture as it is the Fine Arts Department of Thailand in Bangkok that was commissioned to draw up the architectural plan and to oversee the construction of the Temple building (the Main Shrine)

The Main Shrine of Chetawan Temple

The Main Entrance

The Bell Tower.

Stair lead to Bell Tower and the Main Shrine.