Dharmikarama Burmese Temple Penang 15 Dec 2010

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After Wat Chayamangkalaram, we just walked across the street, is another place of serenity that invites meditation and much appreciation of the Buddhist religion, the Dharmikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple. It is a famous Burmese temple in Georgetown City in Penang too.

It is under renovation when we were there, upon entering the temple, there are pieces of crafts stones on the floor, all over the place laying in front of pillars. The children just ran freely in the temple.

The temple holds dear the image of Buddha in every corner. From the many statues of Buddha in different poses of meditation, donated by temple devotees, to the beautiful murals depicting scenes from the journey of Prince Siddhartha before he finally became Buddha and reached the state of Nirvana.

One of the most notable features found in the temple is the pair of Panca Rupa, or 'Guardian Protectors of the World', standing over a replica of the world globe. These mystical beasts are said to be the masters of water, land and air, with appendages of various animals – the head of a lion with a trunk like an elephant, body of fish, wings of the mystical Garuda, ears and hooves of a horse and horns of a deer.

There is a charming fish pond and Boddhi tree within the pagoda grounds.

The first Buddhist temple in Penang, the Dhamikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple was consecrated in 1805. One of two major Buddhist temples located within the Theravada Buddhist (mainly of Thai and Burmese origin) enclave surrounding Burma Lane, the Dhamikarama temple was built on land donated by a Buddhist devotee known as Nyonya Betong.

The temple is also the place to be, since many festivities such as Wesak Day and the Water Festival (known as Thankyan) are celebrated with worshippers young and old splashing water at each other and at passers-by in much the same fashion as the 'Songkhra' festival celebrated in Thailand.

There are small souvenirs stalls just in front of the entrance of the temple, selling various of souvenirs from range of key chains, small Buddha statues, T-Shirts, umbrellas, etc.

Brother Andrew and sister-in-law Minah even went for some ritual ceremony which believe by the followers can earn some good luck by doing so.

Source from http://www.virtualmalaysia.com/