Dharmikarama Burmese Temple Penang

Dharmikarama Burmese Temple is located along Burma Lane in Pulau Tikus. It is reputed to be the first ever and only Burmese temple in Malaysia. The place is rich in Burmese culture and architecture.

A stone plague on the temple grounds reads:

The temple land was purchased by Nonia Betong from George Layton for 390 Spanish Dollars. It was situated in the district of Tulloh Aier Rajah, under the grant of 1162, Lot 372; Section 4, Georgetown; on the first day of August 1809 granted by Sir George Leith Baronet, Lt. Governor of Prince of Wales Island. The first Chief Monk of the temple was Venerable U. Nandamala.

A pair of white elephants guard the entrance to this Burmese temple. 

This temple is a popular venue for Buddhist Festivals, Songkran Festival, Chinese New Year celebrations and cultural events. Songkran is Thailand's traditional New Year Day.

This temple which features the pagoda was designated as one of Penang state's 15 sites preserved as a historical and tourist attraction during the Visit Penang Year 1988.

The Buddhist emblem for peace and prosperity. It was built to replace the former emblem and to commemorate the bicentenary of the temple founded on August 1st, 1803.

This and the next 3 pictures are Memorial Stupas donated by people and built in loving memory of departed loved ones.

The temple is managed by a Chief Monk. It has a main shrine, a sima hall, dining hall, monk's quarters, preceptee's lodge, Sunday school, a library and a lecture hall. 

“Dharmikarama Burmese Temple Penang”, a copyrighted post, was written for Klang, Malaysia Daily Photo blog by Autumn Belle @ http://mymalaysiadailyphoto.blogspot.com on June 19th, 2012.

The Arahant Upagutta Shrine was originally a small building made of planks constructed in 1840 on the present site. This new shrine was build in 1976 and the Arahant Upagutta Image consecrated on December 18th 1978. It is believed that Arahant Upagutta has the power to help one overcome obstacles and problems, exorcism of evil and fulfilment of wishes e.g. related to examinations and health.

This is the statue of Panca-Rupa, The Gurdian Protector of the World. It is a pair of chimeras protecting the globe. The chimera is a mythical animal with features of a few different animals. In this case, the Panca-Rupa has the trunk and tusks of the elephant, the 4 hoofed legs and 2 ears of the horse, face of a lion, deer's horn, body and tail of the fish and wings of the Garuda bird.

The Wishing Pond with a Bodhi tree, tortoises and koi fishes.

The Bodhi Tree

Some of the events conducted at the temple include:

1. Chinese New Year Ancestral Dana
2. Chinese New Year Eve Candle Lighting
3. Qing Ming Ddana
4. Songkran Festival
5. Wesak Day
6. Invitation for Observance of Buddhist Lent
7. Buddhist Lent Dana
8. Temple Anniversary Dana
9. Chinese 7th Month Dana
10. Mid-Autumn Festival Candle Lighting
11. Soon Dawgyi Eve Night Service
12. Soon Dawgyi Dana
13. Union Kathina
14. Ordination and 7 Days Intensive Buddhist Practice
15. Arahant Upagutta Annual Festival