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All Malaysia George Town Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram

Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram

Giant relaxing Buddha in Malaysia.

George Town, Malaysia

Added By
John Bromley Hewlett
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CAPTION
100-foot-long reclining Buddha (Flickr/irene.)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/irenetong/605...
The massive feet of the reclining Buddha (Flickr/gaucin_gipsy)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/gaucin_gipsy/...
Gateway to the temple (Flickr/Eduardo Mariz)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/edumariz/5269...
Many people come to pay tribute to the Buddha  
Ornately designed temple facade  
Statues protecting the temple  
From the Burmese temple across the street.   unimoggers / Atlas Obscura User
  Snowdrop68 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

When enlightenment is reached, the feeling is completely sublime and without trouble. Worries simply drift away into a calmer state of being. This Buddhist ethos is perfectly portrayed in Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram, a temple with a giant reclining Buddha.

Unlike monuments to other spiritual figures, the Buddha is not supposed to create feelings of sadness or loss. Instead, the 100-foot-long golden Buddha is meant to inspire, showing all of those who follow in his path the supreme happiness achieved from nirvana. Sprawled across the entire temple, the Buddha is slightly smiling and natural light shimmers off of his gold and white finish.

Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram is actually a Thai temple, and is not directly connected to Malaysia in origin. The temple was built in 1845 by a Thai monk, and has been a location of serious Buddhist devotion since. Many of the most devoted to the temple have had their ashes placed in niches behind the massive Buddha statue. There they rest and accompany the smiling and tranquil Buddha after their death.

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Added By

JBHewlett

Edited By

kostas1964ath, atimian, unimoggers, Snowdrop68

  • kostas1964ath
  • atimian
  • unimoggers
  • Snowdrop68

Published

September 21, 2011

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Sources
  • http://www.malaysiasite.nl/buddhaeng.htm
Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram
George Town, 10350
Malaysia
5.431709, 100.313829

Nearby Places

Dhammikarama Burmese Temple

George Town, Malaysia

miles away

Penang Jewish Cemetery

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miles away

Cheong Fatt Tze's Blue Mansion

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of George Town

George Town

Malaysia

Places 7

Nearby Places

Dhammikarama Burmese Temple

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miles away

Penang Jewish Cemetery

George Town, Malaysia

miles away

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of George Town

George Town

Malaysia

Places 7

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