A serene haven renowned for its spirituality and tranquility

In a city where skyscrapers dominate the skyline, and people rush about with life at their own frenetic pace, it is nice to take a moment, or few, to stop and discover a serene haven right there in the middle of the city. Like the beautiful Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya temple in Singapore, renowned as much for its welcome tranquility as it is for its spirituality.

One does not get a true sense of the feel of a city unless one discovers it through the eyes of a local. Do not get me wrong. In all the times that I have visited this city-state, I have not progressed to exploring all that it has to offer, beyond Orchard Road and its shopping malls. On the odd time that I did venture beyond this part of the city, it would be to go beyond, to Sentosa Island, or take a 15-minute boat ride to Pulau Ubin.

Thankfully, all this changed last year when I visited the city after years. This was all thanks to my Singaporean girlfriend, who insisted on showing me the many sights and sounds of this city that would never have been part of my itinerary on previous occasions.

It was only last year that I finally made it to a destination I had meant to visit for close to two decades – The Tiger Brewery. Again, I must thank her for goading me to make that trip. Although a teetotaler herself, she was gracious enough to spend a few precious hours while I soaked in the atmosphere, and sipped on a pint or three of beers too.

My visit to the city last month was no different. Rather than spent time walking through the malls of Singapore, we instead decided to visit some of the attractions not frequented by too many visitors. Like the Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple.

A historical overview

A glance at its architecture and decor and you would not be too far off the mark if you thought you were back in Thailand. It was founded by the Venerable Vutthisara, a Thai monk. Upon arriving in the city way back in 1927, he found an ideal spot-on Racecourse Road and proceeded to erect a modest wooden shrine to house a sacred relic that he had brought from Bodh Gaya in India. As its popularity spread among the locals, it was not long before two well-to-do Singaporeans, Aw Boon How and Aw Boon Par, generously donated for the construction of a proper temple. Over the years, it has evolved to become the breathtaking complex it is today.

A temple with a distinctive touch

The first thing that strikes you immediately after you have entered the temple is the main attraction itself – a majestic bronze statue of the Buddha seated on a lotus flower. Measuring fifteen meters in height, this 300-ton statue is modeled on the same statue found in Bodh Gaya. Look carefully below, and in an altar, you can spot the Buddha again, this time in a reclining position. However, the Buddha is again there in this same position, in a chamber immediately behind the main statue. Unfortunately, photography of this statue is not permitted.

Once the temple complex was constructed, Vutthisara dug into his collection and donated several religious items, including a piece of bark taken from the very same Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. There is also a huge mother-of-pearl replica of the Buddha’s footprint especially brought from Sri Lanka that adorns one of the temple walls, again gifted by Vutthisara.

Surrounding this main statue are numerous smaller statues of the Buddha too. Once you have soaked in this magnificent sight, take time to look around. Right below, at the base of the statue, is an Indian-style diorama depicting notable events in the Buddha’s life.

There are also various other statues, including Hindu deities like Ganesh and Brahma too. This is why it is not surprising at all to see scores of Hindu devotees come to offer their prayers too.

Temple of 1,000 lights

While the temple gets its name of “Sakya Muni” from the historical name of the Buddha – Siddhartha Gautama, it is also known as the Temple of 1,000 Lights. It is not difficult to understand why. On several auspicious occasions and festivals, including Vesak, the temple complex is illuminated with hundreds of diyas. This visually powerful display of light can be a spiritually moving experience, meant to awaken the light of wisdom in all of us.

Your moment of solace is just a ride away

Stepping into the Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple is like stepping away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is a spiritual oasis that offers locals and tourists some moments of solace. As it gets ready to celebrate one hundred years in 2027, this temple is another gem in Singapore’s rich and well-maintained cultural heritage.

If you would like to visit Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple, it is located on Racecourse Road and is just five minutes away from Farrer Park MRT in Little India. It is open daily between 8:00 and 4:45 pm and admission is free.