DHAMMIKARAMA BURMESE TEMPLE
Two white stone elephants welcome you to the entrance of this Buddhist temple built by the Burmese community of Penang. It is the only Burmese temple built outside Myanmar. It was built in Penang in 1805. On the right, in a representation of Chinese influence, Kuan Yin sits in the centre of a water body, with blue ibises, the sacred Chinese birds. A little further on, still on the right, three typically Burmese style pagodas are the real highlight of the visit to this temple. The central pagoda houses the representation of a saint, Araham Upagutta, who has the power to abolish all obstacles and fulfil all wishes. To his right, a saint is served by two goddesses; to his left, the saint of prosperity is accompanied by servants, a demon and an intermediary (medium) with the supernatural. On the left, a corridor leads to the main sanctuary where the Buddha statue stands. Mural frescoes document the saint's life and the major stages of his life, in the same way as Epinal's images. Don't miss the statues of two Panca Rupa standing on a globe. Considered as the guardians of the world, these mythological creatures have the features of a lion, the tusks of an elephant, the body of a fish, the wings of a garuda, the antlers of a stag and the ears and hooves of a horse. They are the masters of water, land and air in Buddhist mythology.
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