“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.”
― Albert Einstein, The World As I See It
We visited the Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple ( Wat Chetawan Temple ), at Petaling Jaya, on 31st December 2016.
It's one of the most beautiful Buddhist Temples you can ever visit.
I'd highly recommend a visit to the temple, for it's amazing beauty, the serene atmosphere, and to learn about Thai Buddhist Temples. I'll make an attempt to here sprinkle some of the terms used in the temple.
The Buddhist Temples in Thailand are called " wat ".
The intricate carvings, shrines, statues are really exquisite, and have been designed by some of the best artisans from Thailand.
The entire atmosphere at the temple is serene and calm. The Kuan Yin ( Quan Yin or Guan Yin ) pavilion and shrine reflect this serene atmosphere :-
The stupa is usually called a " Chedi ". It's usually a bell shaped tower, and can be seen from a large distance.
The Maitreya Buddha Shrine contains a large & impressive white statue.
The " Wihan " ( or " Wihran " or " Wihara ") is the main hall that contains several Buddha statues. It also serves as the main prayer hall.
The Bell Tower, usually used to call / signal the faithful for a prayer
The many-headed serpent ( " Naga " ) can be seen encircling the main shrine. The coils of the Naga are believed to serve as a cushion, while the heads act as an umbrella for the Buddha.
The symbol of " Garuda " can be seen at many places in the temple. Garuda is Lord Vishnu's mount and his symbol & statuses can be usually found in Vishnu & Buddhist temples.
The " Kinnari " is a mythological being who's half-woman and half-swan. They are believed to have expertise in singing and dancing.
The Nark Puggsee ( Snake Bird ) can be seen on one of the top panels
The temple has much more stories to tell. It's only my first visit, and I have made an attempt to collate the information I that gather from the folks there.
I'll post more, during my next visit.
