Serendipity…. When I asked my host in Singapore to bring me to Chinatown as I wanted to buy some special Chinese tea, little did I expect that my afternoon would be filled with propitious and memorable moments. Looking for a space to park his car, my host found one right in front of a beautiful temple. He is a Christian and while he has lived in Singapore for some time, he has not been into this temple so I asked him if we could visit. If the exterior of the temple is impressive, what awaited us inside was magnificent and grandiose.

The temple follows Tang Dynasty architectural style incorporating the concept of the Mandala, or Buddhist universe.

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and museum is a living cultural monument in the heart of Chinatown housing the sacred Buddha’s tooth relic that came from Sri Lanka. The relic is contained in a 2 meter high stupa made of 320 kilograms of solid gold donated by devotees.

Aside from this specific tooth relic, another relic of the tooth of the Buddha is currently in Lingguang Temple in Badachu, Beijing, China, Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the reliquary hall (shariden) of Engaku-ji in Kamakura, Japan and in Kandy, Sri Lanka where all others originated.

According to Sri Lankan legends, when the Buddha died, his body was cremated in a sandalwood pyre at Kusinara in India and his left canine tooth was retrieved from the funeral pyre. This relic was secretly transported from India to Sri Lanka.

100 DRAGONS HALL or MAITREYA HALL - The temple is dedicated to the Maitreya Buddha, believed to be the next Buddha. Entering the breathtaking 27 feet high main hall of the temple, visitors can see the beautifully carved wooden seated Maitreya Buddha image with standing two dieties flanking it. From the grandeur and fine detail seen in this hall alone, visitors can appreciate the work of dedicated craftsmen who contributed their skills to this temple.

My host, Noel, by the side of the main altar with exquisite silk embroidery background.

The canopy above the Maitreya is surrounded by lacquered panels.

Red lacquered wall to wall niches with Buddhas line both sides of the main hall.

Behind the 100 Dragons Hall is the UNIVERSAL WISDOM HALL or AVALOKITESVARA HALL. A beautifully handcrafted Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara sits upon an elaborate lotus with caligraphic Paramita Sutra behind.

Along the sides of the Avalokitesvara Hall are the Zodiac Protectors. According to Japanese Buddhist culture, there is a corresponding Protector for each Lunar Zodiac animal.

The Protector for my year of the ox is Akasagarbha. The Protectors engages in His vows that whoever prays to the respective Protectors with faith would be blessed by Him. This would enhance individuals’ wisdom, career and harmony in family.

SAMATABHADRA HALL or NAGAPUSPA BUDDHIST CULTURE MUSEUM An impressive collection of Buddhist artefacts is displayed on the third level of the temple. The featured artefacts encompass all three branches of Buddhism and relates the events in the life of the Buddha.

A collection of bronze Thai seated Buddhas in different postures are housed inside a vitrine.

Mahayana Buddhism's Big Belly Maitreya is a popular icon for good luck.

The death or paranirvana of the Buddha depicted in a stone frieze of Gandhara Period
(6th c. BC - 11th c.). Greco-Roman artistic style influenced the Gandara Period.

The Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic Chamber is in the 4th level of the temple. The sacred relic is housed in an inner chamber behind glass windows. The gold stupa is sheltered by a gold canopy while the floor of the chamber is lined with gold tiles. Only monks have access to the inner chamber to conduct the various daily rituals. Members of the sangha or Buddhist community can venerate and observe the daily services from the public viewing area.

A much needed blessing to start the new year: a monk chants and invokes a benediction.

Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda housing the large Vairocana Buddha Prayer Wheel is in the roof of the temple. It has a garden planted with orchids named after the temple.

The walls of the pagoda are studded with rows and rows of small Buddhas.