The Temple of a Thousand Lights

Tiger and leopard sculptures guard the three entrances of the temple building.

The Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple, popularly known as the Temple of a Thousand Lights, is located at 366 Race Course Road in the Little India precinct. It is home to Singapore's largest Buddha statue and a relic said to be carved from the bark of a Bodhi tree under which the Lord Buddha meditated.

Founded in 1927 by Thai monk the Ven. Vutthisara when he put up a shack with a Buddha statue, its devotees grew unabated. Later with funding provided by the philanthropic Aw Brothers of Tiger Balm and Haw Par Villa fame, the site was expanded to what it is today. Architecturally simple but eclectic for its fusion of Indian, Thai and Chinese influences, the temple became a major destination for worshippers and tourists. 

The temple has three entrances flanked by sculptures of a tiger and a leopard, animals from Buddhist lore or a subtle homage, I guess, to the Aw Brothers who went by the names of Aw Boon Haw (cultured tiger) and Aw Boon Par (cultured leopard).

The island country's largest Buddha statue.

Leaving your footwear outside the temple door, you enter the prayer hall and behold the towering statue of the Lord Buddha in a sitting pose, soaring majestically some 15m towards the stupa roof. Understandably, many like yours truly, experience a sense of being reduced to insignificance like a grain of sand before a boulder. This is a sight even more awesome in the evening when the myriad lights around the statue are switched on, and the temple takes on its moniker of the Temple of a Thousand Lights. 

The temple altar laid out with statuettes and offerings.

In front of the statue is a long altar with bronze castings of the Buddha and two porcelain statuettes of Guan Yin arranged on a tiered dais, and laid with fruits, flowers, candles and other offerings. A large rectangular joss stick receptacle in front completes the setting. At one end of the altar, staff will assist you with making an offering at the oil donation box, and you will light the oil lamps and strike a bell as part of the ritual.

A collection of Buddha statuettes displayed on the wall. 

 Smaller statues and figurines of the Buddha in standing, sitting and reclining postures line the wall on your right. On the opposite wall are several showcases displaying more Buddhist objects of veneration including one tall cupboard containing a larger-than-life ebony representation of the footprint of the Buddha, which is intricately inlaid with mother-of-pearl. (Below)

Ebony representation of the Buddha's footprint.

A service counter to answer your queries.

Set against the wall opposite each end of the altar is a counter manned by the temple staff to assist visitors with information and purchase of amulets and publications.

Diorama traces the highlights in the life of the Buddha.

The life of the Lord Buddha is told through a long series of dioramas that wrap around the base of the statue, each event highlighted with a short caption in English, Chinese and Tamil. As you follow the dioramas to the back of the statue, you'll come to a step-down with a curtained doorway to a chamber. This houses a 7m long statue of the reclining Buddha draped over with a yellow embroidered cloak, with several standing statues of followers behind. No photo-taking is allowed here. (Below)

The step-down entrance to the reclining Buddha.

Exit the chamber and follow the remaining dioramas back to the front hall.

In case you missed it, as I did, a golden four-faced Brahma statuette under an ornate structure, in sharp contrast to the spartan walls of the hall, occupies the space just inside the centre doorway. 

The golden Brahma statuette.

Admission is free. In keeping with decorum, do leave your footwear outside the temple doors. 

The temple's resident cat.