Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple, Singapore Overview

Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple is a Buddhist monastery situated at Singapore' Little India. Known for housing one of the tallest Buddha statues, it is also popular as the "Temple of Thousand Lights". The 15 feet high statue and the architecture of the temple are known to be influenced by Thai, Indian, and Chinese styles.

The temple got its name (temple of 1000 lights) due to the colourful chain of lamps or "lights" that surround the grand Buddha statue. Built in 1972 by a Thai monk named Venerable Vutthisara, the Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple is home to several relics and intricacies thereby making its atmosphere serene and peaceful.

One can also find frescos at Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple which depict the life of Buddha at various stages. Besides this, it also has a copy of Buddha’s footprint which is made of mother of pearl and ebony.

The Buddha Statue

The 15-meter Buddha statue at Sakya Muni Temple is said to weigh approximately 3000 tons. There are also smaller Buddha images and murals at the temple which depict the life of Sakyamuni Buddha. The central statue is surrounded by numerous light bulbs which are often lit in the evening hours. Also, beneath the altar is the image of a reclining Buddha which depicts the life of Buddha towards his end under a Yellow Saraka Tree.

Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple Singapore — The Big Buddha Statue (Source)

Highlight of the Temple

Aside from the lights and the enormous statue which are reason itself to visit the Buddhist temple, the place provides several other reasons due to which it makes its way on peoples itineraries.

Architecture: Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple is widely known due to its diverse architecture. Since the temple was built by a Thai Monk, it obviously contains Thai architectural styles but as the temple lies in the beautiful Indian quarter of Singapore and due to its Chinese origins the temple forms an artistic blend of Thai, Chinese and Indian architecture. This makes it a hotspot for architecture buffs.

Ancient Relics: The temple is home to several relics and intricacies that add to the divine atmosphere of the place. One such relic is stored in a small back room behind the statue that stands in the main room. The relic in the small room is a piece of the bark of the Bodhi Tree, which is the same tree that Gautama attained enlightenment under and hence became Lord Buddha. This same room also has an altar under which an image of a reclined Buddha is displayed proudly.

The Frescoes: Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple also contains frescos depicting Lord Buddha's life at the base of the statue. Beautifully painted depictions of various stages and important aspects of his life also cover the walls of this temple. The place is also said to have a copy of Buddha's footprint made with mother of pearl and ebony which is indeed priceless. The place is truly one of a kind and should be visited at least once.

Vesak Day

Vesak Day is one of the most important festivals celebrates at Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple. On this day, the temple receives the most amount of footfall as it is the day which celebrates the enlightenment and birth of Lord Buddha. The Buddhist followers place a small leaf of gold on the small statue of Buddha, and as a rule, by the end of the festival, the figure should be entirely covered with the gold leaf. This day also brings in a lot of donations to the temple and is one of the most sacred holidays.

How to Reach Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple

Address- 366, Race Course Road, Singapore, 218638

Bus
Stop: Serangoon Road (ID- 07221)
Bus No. - 65, 23, 21, 141, 64, 139, 147
3-minute walk to the temple from the bus stop

Stop: Lavender Street (ID- 07241)
Bus No. – 145
5-minute walk to the temple from this stop

MRT
Farrer Park MRT Station (NE8)
3-minute walk to the temple from this station