| f the most famous of all Buddhist deities is Kuan Yin, | | | | to the remotest villages. Her statue is commonly |
| who is also known as the Goddess of Compassion | | | | found in homes and Buddhist temples in various |
| among her many devotees. | | | | incarnations, often cloaked in white robes. She is |
| Her name is Chinese for Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara | | | | depicted either standing or sitting on a lotus flower, |
| – in Buddhism, a bodhisattva is someone who | | | | sometimes with a baby. She holds a string of prayer |
| has achieved nirvana but decides to remain in the | | | | beads in one hand and the Lotus Sutra or vase in the |
| material world to help The Goddess of Mercy (Kuan | | | | other; the former a sign of her devotion and the |
| Yin) Temple was founded around 1800 and features | | | | latter symbolising her compassion to the world. Within |
| a sweeping roof with ornately decorated copings and | | | | the temple, in an inner chamber, is a statue of an |
| ridges. | | | | 18-armed Kuan Yin. In the courtyard are two huge |
| The Kuan Yin Temple, situated on Pitt Street (now | | | | iron stoves where devotees burn paper offerings, |
| Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling) was constructed in the | | | | and an octagonal well which once served the Chinese |
| early 1800s by Chinese migrants, on land given by | | | | community. |
| the East India Company. | | | | It was originally called Kong Hock Keong and |
| Today, it is a very popular temple, visited by young | | | | ownership was claimed by both the Cantonese and |
| and old alike offering sandalwood incense. well its the | | | | Hokkien communities. In 1862, Penang philantropist |
| most popular temple in Penang ...well this temple is | | | | Khaw Soo Cheang made a sizable donation to the |
| devoted to Kuan Yin or Goddess of Mercy ...the | | | | temple so major repairs could be carried out. |
| legend of her compassion is well known ...my grandma | | | | Despite the name, the temple is actually dedicated to |
| once told me that The Kuan Yin help Penangite during | | | | two deities – Kuan Yin and Ma Chor Poh, the |
| the World War II ...by providing safe shelters to | | | | latter being the patron saint of seafarers. Being |
| many ....perhaps thats why so many locals throng this | | | | oceangoing travelers, these two deities were |
| temple during Kuan Yin's Birthday ( the 19th day of | | | | especially significant to the Chinese. |
| the second, sixth and ninth lunar month), every 1st | | | | The temple was built in the style of classic Chinese |
| and 15th of chinese lunar calender ...Chinese opera or | | | | architecture with ornate curved-ridge rooftops made |
| puppet theatre is performed in the granite-paved | | | | to look like ocean waves, decorated with dragons |
| forecourt on the Goddess of Mercy's feast days well | | | | and supported by pillars which also feature carvings |
| if you want to pray for safety and good health. | | | | of dragons. These mythical creatures are believed to |
| Kuan Yin's devotees number by the millions in many | | | | be temple guardians. |
| parts of Asia and the world, from cosmopolitan cities | | | | |