Monday 29 October 2012

MANIFESTATION OF DIVINE IMAGES ON HILL

My interest was piqued when I read a news article about what appeared to be the manifestation of Lord Buddha and Lord Ganesha on the face of the hill where the Nam Thean Thong Temple was built.  Of course, I had to go see it myself and without a doubt, I got my aunt to tag along.
Here are pictures that I took.
Me posing in front of Nam Thean Tong Temple
My Aunt Linda looking at the manifestations
 Can you see the likeness of Lord Buddha and Lord Ganesha?
In this close up, the images become clearer
 The said manifestation of Lord Buddha
 What appears to resemble the likeness of Lord Ganesha


Here is the article published in the Star newspaper on Saturday October 27, 2012

Wonder over Buddha visage near temple in Ipoh
By IVAN LOH 


Uncovered: The image of Lord Buddha (circled) at the hill near Nam Thean Tong temple in Ipoh.
IPOH: A face, said to resemble that of Lord Buddha, has appeared on a limestone hill overlooking the Nam Thean Tong Temple, rousing great interest among tourists and locals.

Jade seller Chan Yew Ming, who runs a shop at the temple, said the face was first spotted by tourists recently.

“I saw them pointing at the limestone hill above my shop and snapping photographs. I was curious and was surprised to see what looked like Buddha's face there,” the 53-year-old woman said.

According to Chan, none of the temple workers or committee members had noticed the “face” previously because of the trees and plants surrounding it.

She claimed that people had also seen other “manifestations” on the hill, such as that of Buddha's palm and the face of Hindu deity Ganesha.

“Just above Buddha's face, there is an elephant-like face, which many people believe is Ganesha while several dark spots on the rocky surface of the hill resemble Buddha's palm.

Chan added that news of the manifestations had reached as far as Thailand and Singapore with many visitors from the countries coming in droves to see the amazing sights.

Temple committee chairman Chan Kwai Hoong said heavy rainfall and strong winds in recent times had caused tree branches to break, exposing the face.

“We were surprised by it when tourists pointed it out to us,” he said.

Kwai Hoong, who has been with the committee for about 20 years, stressed that it was impossible for people to climb up the hill to sculpt the face. “The surface is too steep and nobody can climb up there,” he said.

Nam Thean Tong, situated between the Ling Sen Tong and Sam Poh Tong temples, is believed to be one of the oldest temples here, dating back to 1867 when it was first discovered by a Chinese priest.

2 comments:

Kevin said...

Pareidolia: tendency to organise random or vague shapes into recognisable objects or beings.
Interestingly enough, I first came across this world in a Malaysian newspaper.

Miss Cheah said...

Thanks. I learned a new word today.