Mahindarama Buddhist Temple

MALAYSIA, Penang, George Town

The temple was founded in 1918 as a Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhist Temple. “Mahinda” is the Pali name of King Asoka’s son, while “arama” means a holy place. The temple is thus named in honor of Mahinda, who introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
The temple occupies approximately 3,656 sq m and consists of the main temple gate, ordination hall, relic stupa, lecture hall, Wisma Mahinda, and bell and drum towers. The main temple gate resembles that of the Sanchi Great Stupa in India. There is a Dharma wheel above the three curvilinear crossbars, which symbolize generosity, discipline and cultivation. After the main temple gate there is the ordination hall, a two-story building with a flush gable roof and intermediate eaves. The relic stupa is located on the flat terrace at the rear of the ordination hall. The interior of the hall is divided into inner and outer sections. The inner hall contains four statues of Sakyamuni Buddha in different postures. The walls have illustrations from the life of the Buddha and scenes of him teaching. The outer hall is painted with illustrations of the Prophecy of Dipamkara Buddha. The three-story Wisma Mahinda contains a library and classrooms, as well as a Sunday Pali School.