1. Goddess Of Mercy Temple (Penang, Malaysia)

Goddess Of Mercy Temple (Penang, Malaysia)

The Goddess Of Mercy temple is also known as Kuan Yin Teng – is a place of pride and divine protection. It is the oldest temple in Penang, built way back in 1728 by Chinese immigrants, it was originally named Kong Hok Keong Temple and initially meant for hosting of social functions.

Despite being named the Goddess of Mercy Temple, the temple honours not just the deity of its namesake but also other Taoist , Buddhist deities, Ma Chor Poh, the patron saint of sailors and seafarers. 

 As it is with most temples, a large urn is situated close to the entrance for offerings of joss sticks by devotees. Visitors will be awed by the intricate designs on the pillars and cross beams in the temple that are dotted with carvings of Chinese mythical creatures such as dragons and Qilin. 

There are many red-coloured lanterns that symbolizes the auspiciousness of the temple. Visitors can also appreciate murals of Devas on the walls, as well as various statues that are representations of various deities that the Chinese communities pray to. 

Interior view of Godness Of Mercy Temple with red lanterns.

To better appreciate and experience the significance of this temple as well as the important of religion among the Chinese, the temple is best visited during the first and fifteenth day in every month of the Chinese lunar calendar, as well as the nineteenth day of the second, sixth and ninth months of the Chinese lunar calendar.

It is a tradition here in Malaysia that on the eve of Chinese New Year, the Chinese will visit a temple for blessing and offerings. Each year, believers of the Taoism and Confucianism teachings will swarm the temple on the eve of Chinese New Year to pray to the Kuan Yin goddess so that their health and good luck can be maintained throughout the year.

                Incense joss stick

Temple burning incense burner

Upon stepping into the temple, the scent of sandalwood incense greets you as each day. Numerous joss stick are burnt by the devotees while offering prayers. Although a crowd could be present, a sense of peace and quiet can be felt once you set foot into the temple. The temple is busy throughout the year and not just on Chinese New Year because the locals tend to visit the temple on their birthdays too, praying for a better year ahead blessed with good health and luck. At other times, devotees will visit to seek calm or when extra spiritual protection is needed.

The birthday of the Goddess of Mercy falls on the 19th day of the 2nd lunar month, marking another time that the temple is packed with devotees eager to pay homage to their deity. Devotees will venture into the heart of the temple to congratulate the Goddess by making offerings and prayers to her. At times, opera and puppet shows will also be organized, providing devotees entertainment and creating an air of festiveness in the house of worship.

Steeped in Chinese architecture, the temple features sweeping roofs typical of Chinese temples and has gigantic doors adorned with paintings of Taoist deities. Dragon-entwined pillars support the high roof as well, which is decorated with more dragon figurines at its top ridges. 

The temple is fronted by a large courtyard that faces Pitt Street to the east. It was built according to feng shui principles. It has three wells - one to the right of the main shrine, another at the front courtyard and the third hidden under the main altar of Guan Yin. 

The courtyard well is for public use, while the one beside the main shrine is reserved for monks. Urban legend has it that the water from the hidden well has medicinal properties.

Despite being a place for offering prayers, many tourists flock to this shrine for photography opportunities. The temple is simply too beautiful to pass up a chance for photos. The sight of morning rays basking in on devotees deep in prayer is a sight to behold, thus luring many visitors to this magnificence construction.