Monday, July 11, 2011

Giok Hong Tien Temple in Havelock Road

I was going to pray at this temple today but unfortunately it was closed. It seems that it is close on weekends. I used to pray here every year during Chinese New Year since I will visit one of my aunts that was staying in that area but I don't recall it to be a weekday or weekend. Anyway, this temple is said to be the oldest Chinese temple in Singapore and has many tales about it.

Let me share with you a secret: It is said that couples who want to conceive can have their wish granted after praying in this temple.

The following is an amazing account of the miraculous power the deities manifested:






天公坛的传奇

天公坛又叫玉皇殿,屹立在加里村的村口,是五六十年代香火最鼎盛的庙宇之一。每逢神诞日或七月鬼节,从全新来的香客把庙挤得水泄不通。

庙的历史究竟有多长,没人说得清,据外祖父说,他来到加里村落脚时,庙已存在,算起来,该有百多年历史。

日军攻打新加坡时,曾经在村里投下三枚炸弹,一枚落在私塾学校,把地上炸出一个大坑,炸死了好多人。两枚就落在天公坛前的马路上,说也奇怪,都不爆炸。村人说这是天公显灵,是不是天公保佑,也没人说得清。就因如此,光复后,天公坛的香火变得更加兴旺。

庙里除了供奉玉皇大帝,还有十八罗汉,风雷雨电四大金刚,观世音菩萨,正德福神(大伯公),以及其他各种各样的神像,可谓满天神佛。庙里有个灵媒,叫何仙姑,在庙后为信众下地府叫唤阴灵。何仙姑又叫猫神,据说是天上的猫神在人间的化身。虽然缠脚,走起路来却疾走如飞,听说还能飞檐走壁。村人见过她三更半夜像猫一样潜伏在墙角,一有动静,马上“嗖”的一声闯上屋顶,两手一探,就抓住了老鼠,然后往口里咀嚼。隔天,庙后的垃圾堆上总有一撮带血的鼠毛。言之凿凿,越加添何仙姑的神秘色彩。

庙前也是三轮车夫聚集的地方,当时还有牛车行驶。我家大舅是个搬运工人,有一回,当货车经过庙前时,忽然翻覆,成吨重的铁条压在他身上,人们都以为会被压成肉饼,但只是头部压伤,变成个猪头。命是被捡回来了,只是此后头脑有点迷糊,也没什么大碍;人们这又说是玉皇大帝显灵。我家三婶也遭过一劫,她小时候在街边玩儿着,不知怎的,被一辆载草料的牛车从腰部辗过,连青色的粪便都喷出来了,人却好好的。这一来,天公坛的名气越发响亮了,甚至连印尼也来了人参拜。

六十年代末,村里发生了一场大火,几乎把整个村子夷为平地,大火烧到庙旁就拐了个弯而去,你说怪不怪?至今,周围都建起组屋,天公坛仍然站在原地,只是香火没以前那么旺了,但每次经过,我都会停下脚步,进去庙里拜一拜这些伴着我走过童年的神像。

原文章作者:李海鹰
http://www.sgwritings.com/bbs/viewthread.php?tid=33328

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