Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) Temple, Penang

After having visited a mosque and a Hindu Temple, it’s time for another religion of another minority … the Peranaka or Malaysian ethnic Chinese population.
A minority? Well they might be a minority in Malaysia, but in Penang the Chinese community is as big as the Malaysian (both about 40% of the population).

I decided to visit the oldest and one of the most popular temples among the Chinese taoist community of Penang … the Goddess of Mercy or Kuan Yin Temple. Kuan Yin Temple has become a main attraction not only to the thousand of Buddhist devotees but also tourist from all over the world.

The temple is built with characteristic of Chinese architecture and carved with dragon and many mysterious creatures that stands up and acts as the guardian of the temple. Within the temple, in an inner chamber, is a statue of an 18-armed Kuan Yin with each hand either containing a different cosmic symbol or expressing a specific ritual position. In the courtyard are two huge iron stoves where devotees burn paper offerings (gold and silver paper), an octagonal well which was once a public well for the Chinese community as well as a comforting sight to view feeding of flocking pigeons.
It is also here that the followers of Hare Krishnan distribute food free to the homeless, beggars and the hungry irregardless of their race and religion.