|
1. An amazing urban legend
hides in one of the cluster of Chinese temples in Pulau Ubin
2 - 4. At their backyard, there is a huge granite boulder that is
said to have divine power therefore it became an icon of worship
The temple houses many
unique idol statues. Two of these are the Tua De Ya Bei - the two
brothers who are deity guards in Hell
The craftsmanship of this particular pair of idols is said to be
very refined that can rarely be found in Singapore
¡@
A Granite Boulder that Has Eyes?
Pulau Ubin is well known by its rich granite quarry resource.
There is one little legend not known to many people even the local
islanders ¡V magic granite that has life.
The story took place decades ago at a Chinese temple called Wei
Tou Temple (aka Lotus Pond Temple) that is just after the bridge
over Sungei Jelutong. The temple was originally a shrine which was
upgraded to a temple to accommodate the increasing numbers of
worshippers. The temple was further extended to appease the spirit
of a lady who died at sea. So for the good deeds that the temple
has provided, the owner believes that it was blessed by heaven
against one instance of disaster.
Granite quarry excavation was prevalent in the old days in Ubin.
Often, dynamites were deployed for effective extraction.
Unfortunately, on a fateful day, there was one miscalculation on the settings of
explosive on the nearby quarry hill behind the temple. The
direction and the high degree of blasting caused a flock of
granite boulders flung loose towards the temple at rocket speed. The
owner watched the falling rocks in great fear, especially there
was a large piece heading straight to his direction.
Astonishingly, he saw a miracle happened by his own eyes that this
piece of granite boulder suddenly froze its fierce momentum just a
few feet away from his temple. It was as if the boulder can see
its way and braked its plunge from crushing the innocent temple
that dwelled a family. The family was spared by the sudden
stopping rock. Hence they deeply believed that the rock has some
sort of spiritual force animated within. They honored and
worshipped the rock as a deity hereon.
Since then, offerings and incenses were offered at the foot of the
granite for thanksgiving its mercy and power. The granite was said
to be able to slowly move by itself from time to time. The
devotees firmly believe that a spirit lives inside the granite
that gives it life and supernatural power. Is this myth just a
fallacy or reality? SPI however set out to scrutinize this myth
with logical explanations. Stay tuned.
1. The front garden of the
temple used to be a beautiful lily pond. It used to be a popular
photographic spot even for wedding shoots
2. The backyard however sits at the foot of a hill slope. The
magic boulder was said to roll down from there nearly crushed the
house
3. The temple abbot said that the rock is so heavy that even a
gang of several men cannot make it moved.
But it was said that the rock will move by itself, turning from
one direction to 90 degree of another
The floor reveals some cracks and traces of cement work paved on
the platform before
4. This is the main sanctuary of the temple altar; the sun rays
and incense smokes make the atmosphere sacred
SPI combed the hill slope
through which the magic rock hurled from the hill top to the
temple backyard
1 - 2. The gradient of the
slope is quite steep. 3. Abandoned offering incinerator;
4. A strange boulder of similar size of the magic rock is found.
It has some unusual cutting marks on its surface,
making it resemble a human face
¡@
|
Answering
Mysteries
Come
