Ba Den Mountain and Its Lesser-Known Facts

Ba Den Mountain, the tallest peak in Southern Vietnam, attracts visitors from far and wide for pilgrimage and exploration. It is also famed for its enigmatic legends and captivating stories that remain unknown to many.

As a renowned tourist destination, Ba Den Mountain stands as a spiritual symbol for the people of Southern Vietnam. It boasts a system of six ancient temples, each with a 300-year history, alongside unique spiritual structures. The mountain is also home to the record-breaking Asian statue of Tay Bo Da Son Buddha atop its peak.

With its majestic natural scenery and impressive architectural features, Ba Den Mountain is also a sacred land intertwined with many rare and intriguing tales few are aware of.

6 Sacred Sites of Linh Son Holy Mother at Ba Den Mountain

Ba Den Mountain, standing at 986 meters, is a sprawling mountain range comprising three peaks: Ba Mountain, Phung Mountain, and Heo Mountain. Notably, Ba Mountain is the highest peak in Southern Vietnam and houses six temples: Quan Am Temple, Hang Temple, Hoa Dong Temple, Linh Son Tien Thach Temple, Long Chau Phuoc Trung Temple, and Linh Son Phuoc Trung Temple.

Notably, Linh Son Tien Thach Temple houses the largest shrine dedicated to Ba Den. It is also the oldest temple, established in the 18th century. However, Ba Den's shrines are not confined to this temple alone. Her presence is believed to manifest across the mountain. Each shrine depicts her in a unique form, yet all convey her majestic aura, solidifying her status as the most revered goddess of this land.

The Tale of Golden Stream

The story of Golden Stream has been passed down through generations. It is said: "The entire region reveres this place, located 261 and a half miles west of the town. The mountain is rugged and towering, with lush greenery, sweet spring water, fertile land, and Van Son Temple atop. Below lies a serene lake, surrounded by deep forests and caves, where people benefit from the mountain's bounty. Here, ancient gold and jade artifacts are often unearthed. Legends speak of golden gongs seen in the lake, similar to the bell that surfaced in the Yangtze River, only to vanish upon approach. On clear nights, a giant golden turtle, over ten feet long, appears sporadically, believed to be a gathering of spiritual energy rather than a supernatural event."

There was even a story of Japanese experts visiting to test a bag of golden sand. They claimed it was a form of "immature gold." Venerable Thich Niem Thoi (Abbot of Ba Den Mountain's temple) also confirmed that the mountain's streams contain immature gold. Many visitors collect the stream water to drink or take home. "Many believe that drinking the water from Ba Den Mountain's streams brings wealth, luck, and health," he said.

The statue of Linh Son Holy Mother at Ba Den's shrine is the only jade statue in Tay Ninh

To this day, spiritual tales continue to circulate about Ba Den Mountain. The site has also seen the establishment of numerous spiritual centers featuring various types of worship statues made from different materials. However, the most precious remains the jade statue.

In Tay Ninh, the only jade statue is that of Linh Son Holy Mother, enshrined at Ba Den Mountain's temple. According to "Tay Ninh: Land and People" (Youth Publishing House, 2021), this statue was donated around 2013 by a descendant of King Gia Long's family. The jade stone used to carve the statue was sourced from a quarry in Myanmar and crafted by skilled artisans.

Buddha Relics from Myanmar Rest at the Summit of Ba Den Mountain

One of the lesser-known facts about Ba Den Mountain is the presence of Buddha relics. At the base of the Tay Bo Da Son Buddha statue on the mountain's peak lies a four-tiered pedestal with a concentric architectural design. Inside this pedestal is a unique Buddhist art exhibition space, featuring hundreds of replicas of classic Buddhist artworks. The space showcases national treasures using 3D holographic technology and cutting-edge video mapping with world-class projection and sound systems.

The highlight is the fourth tier, a mystical space housing and displaying the sacred Buddha relics. These relics were gifted to Vinh Nghiem Pagoda by high-ranking monks from Myanmar and later offered to the Tay Bo Da Son Buddha statue atop Ba Den Mountain. The relics are preserved in a small bronze stupa, respectfully placed within a three-tiered crystal stupa, displayed in a solemn and majestic setting.

According to Mytour.vn

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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour.vn