History & Meaning of Buddha Statue in Ba Na Hills

The Giant Buddha Statue of Linh Ung Pagoda at Ba Na Hills is also known as Shakyamuni Buddha Statue. It was built from 1999 to 2004, on a high place not far away from Le Jardin d’Amour Gardens and Debay Wine Cellar (from 1923). The whole statue is 27 meters high.

The statue depicts the moment when the Buddha meditates on a base. He wears a white robe, looks down or glances, folds his legs on each other, and does a ‘heroic posture’ (virasana). He has a relaxing face, with a smile. Around the base on which he sits, there are bodhi leaves as decorative motifs (he sits under a bodhi tree and then attains enlightenment) and paintings about different stages in his life in India. He has long ears because of being enlightened and compassionate. In the centre of his forehead, the mark refers to his supernatural wisdom. His hair is depicted in the form of ‘snail shell’ curls because in his first hair cut, the uncut portions snapped into these curls and he never had to cut his hair again. Nowadays, all monks must shave their heads.

The Buddha overlooks to the city, to bless citizens a safe and happy life;

In the front of this statue, there is a flat stage with an urn where people can plant incense sticks and pray (remember taking shoes off!). Here, incense sticks are not for sale, and to have them, it’s needed to drop a small amount of money for donation. Those who want to donate money for monks and the temple, can meet a Buddhist nearby and give it (plus writing down personal information & wishes if don’t mind).

In the back of the Buddha, there is a small temple used to worship Shakyamuni too. Similar to Lady Buddha at Son Tra Peninsula, this statue has a ‘buddha in buddha’ or ‘temple in temple’ layout. To go in, it’s needed to take your shoes off.

Along the edges of the staircase or the yard below, there are marble statues of 18 arhats. The arhat is one who has gained insight into the true nature of existence, and has achieved nirvana (a state of enlightenment) and liberated from the endless cycle of rebirth. All of these sculptures are carved in Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village at the foot of the Marble Mountains.

To the left of the statue, there is a miniature landscape, with fish ponds, small waterfalls, rocky mountains, dragons, lady buddhas at different postures.

On the way from flower gardens to the Ba Na Hills Buddha Statue, on the left hand side, visitors also see figures in ‘Journey to the West’, a well-known Chinese novel. It’s about the pilgrimage of Tang Shen (a monk in Tang dynasty, China) to India, a real event in history. He wanted to bring Buddhism there to his home country for introduction. In the novel, he has 4 students/protectors: one monkey, one pig, one horse, and one man. They must overcome 81 tribulations once receive Buddhist texts and attain buddhahood.

By the steep staircase in the front of the Shakyamuni Buddha or on the left side (near the banyan tree, with two golden dragons), visitors can go downhill to sightsee Linh Ung Pagoda.

One of the best spots to take a picture with the Giant Buddha Statue at Ba Na Hills is on the staircase in front. From here, the buddha looks huge.