Cave deities that like alcohol

A friend made a comment about drinking beer in a cave temple.

That inspired me to look through my photos to find some 'beer gods'. These photos show that the gods like their booze as much as humans!

I don't know who the deities are. The photos were taken in different cave temples around Ipoh.

These deities likes Guinness. The cave temple is Loong Tow Ngam, Gunung Lang, Perak.

In a temple near Kek Look Tong in Perak, this deity has bottles of brandy

I was told this is a "hell spirit" He will accompany those who pass away on the journey of hell according to traditional Chinese belief.

Another friend told me "Offerings of spirits and Guinness (Or Gau in Hokkien) is testimonial to the breath of Chinese culture and its magnanimous accommodation of diversity. On the altar, the bottles of brandy is one level below Buddha and at the same level with a Daoist deity and buddhist lo han. It seems a perfect reflection of the Chinese culture: a mutation of Buddhism, Daoism and Confucionism."

At Nam Loong Ngam at Gng Layang Layang - another Guinness god

Tung Wah Tong at Gng Layang Layang -

At a cave temple at Gunung Ginting in Perak :

Prosperity God

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission

8 comments:

1. 
   wai hoong lee29 August 2011 20:49

   where is that temple's locaion?

   ReplyDelete
2. 
   wai hoong lee29 August 2011 20:53

   that one who offer brandy is "hell spirit" He will accompany those who pass away to the journey of hell according to traditional chinese believes

   ReplyDelete
3. 
   wai hoong lee29 August 2011 20:54

   Most of the photos show actually are spirit not god.

   ReplyDelete
4. 
   Liz Price30 August 2011 13:52

   Loong Tow Ngam is at Gunung Lang.
   The brandy god is in a small temple near Kek Look Tong at Gunung Rapat.
   Tung Wah is at Gng Layang Layang.

   ReplyDelete
5. 
   Liz Price30 August 2011 13:52

   Thanks for the info, I was hoping someone would know.

   ReplyDelete
6. 
   SiakHong Law1 September 2011 10:42

   Offerings of spirits and Guiness (Or Gau in Hokkien) is testimonial to the breath of Chinese culture and its magnanimous accommodation of diversity. On the altar, the bottles of brandy is one level below Buddha and at the same level with a Daoist deity and buddhist lo han - not the wayward actress. It seems a perfect reflection of the Chinese culture: a mutation of Buddhism, Daoism and Confucionism. Better not to confuse deity with spirit?

   ReplyDelete
7. 
   Liz Price2 September 2011 14:05

   Thanks for the info. I will look out for other cave deities who drink!!!

   ReplyDelete
8. 
   Yeshe Liew2 September 2011 23:54

   Interesting that a mat salleh is praying as per Chinese home/folk religion. Just don't fool around for precaution sake. Good intention will have good blessing. As for the guiness stout - maybe the temple caretaker is a happy man.

   ReplyDelete

Offering alcohol to cave temple deities in Malaysia

In many cave temples in Malaysia, I often see statues of deities that have offerings of beer and alcohol. Guinness seems to be the preferred offering, but other beers and hard spirits are also given.

These pictures were all taken in Loong Tow Ngam temple at Gunung Lang, near Ipoh in Perak.

This was taken in Nam Loong Ngam at Gunung Layang Layang.

In the neighbouring Tun Wah, this god likes Guinness

Another Guinness deity, at Gunung Ginting, in Lien Hua Gong.

This deity has bottles of brandy. This temple is near Kek Look Tong at Gunung Rapat. I've been told that this (brandy) deity is the "hell spirit" He will accompany those who pass away to the journey of hell according to traditional chinese believers.

According to my friend Hong, "Offerings of spirits and Guiness (Or Gau in Hokkien) is testimonial to the breath of Chinese culture and its magnanimous accommodation of diversity. On the altar, the bottles of brandy is one level below Buddha and at the same level with a Daoist deity and buddhist lo han. It seems a perfect reflection of the Chinese culture: a mutation of Buddhism, Daoism and Confucionism."

This statue is in a (noncave) temple at Sungai Siput in Perak

He has Guinness, Carlsberg and wine!

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission