古(gu)(gu)拜(bai)(bai)經臺在天臺峰下,距觀(guan)音峰約2華里。通(tong)往天臺之路要(yao)繞(rao)寺而過。該寺始建(jian)于唐,原為(wei)一(yi)(yi)組(zu)狹長的(de)建(jian)筑(zhu),民居式三進(jin)殿宇(yu),經歷代修(xiu)建(jian),現在面積(ji)898平方米(mi),整個建(jian)筑(zhu)古(gu)(gu)樸(pu)典雅,風格協(xie)調(diao),堪稱佛(fo)(fo)國明珠,是安徽(hui)省(sheng)重點寺院(yuan)。相傳金地藏曾(ceng)在此(ci)處拜(bai)(bai)誦(song)《華嚴(yan)經》,巖石上尚留有其一(yi)(yi)雙凹痕足跡(ji)。僧(seng)人(ren)建(jian)此(ci)寺紀(ji)念(nian),名為(wei)“大(da)愿庵”(佛(fo)(fo)教稱金地藏“大(da)愿菩薩(sa)”)。因(yin)為(wei)“拜(bai)(bai)經”較(jiao)通(tong)俗易記,所以都稱它(ta)“古(gu)(gu)拜(bai)(bai)經臺”。古(gu)(gu)拜(bai)(bai)經臺的(de)主要(yao)景點有“仙(xian)人(ren)擊鼓”“大(da)鵬聽(ting)經”“金龜朝(chao)北斗”“地藏真(zhen)跡(ji)大(da)腳(jiao)印”“蠟燭峰”,當陣雨初歇時還可以觀(guan)賞到云海(hai),虛(xu)虛(xu)實實,佛(fo)(fo)樂聲聲,恍如(ru)仙(xian)境。
庵始(shi)建于清代(dai),同治年(nian)(nian)(nian)間住(zhu)持(chi)(chi)僧(seng)(seng)福(fu)緣(yuan)重修(xiu),光緒年(nian)(nian)(nian)間住(zhu)持(chi)(chi)僧(seng)(seng)昌光再建。1923年(nian)(nian)(nian)住(zhu)持(chi)(chi)僧(seng)(seng)龍華(hua)重修(xiu)。1928~1935年(nian)(nian)(nian)住(zhu)持(chi)(chi)僧(seng)(seng)隆明。1943~1953年(nian)(nian)(nian)住(zhu)持(chi)(chi)僧(seng)(seng)仁德。20世紀60~70年(nian)(nian)(nian)代(dai)先后住(zhu)持(chi)(chi)僧(seng)(seng)為紫峰、寬德。自(zi)建寺(si)以來(lai),道風純正,僧(seng)(seng)俗-。一(yi)般來(lai)九華(hua)山的(de)香客都要到該寺(si)來(lai)朝拜(bai)金地藏拜(bai)經留(liu)下的(de)遺跡(ji),香火一(yi)直旺盛,但(dan)在“文革”期間,寺(si)院(yuan)遭到嚴重破壞(huai),佛像被(bei)毀,僧(seng)(seng)人(ren)-離(li)寺(si)。1982年(nian)(nian)(nian)九華(hua)山管理處重修(xiu),辟為九華(hua)山佛教(jiao)協會接待站,但(dan)該寺(si)因年(nian)(nian)(nian)久梁(liang)柱多有朽毀。
“改革開放”以後,僧人重(zhong)歸寺院(yuan),各項建(jian)(jian)設得以發展,寺內法務(wu)恢復正常,寺院(yuan)面貌煥然一新。近(jin)(jin)十幾來總共募化資(zi)金近(jin)(jin)千(qian)萬元,重(zhong)新興(xing)建(jian)(jian)了(le)大雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)、僧寮、藏經樓(lou)、地藏殿(dian)、山門樓(lou)、大型(xing)素餐廳(ting)及香客(ke)接(jie)待用房,總建(jian)(jian)筑面積達二(er)千(qian)多平方米,使寺院(yuan)規模逐步(bu)擴大,為海內外(wai)善男信女提供了(le)一個極好的(de)佛教活動(dong)場所(suo)。同時也(ye)為弘揚(yang)佛法,傳播地藏精(jing)神。1993年(nian)起,住持(chi)僧圣(sheng)明率眾僧發心重(zhong)新規劃建(jian)(jian)設。殿(dian)宇雄(xiong)偉壯(zhuang)麗,型(xing)制(zhi)依舊,佛像莊嚴,古剎重(zhong)光。
大(da)(da)(da)雄寶(bao)(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)于1994年(nian)住持僧圣(sheng)明法師發心重建(jian)(jian),建(jian)(jian)筑面(mian)積650平(ping)方米。大(da)(da)(da)雄寶(bao)(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)坐北朝(chao)西(xi)南,宮殿(dian)(dian)(dian)式,雙重檐翹(qiao)角,框架結構,造型(xing)莊(zhuang)重、渾厚。磚木(mu)結構。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)宇前面(mian)三(san)尊大(da)(da)(da)佛,左(zuo)右文殊(shu)、普(pu)賢(xian),后面(mian)海(hai)島觀音,兩旁十(shi)八羅漢。大(da)(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)西(xi)側為新建(jian)(jian)的靈官殿(dian)(dian)(dian),建(jian)(jian)筑面(mian)積100平(ping)方米,從西(xi)邊(bian)古(gu)石(shi)板上山由此殿(dian)(dian)(dian)進廟。大(da)(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)后北側為重建(jian)(jian)的地(di)藏(zang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian),宮殿(dian)(dian)(dian)式,2層,建(jian)(jian)筑面(mian)積300平(ping)方米。一樓(lou)(lou)內供(gong)漢白玉地(di)藏(zang)及閔公(gong)、道(dao)明像(xiang),兩邊(bian)是“十(shi)王朝(chao)地(di)藏(zang)”塑像(xiang)。樓(lou)(lou)上為祖師殿(dian)(dian)(dian)和藏(zang)經樓(lou)(lou)。
從地藏殿(dian)(dian)下(xia)來左手邊(bian)為(wei)(wei)(wei)一(yi)(yi)幢兩進的(de)(de)白色徽(hui)式建筑(zhu)(zhu),3蹭,4開間(jian),脊高13米、長13米、寬8米,建筑(zhu)(zhu)面積1000平方米。一(yi)(yi)樓(lou)(lou)為(wei)(wei)(wei)彌(mi)勒殿(dian)(dian),中間(jian)為(wei)(wei)(wei)彌(mi)勒樓(lou)(lou),西為(wei)(wei)(wei)客堂(tang),東(dong)(dong)為(wei)(wei)(wei)齋(zhai)堂(tang)、廚房(fang),牌匾為(wei)(wei)(wei)已故的(de)(de)仁德大和尚(shang)手書(shu),穿過(guo)彌(mi)勒殿(dian)(dian),門(men)楣(mei)上是(shi)(shi)圣明法師(shi)手書(shu)的(de)(de)“阿(a)彌(mi)陀佛”。二(er)樓(lou)(lou)是(shi)(shi)玉佛殿(dian)(dian),西為(wei)(wei)(wei)禪堂(tang),東(dong)(dong)為(wei)(wei)(wei)藥師(shi)殿(dian)(dian)。三樓(lou)(lou)是(shi)(shi)萬(wan)佛樓(lou)(lou)。萬(wan)佛殿(dian)(dian)東(dong)(dong)南坡下(xia)建有(you)客堂(tang)和餐廳(ting)(ting),民居式,2層和3層樓(lou)(lou)宇,建筑(zhu)(zhu)面積400平方米。此外(wai)還有(you)“祖師(shi)殿(dian)(dian)”,齋(zhai)堂(tang),素餐廳(ting)(ting),招待所等(deng)等(deng)建筑(zhu)(zhu)。
從大(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)旁上(shang)石階十(shi)余步,即到金地(di)藏拜經遺(yi)址。上(shang)筑敞廳式瓦(wa)屋一間(jian),高約二丈,寬丈許(xu),供有金地(di)藏坐像(xiang)。右邊墻壁上(shang)嵌有“古拜經臺”字樣的(de)碑刻(ke)一方(fang)。臺后有峭石20米高,造型酷似“老(lao)鷹扒(ba)壁”,僧人稱“大(da)鵬(peng)聽經石”,相(xiang)傳是(shi)金地(di)藏拜經的(de)地(di)方(fang)。地(di)面突出一塊長方(fang)形巖石,上(shang)有凹下(xia)的(de)腳印。拜經臺雄踞(ju)天臺峰谷峭崖(ya)之(zhi)間(jian),以(yi)大(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)為主(zhu)體,形成眾星捧月之(zhi)勢。殿(dian)南(nan)峽谷纜(lan)車飛駕,拜經臺為閔(min)園至天臺的(de)索道(dao)終點站。