甘露禪寺位于大帽山農場北面(mian),觀(guan)音山之南麓。觀(guan)音山海拔400多米(mi),因西部陡峭處奇(qi)石狀若(ruo)披紗的觀(guan)世音座,故(gu)名。
《同安縣志》載:“甘露(lu)(lu)禪寺(si)(si)始(shi)建于唐時(shi)(shi),后廢。明(ming)末中興(xing)祖(zu)(zu)師無(wu)疑和(he)(he)(he)尚(shang)鳩資重(zhong)修”。為二進三開(kai)間,天(tian)井加拜(bai)亭的(de)宮殿式石木(mu)建筑。寺(si)(si)中原懸有(you)(you)(you)宋末宰相陸秀夫的(de)魏體(ti)寺(si)(si)額“甘露(lu)(lu)禪寺(si)(si)”和(he)(he)(he)明(ming)大書法(fa)家張(zhang)瑞圖的(de)木(mu)刻楹聯(lian)(lian),惜已毀佚。寺(si)(si)右(you)山(shan)坡有(you)(you)(you)無(wu)疑禪師的(de)舍利塔,塔為圓形蓮辮(bian)紋基(ji)座,為市(shi)級文保單位,前年修葺(qi)一新。周圍有(you)(you)(you)無(wu)疑和(he)(he)(he)尚(shang)手(shou)植的(de)茶(cha)樹和(he)(he)(he)榕樹。據傳(chuan)甘露(lu)(lu)寺(si)(si)修建時(shi)(shi)遍山(shan)松竹皆滴(di)甘露(lu)(lu),故名(ming)(ming)。相傳(chuan)古(gu)時(shi)(shi)原有(you)(you)(you)上下(xia)寺(si)(si)九十九間,最盛時(shi)(shi)有(you)(you)(you)百(bai)名(ming)(ming)和(he)(he)(he)尚(shang)。甘露(lu)(lu)寺(si)(si)奉祀三世佛(fo)祖(zu)(zu),兩(liang)旁為護法(fa)神。前殿為笑(xiao)口常(chang)開(kai)喜迎八方善信(xin)的(de)彌勒菩薩。寺(si)(si)內有(you)(you)(you)楹聯(lian)(lian)十多對,均系古(gu)今佳作(zuo),富有(you)(you)(you)哲(zhe)理,書法(fa)精美。前殿柱(zhu)聯(lian)(lian)為“碧嶺長流甘露(lu)(lu)水,慧心(xin)徹(che)悟梵天(tian)鐘”。彌勒座聯(lian)(lian)為“大肚(du)包(bao)容(rong)了(le)卻(que)人間多少事(shi),滿(man)腔歡喜笑(xiao)開(kai)天(tian)下(xia)古(gu)今愁(chou)”。大門冠頭聯(lian)(lian)為“甘如佛(fo)果參真諦(di),露(lu)(lu)滴(di)楊枝普(pu)大千(qian)”。
這里群峰(feng)環抱、爭奇斗艷。北有(you)虎頭山(shan)(shan)(shan),東北有(you)大埔(pu)山(shan)(shan)(shan)、大帽山(shan)(shan)(shan)、寨仔山(shan)(shan)(shan)、鵝(e)頭山(shan)(shan)(shan),東南有(you)白云(yun)(yun)飛山(shan)(shan)(shan)、金排寨山(shan)(shan)(shan)、蜂腰山(shan)(shan)(shan)。山(shan)(shan)(shan)上蒼松翠柏,鶯歌燕(yan)舞。寺廟屹立于萬(wan)綠叢中,寺前阡陌縱橫,山(shan)(shan)(shan)下村莊錯落(luo)有(you)致,炊(chui)煙縷縷,有(you)世(shi)外(wai)桃源之味。清(qing)陳韜章有(you)《重游甘(gan)露寺》詩云(yun)(yun):“為憶春初挹翠風,朝來(lai)乘(cheng)興復(fu)登探。千層峭(qiao)壁螺炎簇(cu),百尺飛泉練影涵。色帶(dai)秋(qiu)棪云(yun)(yun)抹淡,名傳古剎露垂甘(gan)。憑高極(ji)目(mu)情(qing)無限,落(luo)葉(xie)蕭(xiao)蕭(xiao)點(dian)碧潭(tan)”。周邊美(mei)境盡(jin)入(ru)詩中。
唐(tang)代肇建(jian)的(de)大帽山甘露寺,自(zi)古(gu)以(yi)來就(jiu)是翔安區(qu)的(de)名剎(cha)(cha)。但(dan)因地處偏僻山區(qu),交通不便,人氣不旺,長期(qi)失修。開放改革以(yi)來,所屬(shu)五保各村才(cai)聯合成立管委(wei)會,集(ji)資重修,再塑金(jin)身,古(gu)剎(cha)(cha)得以(yi)復興。
明末清初,無疑法師重興甘露寺。他因率徒清理同(tong)安、漳州屠城(cheng)后(hou)的積(ji)尸(shi)而(er)善聲遠播,為(wei)避清兵追(zhui)殺而(er)避居大帽山甘露寺,募資重修,并創制“甘露茶”驅疫濟世。上世紀四(si)十(shi)年代釋心清(現梅(mei)山寺老主持(chi))曾在甘露寺修持(chi)。
古(gu)(gu)寺(si)周圍(wei)多(duo)古(gu)(gu)跡。有宋(song)代北同(tong)安(an)通(tong)往(wang)泉州的(de)捷道(dao)“古(gu)(gu)宅(zhai)十八(ba)彎(wan)”(宋(song)景定元年(nian)鄭(zheng)公祥和(he)僧妙謙所造,從新圩古(gu)(gu)宅(zhai)后壁山到云中(zhong)雁共十八(ba)個(ge)回(hui)頭彎(wan),故(gu)名。)十八(ba)彎(wan)古(gu)(gu)道(dao)上達南(nan)山,下(xia)接遼野,可達豪嶺(ling)的(de)漳泉古(gu)(gu)道(dao)(形成于漢時)。這條(tiao)古(gu)(gu)道(dao)對當時同(tong)安(an)城(cheng)的(de)繁榮起了不可估(gu)量的(de)作用。
后爐(lu)村的大寮靈宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)是(shi)臺(tai)灣(wan)眾多太子宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)的祖廟之一,幾年來有臺(tai)南善化普安(an)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),臺(tai)北士林無極殿,內湖(hu)區護安(an)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),嘉義(yi)奉行宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、圣清(qing)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),南投天法宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),臺(tai)中(zhong)妙天宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),高雄中(zhong)圣宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、王母宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、明月(yue)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),彰化社頭(tou)的太元宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),樸子的玉圣宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),新(xin)竹妙圣宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、圣道宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、明濟(ji)壇,苗栗縣(xian)慈龍宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),桃園縣(xian)的發清(qing)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)等(deng)十(shi)幾所宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)廟來謁祖請(qing)火。
大帽(mao)山廣(guang)袤(mao)十多里,傳(chuan)說神奇(qi)。相傳(chuan)金排寨(zhai)山是宋揚文廣(guang)所(suo)征服的(de)(de)“閩(min)南十八洞”之(zhi)一(yi)(yi)。山上有(you)六(liu)角(jiao)井,據說是揚文廣(guang)用金槍鑿成的(de)(de)。井底巖(yan)石有(you)林希元之(zhi)篆刻(ke)(現已(yi)毀)。白(bai)云飛山蜈蚣(gong)侖有(you)蘇(su)(su)氏入閩(min)始祖蘇(su)(su)益陵(ling)園,現為(wei)市級文保(bao)單位。山下金柄村(cun)為(wei)唐代由泉州入遷同安的(de)(de)黃(huang)姓望族。甘(gan)露(lu)寺集(ji)宗教信仰、旅游觀光、避暑休閑于一(yi)(yi)體,是一(yi)(yi)個尚待(dai)開發的(de)(de)旅游點。
大帽山地勢險要(yao),崇山峻嶺重疊,解放(fang)戰爭期(qi)間是(shi)閩西南同安(an)工委武工隊(dui)的(de)(de)根據地。1949年解放(fang)同安(an)時解放(fang)軍先遣部隊(dui)就是(shi)從十八彎奔襲同安(an)城的(de)(de)。這里農民古時就開(kai)辟茶(cha)(cha)(cha)園,以甘露(lu)寺命名(ming)的(de)(de)“甘露(lu)茶(cha)(cha)(cha)”,遠銷海內(nei)外(wai)。山上茶(cha)(cha)(cha)寮有對楹聯曰(yue):“古宅(zhai)十八彎盤上云中雁,茶(cha)(cha)(cha)葉(xie)天下有甘露(lu)世上無(wu)”。寺前路口設有奉茶(cha)(cha)(cha)處。讓過路旅客(ke)品(pin)嘗。古宅(zhai)的(de)(de)大蒜聞(wen)名(ming)中外(wai),歷千(qian)年而不衰(shuai),是(shi)出口創匯的(de)(de)土特(te)產。