延福(fu)寺(si)坐(zuo)落在巴彥浩(hao)特鎮王府街(jie)北側,系(xi)原阿(a)拉善旗(qi)八大寺(si)之(zhi)一(yi)(yi),是內蒙古(gu)自(zi)治區重點保護的古(gu)式(shi)建(jian)筑之(zhi)一(yi)(yi)。延福(fu)寺(si),俗稱“王爺廟”,藏語名為“格吉林”。該寺(si)為阿(a)拉善三大寺(si)院系(xi)統和八大寺(si)之(zhi)一(yi)(yi)。
該寺(si)從乾(qian)隆(long)(long)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1742年(nian)(nian)(nian))開(kai)始修建(jian)(jian)大殿(dian)(dian)(dian),以(yi)后(hou)陸續完成周圍的(de)(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)。乾(qian)隆(long)(long)二(er)十(shi)五(wu)(wu)(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1760年(nian)(nian)(nian)),清(qing)帝為(wei)該寺(si)賜名(ming)(ming),并賜用滿、藏(zang)、蒙(meng)、漢四(si)(si)種(zhong)文(wen)字書寫的(de)(de)(de)金字匾。該寺(si)整個(ge)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)群(qun)共(gong)建(jian)(jian)有(you)大經(jing)堂、菩薩殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、四(si)(si)大天王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、轉(zhuan)經(jing)樓(lou)、鐘(zhong)(zhong)鼓樓(lou)、如(ru)來(lai)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、阿(a)拉善(shan)神殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、藥師殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、密宗殿(dian)(dian)(dian)等大小(xiao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)堂10多(duo)座,共(gong)200多(duo)間,計(ji)800多(duo)平方米(mi)。1919年(nian)(nian)(nian)前(qian)后(hou)為(wei)鼎盛時(shi)期,喇嘛達500人,1949年(nian)(nian)(nian)解(jie)放時(shi)沿(yan)有(you)喇嘛200多(duo)名(ming)(ming)。該寺(si)同其它(ta)黃(huang)教派(pai)寺(si)廟一樣,設有(you)神學院,共(gong)分四(si)(si)大部(bu),每部(bu)有(you)一座專用殿(dian)(dian)(dian)宇。寺(si)內(nei)至(zhi)今保存有(you)乾(qian)隆(long)(long)三十(shi)三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1768年(nian)(nian)(nian))所鑄青銅香(xiang)爐一個(ge),高(gao)2.2米(mi),直(zhi)徑0.85米(mi)。鑄于乾(qian)隆(long)(long)五(wu)(wu)(wu)十(shi)五(wu)(wu)(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1790年(nian)(nian)(nian))的(de)(de)(de)大鐘(zhong)(zhong)一個(ge),其鐘(zhong)(zhong)聲音洪亮,每擊,整個(ge)巴(ba)彥浩特(te)鎮(zhen)余音繚繞經(jing)久不絕。目前(qian),她已以(yi)古(gu)色橫溢的(de)(de)(de)新姿展現在游(you)人面前(qian),成為(wei)內(nei)蒙(meng)古(gu)自(zi)治區西部(bu)著名(ming)(ming)的(de)(de)(de)名(ming)(ming)勝之一。
延福寺整個(ge)建(jian)筑(zhu)布局整齊、結構玲(ling)瓏、工藝精巧、形式多(duo)樣,建(jian)有大經堂(tang)、菩薩殿(dian)、四大天王殿(dian)、轉經樓、如(ru)來殿(dian)、阿拉善(shan)神(shen)殿(dian)、藥師殿(dian)、密宗殿(dian)、鐘樓、鼓樓等大小殿(dian)樓十多(duo)座,共282間,占地面積6700多(duo)平方米。其中以(yi)藏漢結合式的(de)大經堂(tang)為典范,可謂是多(duo)民族建(jian)筑(zhu)文(wen)化的(de)杰作。
延福寺(si)始建(jian)于雍正九年(nian)(1731年(nian)),在“十六(liu)羅(luo)漢堂”的(de)基礎上加以擴(kuo)建(jian)。時年(nian)清政府(fu)正式將定遠營贈(zeng)送給阿(a)拉(la)善王(wang)霍如來(lai)之子阿(a)寶,作(zuo)為“王(wang)府(fu)”之用(yong),故此稱(cheng)作(zuo)為“王(wang)府(fu)廟”,也稱(cheng)之為“王(wang)爺廟”。歷任阿(a)拉(la)善親王(wang)都對該寺(si)的(de)建(jian)設發展付出(chu)了(le)努力(li)。
乾(qian)隆二至四年(1737-1739年),根據六(liu)世達賴(lai)喇嘛(ma)的提請,從(cong)該(gai)寺挑選百名(ming)喇嘛(ma),在現在的廣宗(zong)寺進行了(le)系統(tong)、全面的法(fa)務教育和(he)佛法(fa)講解,為該(gai)寺培養了(le)許多有識之人。乾(qian)隆十(shi)年(1745年),阿(a)拉善親王羅布生(sheng)道(dao)爾吉,為紀念前任父(fu)王的功德,耗資一萬兩白銀(yin),建造了(le)雙(shuang)層閣樓并由108個(ge)輪經(jing)組成共有四十(shi)九間的大雄寶殿(dian)(dian)以及(ji)其它附屬經(jing)殿(dian)(dian),是較為成套的經(jing)殿(dian)(dian)。
乾(qian)隆二十四(si)年(nian)(1759年(nian)),旗王府向清庭(ting)呈請寺名,次年(nian)(1760年(nian))賜“延(yan)(yan)福(fu)寺”匾額(e),由(you)四(si)種文字書寫;同時封該(gai)寺“甘珠爾(er)”上師(shi)為“朝延(yan)(yan)大喇嘛(ma)”,要求他嚴明寺規(gui),弘揚佛法,統管法務。
延(yan)福寺(si)是阿拉善地(di)區建(jian)成年代(dai)最早的(de)寺(si)院,曾(ceng)經(jing)得到過六世達賴喇嘛(ma)(ma)倉央嘉措和迭(die)斯爾德諾門汗等活佛高僧的(de)大力支(zhi)持(chi)(chi)。它(ta)的(de)屬寺(si)有宗(zong)乘寺(si)、沙汞嘎廟(miao)(miao)(miao)、額爾博格廟(miao)(miao)(miao)、巴丹吉(ji)林廟(miao)(miao)(miao)、布日嘎蘇臺(tai)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)、布爾汗烏拉廟(miao)(miao)(miao)、貴西廟(miao)(miao)(miao)、敖包圖廟(miao)(miao)(miao)等。上述屬廟(miao)(miao)(miao)的(de)住持(chi)(chi)喇嘛(ma)(ma)均由(you)延(yan)福寺(si)委派,大喇嘛(ma)(ma)也由(you)延(yan)福寺(si)權威喇嘛(ma)(ma)擔任。
嘉慶(qing)十年(nian)(nian)(1805年(nian)(nian)),阿拉(la)善親王(wang)瑪(ma)哈巴(ba)(ba)拉(la)為(wei)紀念上尊(zun)親王(wang)的(de)(de)功德(de),大造聲(sheng)勢,加強該寺(si)的(de)(de)各項法務制(zhi)度,還興(xing)建(jian)了(le)阿格(ge)巴(ba)(ba)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、觀音殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、達里克廟等經(jing)(jing)殿(dian)(dian)(dian),維修擴建(jian)金剛殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、藥王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)。民國十一年(nian)(nian)(1922年(nian)(nian)),應(ying)甘(gan)珠(zhu)爾巴(ba)(ba)格(ge)西活佛的(de)(de)建(jian)議,建(jian)筑(zhu)了(le)二十五(wu)間大的(de)(de)東闊爾經(jing)(jing)殿(dian)(dian)(dian),并(bing)邀請(qing)廣宗寺(si)(南寺(si))精通闊爾論理的(de)(de)丹巴(ba)(ba)老爺喇(la)嘛為(wei)該經(jing)(jing)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)的(de)(de)住持喇(la)嘛。
民國二十一年(nian)(1932年(nian))阿拉(la)(la)善(shan)(shan)(shan)親王(wang)達理(li)札雅下(xia)令,由旗札薩(sa)(sa)克出資800塊(kuai)銀(yin)元(yuan),翻修大(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian),親王(wang)元(yuan)福晉金允(yun)誠(cheng)(cheng)女士(shi)也為表達虔誠(cheng)(cheng)之心,個人出資,把大(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)內,裝(zhuang)修一新(xin);為了迎接班禪大(da)(da)師,專(zhuan)程邀請(qing)能工巧匠,制做了八獅寶座(zuo)。此時旗札薩(sa)(sa)克眾臣(chen)也受感動紛紛出資,裝(zhuang)修延福寺各經殿(dian)。民國二十六年(nian)(1937年(nian)),阿拉(la)(la)善(shan)(shan)(shan)親王(wang)達理(li)札雅又下(xia)令,修建了專(zhuan)奉阿拉(la)(la)善(shan)(shan)(shan)佛和阿拉(la)(la)善(shan)(shan)(shan)土地爺(ye)的雙層經殿(dian)。
經(jing)過幾百年的建設過程,到民(min)國二十六年時,已(yi)發展成(cheng)(cheng)為規模宏(hong)大(da)、氣勢雄(xiong)偉、眾僧云集的寺廟(miao)。如大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)已(yi)擴建成(cheng)(cheng)為180間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),藏尼(ni)德(de)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)25間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),藥王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)25間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),三時殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)15間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),觀音殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)13間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),藏經(jing)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)12間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),功德(de)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)12間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),阿(a)拉善殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)12間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),輪經(jing)廟(miao)2間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),金剛廟(miao)2間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),雅爾(er)尼(ni)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)12間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),鼓、鐘樓(lou)等(deng)大(da)小13座(zuo)經(jing)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)共326間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),和(he)各經(jing)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)廟(miao)倉(cang)等(deng)合(he)計共1061間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)之多。
該寺活(huo)佛稱為甘珠爾巴格西活(huo)佛。
第(di)一(yi)代活(huo)佛(fo)為吉(ji)(ji)布(bu)增(zeng)羅布(bu)生(sheng)圖布(bu)登旺舒格,第(di)二代甲木英黑都布(bu)卻吉(ji)(ji)甲木蘇,第(di)三代活(huo)佛(fo)為吉(ji)(ji)布(bu)增(zeng)羅布(bu)生(sheng)嘎拉森達爾(er)吉(ji)(ji),上述(shu)三位活(huo)佛(fo)為藏區散川(chuan)(音譯)地瑪札(zha)關(guan)布(bu)寺高僧。
第(di)三代活佛(fo)在阿(a)拉善(shan)地區貢獻顯著,從而得到了阿(a)拉善(shan)親王瑪哈巴(ba)拉的大力支持,道光八年(1828年)親王瑪哈巴(ba)拉迎請至延福(fu)寺,嘉慶年間(jian)封他為“莫日根坎布”, 經文著作有《諾日布都莎(sha)拉》。
第四代活佛阿旺(wang)卻吉甲(jia)木蘇,出生(sheng)地為(wei)現青海塔爾(er)寺附近,同治十二年(1873年)被確認(ren),民國三十三年(1944年)73歲時圓(yuan)寂。
第五代活伸縮(suo)為(wei)阿(a)旺圖布登尼瑪,1946年出(chu)生于阿(a)拉(la)善巴潤(run)別立巴格(ge),經塔爾寺安吉斯活佛(fo)確認。1949年后,在黨的宗教(jiao)政(zheng)策的照耀下,開始(shi)接受文(wen)化教(jiao)育,現任盟政(zheng)協(xie)副主席,自治區佛(fo)教(jiao)協(xie)會(hui)(hui) ,阿(a)盟佛(fo)教(jiao)協(xie)會(hui)(hui)副會(hui)(hui)長,紅(hong)十(shi)字會(hui)(hui)副會(hui)(hui)長等(deng)職(zhi)。