甘露禪寺位于大帽山(shan)農(nong)場北面,觀(guan)音(yin)山(shan)之南麓。觀(guan)音(yin)山(shan)海拔400多米,因西部陡峭處奇石(shi)狀(zhuang)若披紗的觀(guan)世音(yin)座,故名。
《同(tong)安縣志》載(zai):“甘(gan)露(lu)(lu)禪寺(si)(si)始建于(yu)唐時,后廢。明(ming)末(mo)中興祖師(shi)無(wu)疑和(he)(he)尚(shang)鳩資(zi)重修(xiu)”。為(wei)二進(jin)三開間,天井加拜亭的(de)宮殿(dian)式(shi)石木(mu)建筑。寺(si)(si)中原(yuan)懸(xuan)有(you)宋(song)末(mo)宰相陸秀夫的(de)魏體寺(si)(si)額“甘(gan)露(lu)(lu)禪寺(si)(si)”和(he)(he)明(ming)大書(shu)法家張(zhang)瑞圖的(de)木(mu)刻楹聯(lian),惜(xi)已毀佚(yi)。寺(si)(si)右山坡有(you)無(wu)疑禪師(shi)的(de)舍利塔,塔為(wei)圓形蓮(lian)辮紋基(ji)座,為(wei)市級文(wen)保(bao)單位,前年修(xiu)葺一(yi)新(xin)。周圍(wei)有(you)無(wu)疑和(he)(he)尚(shang)手植的(de)茶樹(shu)(shu)和(he)(he)榕樹(shu)(shu)。據傳(chuan)(chuan)甘(gan)露(lu)(lu)寺(si)(si)修(xiu)建時遍山松竹皆滴甘(gan)露(lu)(lu),故名(ming)。相傳(chuan)(chuan)古時原(yuan)有(you)上(shang)下(xia)(xia)寺(si)(si)九(jiu)(jiu)十九(jiu)(jiu)間,最(zui)盛時有(you)百名(ming)和(he)(he)尚(shang)。甘(gan)露(lu)(lu)寺(si)(si)奉祀三世佛祖,兩旁為(wei)護法神。前殿(dian)為(wei)笑口常開喜迎八方善信的(de)彌勒菩薩(sa)。寺(si)(si)內有(you)楹聯(lian)十多(duo)對,均系(xi)古今(jin)佳作(zuo),富有(you)哲理(li),書(shu)法精美。前殿(dian)柱(zhu)聯(lian)為(wei)“碧嶺(ling)長流甘(gan)露(lu)(lu)水,慧心(xin)徹悟梵天鐘”。彌勒座聯(lian)為(wei)“大肚包容了卻人間多(duo)少事,滿(man)腔歡喜笑開天下(xia)(xia)古今(jin)愁”。大門冠頭聯(lian)為(wei)“甘(gan)如佛果參真諦,露(lu)(lu)滴楊枝普大千”。
這里(li)群(qun)峰環抱、爭奇斗艷。北(bei)有(you)(you)虎(hu)頭(tou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),東(dong)北(bei)有(you)(you)大(da)埔(pu)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)、大(da)帽山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)、寨仔(zi)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)、鵝頭(tou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),東(dong)南有(you)(you)白(bai)云(yun)飛(fei)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)、金(jin)排寨山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)、蜂(feng)腰山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)。山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)上(shang)蒼(cang)松翠(cui)柏,鶯歌(ge)燕(yan)舞。寺廟(miao)屹立于萬綠叢中,寺前阡陌縱(zong)橫,山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)下村莊錯落(luo)有(you)(you)致,炊煙縷縷,有(you)(you)世外桃(tao)源之味。清陳韜章有(you)(you)《重游甘(gan)露寺》詩云(yun):“為憶春初挹翠(cui)風,朝來乘(cheng)興復登(deng)探。千(qian)層峭壁(bi)螺炎簇,百尺飛(fei)泉練(lian)影(ying)涵(han)。色帶(dai)秋(qiu)棪云(yun)抹淡,名傳古剎露垂甘(gan)。憑(ping)高(gao)極目情無限,落(luo)葉蕭蕭點碧(bi)潭”。周(zhou)邊美境盡入詩中。
唐代肇建的大帽山甘(gan)露寺,自(zi)古(gu)以(yi)來就是翔安區的名剎(cha)。但(dan)因地處偏僻(pi)山區,交通(tong)不便,人氣不旺(wang),長(chang)期失修。開放改(gai)革(ge)以(yi)來,所屬五(wu)保各村才(cai)聯(lian)合成立管委(wei)會,集資重修,再(zai)塑金身,古(gu)剎(cha)得以(yi)復(fu)興。
明末(mo)清初,無疑法(fa)師重興甘露寺(si)(si)(si)。他因率徒清理同安、漳州屠(tu)城后的積尸而善聲遠播,為避(bi)清兵(bing)追(zhui)殺而避(bi)居大帽山(shan)甘露寺(si)(si)(si),募資重修,并創制“甘露茶”驅疫濟世。上世紀四十年代釋心(xin)清(現梅(mei)山(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)老(lao)主持)曾在甘露寺(si)(si)(si)修持。
古(gu)寺周圍多古(gu)跡。有(you)宋(song)代北同(tong)安(an)通往泉州(zhou)的(de)捷道(dao)(dao)“古(gu)宅十(shi)八彎”(宋(song)景(jing)定元年鄭公祥(xiang)和僧妙謙所造,從新圩古(gu)宅后(hou)壁山到(dao)云中雁共(gong)十(shi)八個回頭彎,故名。)十(shi)八彎古(gu)道(dao)(dao)上達(da)南山,下接(jie)遼野,可(ke)達(da)豪嶺的(de)漳泉古(gu)道(dao)(dao)(形成于漢時)。這條(tiao)古(gu)道(dao)(dao)對(dui)當時同(tong)安(an)城的(de)繁榮起了(le)不可(ke)估(gu)量(liang)的(de)作用。
后(hou)爐村的(de)大寮靈(ling)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)是臺灣眾多太子宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)的(de)祖廟之一(yi),幾(ji)年(nian)來(lai)有(you)臺南(nan)善化(hua)普安宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),臺北士林無極(ji)殿,內湖區(qu)護安宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),嘉義奉行(xing)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、圣(sheng)清宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),南(nan)投天(tian)法宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),臺中(zhong)妙天(tian)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),高雄(xiong)中(zhong)圣(sheng)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、王母宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、明月宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),彰化(hua)社頭的(de)太元宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),樸(pu)子的(de)玉圣(sheng)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),新竹妙圣(sheng)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、圣(sheng)道宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、明濟壇(tan),苗栗縣慈龍宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),桃園縣的(de)發清宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)等十(shi)幾(ji)所宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)廟來(lai)謁祖請火。
大帽山(shan)廣袤十多里,傳說神(shen)奇。相傳金(jin)排寨山(shan)是宋揚(yang)(yang)文(wen)廣所征服(fu)的(de)“閩南十八洞”之一(yi)。山(shan)上有六角井(jing),據說是揚(yang)(yang)文(wen)廣用(yong)金(jin)槍(qiang)鑿成的(de)。井(jing)底(di)巖石(shi)有林希(xi)元之篆刻(ke)(現已(yi)毀)。白(bai)云飛山(shan)蜈蚣侖有蘇(su)氏入閩始祖蘇(su)益陵園(yuan),現為(wei)市級文(wen)保單位。山(shan)下金(jin)柄村為(wei)唐(tang)代由泉州入遷同安的(de)黃姓望族。甘(gan)露寺集(ji)宗(zong)教信仰(yang)、旅游觀(guan)光、避暑休(xiu)閑(xian)于(yu)一(yi)體,是一(yi)個尚待開(kai)發的(de)旅游點。
大帽山(shan)地勢險要,崇(chong)山(shan)峻嶺重疊(die),解(jie)放(fang)戰爭(zheng)期間是(shi)閩西南同(tong)安(an)工委武工隊的(de)根據地。1949年解(jie)放(fang)同(tong)安(an)時(shi)解(jie)放(fang)軍(jun)先遣部隊就是(shi)從十(shi)八彎(wan)奔(ben)襲同(tong)安(an)城的(de)。這里農民(min)古時(shi)就開辟茶(cha)(cha)園,以(yi)甘露(lu)寺命名的(de)“甘露(lu)茶(cha)(cha)”,遠銷海(hai)內外(wai)(wai)。山(shan)上(shang)茶(cha)(cha)寮有(you)對楹聯曰(yue):“古宅(zhai)十(shi)八彎(wan)盤上(shang)云中(zhong)雁,茶(cha)(cha)葉(xie)天下有(you)甘露(lu)世上(shang)無”。寺前(qian)路(lu)口設有(you)奉茶(cha)(cha)處。讓(rang)過路(lu)旅客品嘗。古宅(zhai)的(de)大蒜聞名中(zhong)外(wai)(wai),歷千(qian)年而不衰,是(shi)出口創匯的(de)土特產。