小(xiao)九華(hua)寺(si)(si)坐(zuo)落在風(feng)景秀麗的(de)鶯(ying)脰湖(hu)(hu)(hu)畔,四周環水,只有一座(zuo)偉岸(an)挺(ting)拔(ba)的(de)安德橋(qiao)相連。過去在小(xiao)九華(hua)寺(si)(si)對面(mian)還有一座(zuo)美(mei)麗的(de)暮虹橋(qiao)做伴。紅(hong)(hong)墻碧波(bo)、晨鼓暮鐘、櫓聲梵(fan)音(yin)不(bu)絕于耳,不(bu)失(shi)為一塊(kuai)佛教(jiao)寶地。小(xiao)九華(hua)寺(si)(si)面(mian)對鶯(ying)湖(hu)(hu)(hu),鶯(ying)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)是杭(hang)嘉(jia)一帶的(de)名湖(hu)(hu)(hu),它與嘉(jia)興(xing)南(nan)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)、杭(hang)州西湖(hu)(hu)(hu)齊(qi)名。曾引(yin)來(lai)不(bu)少文人雅士吟詩作畫,如白居易、李白、楊萬里、陸龜蒙都(dou)(dou)留下膾炙人口的(de)詩篇。“小(xiao)紅(hong)(hong)吹簫工唱歌”,就(jiu)是在這(zhe)一帶留下的(de)名句。《水滸(hu)傳》、《醒(xing)世恒(heng)言》等名著都(dou)(dou)有此湖(hu)(hu)(hu)的(de)記述(shu)。如今小(xiao)九華(hua)寺(si)(si)已破土重建,大雄寶殿現已開放。
大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)飛檐(yan)(yan)翹首,黛瓦(wa)粉墻,巍(wei)峨壯(zhuang)觀(guan)。趙樸(pu)初書題(ti)的(de)“大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)”,金光閃(shan)耀,高懸于正(zheng)門(men)上空,題(ti)詞神(shen)(shen)完(wan)氣(qi)足,實為大(da)家(jia)手筆。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)正(zheng)中供(gong)奉釋迦牟尼像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),旁(pang)邊是迦葉(xie)、阿難尊(zun)(zun)者侍(shi)立像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)。侍(shi)立像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)左右分(fen)別是阿彌陀(tuo)佛(fo)和藥師佛(fo),妙相莊嚴(yan)、工藝精巧。三(san)尊(zun)(zun)佛(fo)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)面(mian)容豐腴飽滿、神(shen)(shen)態(tai)(tai)溫(wen)柔敦厚、慈容善目、沉(chen)靜(jing)端莊。檀香木(mu)佛(fo)體裝(zhuang)金重彩,佛(fo)光垂照。大(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)兩(liang)(liang)側則是形態(tai)(tai)各(ge)異、栩栩如生的(de)十(shi)八羅漢(han)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),神(shen)(shen)情(qing)舉(ju)止古拙、匠心(xin)獨具(ju)、莊嚴(yan)凝重。釋迦牟尼佛(fo)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)的(de)背后安座著海島(dao)觀(guan)音、文殊、普(pu)賢菩薩等佛(fo)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)。大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)的(de)東面(mian)是三(san)圣(sheng)殿(dian)(dian)(dian),西(xi)方三(san)圣(sheng)佛(fo)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)裝(zhuang)金罩漆(qi)。大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)前東側是觀(guan)音殿(dian)(dian)(dian),該(gai)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)雙重疊檐(yan)(yan),兩(liang)(liang)層(ceng)(ceng),上下(xia)各(ge)五間(jian)。下(xia)層(ceng)(ceng)三(san)間(jian)為主(zhu)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)堂,內塑(su)木(mu)質圣(sheng)觀(guan)音菩薩坐姿像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),結跏趺坐,手持甘露瓶,神(shen)(shen)態(tai)(tai)慈祥。與觀(guan)音殿(dian)(dian)(dian)相對應的(de)是地藏殿(dian)(dian)(dian),該(gai)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)上下(xia)兩(liang)(liang)層(ceng)(ceng),雙檐(yan)(yan)式建筑,下(xia)層(ceng)(ceng)中間(jian)主(zhu)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內塑(su)地藏菩薩像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),頭帶毗盧冠(guan),身(shen)披(pi)袈(jia)裟,結跏趺坐,雙手持寶珠,法像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)莊嚴(yan)。鐘(zhong)、鼓兩(liang)(liang)樓位(wei)于天王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)后兩(liang)(liang)側。
小九華(hua)寺,據(ju)傳是地(di)(di)(di)藏王(wang)菩(pu)(pu)薩(sa)不斷在這(zhe)里顯(xian)示圣(sheng)跡(ji),錫井(jing)(jing)涌(yong)泉(quan)(quan),頻頻靈驗。位于大雄寶殿后的(de)(de)“地(di)(di)(di)藏泉(quan)(quan)井(jing)(jing)”為(wei)寺內一寶。井(jing)(jing)口為(wei)六邊(bian)形,井(jing)(jing)深10余米(mi)。明萬(wan)歷(li)年(nian)間,小九華(hua)寺大規模擴建(jian),并(bing)興建(jian)地(di)(di)(di)藏閣。地(di)(di)(di)藏王(wang)菩(pu)(pu)薩(sa)在空中顯(xian)靈,用(yong)杖杵地(di)(di)(di),突涌(yong)泉(quan)(quan)水,其水甘(gan)甜,被后人(ren)稱為(wei)“地(di)(di)(di)藏泉(quan)(quan)井(jing)(jing)”。在井(jing)(jing)的(de)(de)東邊(bian),有一棵(ke)樹高丈余,莖如碗口,枝葉(xie)茂盛的(de)(de)桂(gui)花(hua)樹,這(zhe)就(jiu)是當(dang)年(nian)太(tai)(tai)虛大師(shi)到小九華(hua)寺出家時親手栽(zai)下的(de)(de)。這(zhe)棵(ke)樹,自太(tai)(tai)虛大師(shi)栽(zai)植后,一直(zhi)默默生長,數年(nian)后,花(hua)開芬芳。每逢八月,信眾和游客來到小九華(hua)寺院,就(jiu)會(hui)聞到滿院的(de)(de)桂(gui)花(hua)香。為(wei)紀(ji)念太(tai)(tai)虛大師(shi)在此(ci)(ci)出家植樹,現寺院已將此(ci)(ci)樹圍欄(lan),以(yi)供觀賞。
小九華寺又名(ming)九華禪院(yuan),原名(ming)東岳廟(miao)。
小(xiao)(xiao)九華寺(si)建(jian)(jian)于(yu)明萬(wan)歷(li)四(si)(si)十(shi)四(si)(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1685年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))里人(ren)(ren)吳(wu)國忠(zhong)偕僧(seng)(seng)通運募(mu)建(jian)(jian)后殿,奉祀幽冥(ming)教主(即地(di)(di)藏王菩薩,故俗稱地(di)(di)藏殿),并(bing)鑄爐于(yu)庭(ting)中(zhong)。康熙四(si)(si)十(shi)三(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1704年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))國忠(zhong)子昌運偕僧(seng)(seng)朗涵募(mu)建(jian)(jian)大(da)士殿。乾隆(long)四(si)(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1738年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))建(jian)(jian)關帝殿、劉公祠。乾隆(long)五(wu)(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1740年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))監院僧(seng)(seng)蘊山建(jian)(jian)山門(men)、客堂、齋堂、廚房等。乾隆(long)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)被毀(hui)。光緒(xu)四(si)(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1878年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))游方僧(seng)(seng)永緣、蓮(lian)堂重建(jian)(jian)山門(men)五(wu)(wu)間(jian)(jian)(jian),光緒(xu)八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1882年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)(seng)蓮(lian)覺蓮(lian)常建(jian)(jian)東(dong)(dong)客堂三(san)(san)間(jian)(jian)(jian)。光緒(xu)九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1883年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))建(jian)(jian)西客三(san)(san)間(jian)(jian)(jian)。光緒(xu)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1884年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))筑東(dong)(dong)圍墻,建(jian)(jian)方丈室三(san)(san)間(jian)(jian)(jian),光緒(xu)十(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1885年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))建(jian)(jian)觀音殿五(wu)(wu)間(jian)(jian)(jian)。史(shi)料中(zhong)的平(ping)望小(xiao)(xiao)九華寺(si)規模尚可,廟內(nei)香(xiang)火特盛,每年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)農歷(li)七(qi)月一日(ri)至十(shi)月一日(ri),遠近香(xiang)客畢集、游人(ren)(ren)紛至沓來,香(xiang)市盛極一時社會影響極大(da),在周邊地(di)(di)區形成一定(ding)轟(hong)動效益,名揚國內(nei),流(liu)傳東(dong)(dong)南亞,文人(ren)(ren)墨(mo)(mo)客游蹤不絕(jue),留(liu)下甚多(duo)吟(yin)詠(yong)絕(jue)句及書畫(hua)墨(mo)(mo)寶。
清(qing)朝(chao)道光(guang)年間《平望志》上(shang)記載(zai):明(ming)萬歷年四十年(1616)建(jian),是為(wei)了紀念地藏菩薩。當(dang)時規模宏(hong)大,設有大士殿(dian)、藥師殿(dian)、劉(liu)工祠及(ji)山門、客房、齋堂、廚房,一(yi)應俱(ju)全,飛檐(yan)翹角,殿(dian)宇重重,頂膜(mo)禮拜的人蜂擁于(yu)此,是當(dang)時江南的一(yi)座名剎(cha)。
歲月悠悠、滄桑巨(ju)變(bian),名寺古剎,經受歷(li)(li)史(shi)風云。1949年(nian)改為(wei)平(ping)望糧管所,1970年(nian)改建面粉廠(chang),原先廟宇建筑改作它用,面目全非。所幸至今寺中遺址上尚存一(yi)棵桂花樹、一(yi)棵黃(huang)楊樹和一(yi)口古井,作為(wei)物證,留下了歷(li)(li)史(shi)的回(hui)憶(yi)。