墩頭(tou)古寺,俗稱(cheng)墩頭(tou)廟,位于仙女鎮北原雙溝高家(jia)莊。何謂墩頭(tou)?據傳邗溝以東為蜀(shu)岡(gang)腹地(di),范(fan)圍涵蓋西(xi)至安徽大(da)別山、東延海陵(今泰州(zhou))至海安,昔謂之古陸中脈(mo)也。
據佛歷記載,墩(dun)頭古(gu)寺始(shi)建(jian)于(yu)元代。高(gao)僧印智云(yun)游江淮,居(ju)黃塘之東北墩(dun)頭,發現此處(chu)佛光顯現,人杰地(di)靈(ling),故結(jie)緣于(yu)此,發愿建(jian)墩(dun)頭寺,供奉神(shen)靈(ling),祭拜佛祖,護(hu)國安民,陸續建(jian)起(qi)山門、天王殿、大雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿、藏(zang)經樓、齋堂、客堂。古(gu)寺建(jian)成后,香(xiang)火旺盛,百(bai)姓(xing)信仰,贏各(ge)方居(ju)士、信眾(zhong)、官員來此燒香(xiang)拜佛,一時(shi)盛況空前,香(xiang)客如(ru)云(yun)。
清乾隆皇帝南巡下江南時(shi)(shi),曾親往察看游(you)覽古寺(si)(si),并(bing)欣然為(wei)寺(si)(si)廟題匾“墩(dun)頭古寺(si)(si)”,起駕時(shi)(shi)贊(zan)曰(yue):“龍川竹影幾(ji)千秋,天緣有份(fen)再來游(you)。”。同治、光緒年間相繼修(xiu)繕(shan)。
古(gu)(gu)寺(si)歷經(jing)滄桑,經(jing)戰火摧殘(can)(can),幾乎(hu)蕩然無存,抗戰時期,寺(si)內殿(dian)堂(tang)廂房等設施被毀。所(suo)幸寺(si)內兩(liang)棵二百多年(nian)歷史的銀杏樹并未枯(ku)萎,年(nian)復一年(nian)枝繁葉茂,開花結果,見證著古(gu)(gu)寺(si)興衰的痕跡。清同治年(nian)間所(suo)立的“墩頭(tou)古(gu)(gu)廟”石(shi)碑,在戰火中被毀,成為兩(liang)截斷壁殘(can)(can)垣,流失民間,后經(jing)周健經(jing)居士多方尋找,半截“墩頭(tou)”二字終于失而復得(de),重現古(gu)(gu)寺(si)風貌(mao)。
改革開(kai)放后,黨(dang)的宗教政策得到落實,在揚州、江都(dou)各級領導的關心(xin)支持下,2002年底,墩(dun)頭古(gu)寺開(kai)始(shi)修復重建,先后興(xing)建了山(shan)門、天王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、三圣殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、地藏堂、觀(guan)音(yin)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、齋堂、僧舍等,古(gu)寺修葺一新。如今(jin)的墩(dun)頭古(gu)寺,占地達(da)40畝(mu),前有(you)天王殿(dian)(dian)(dian),后有(you)大雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian),東西兩廂為觀(guan)音(yin)殿(dian)(dian)(dian),中間是(shi)(shi)在建的玉佛殿(dian)(dian)(dian)。大雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)兩邊,還建有(you)兩座(zuo)古(gu)樓(lou),一座(zuo)是(shi)(shi)鐘樓(lou),一座(zuo)是(shi)(shi)鼓(gu)樓(lou),蔚為壯觀(guan)。