阿貴廟是西部地區最(zui)大(da)的紅教寺(si)廟,是印度僧蓮花生,于清德宗光緒三年所建。阿貴的意思為山洞,因為此處奇洞攀巖(yan),以洞穴為佛殿而得名阿貴廟。由清庭理藩院(yuan)改名為“宗乘(cheng)寺(si)”。
阿貴廟為典型藏式風格建筑,藏名為“拉西仁布·嘎定林阿貴”,清廷賜名為“宗乘寺”。蓮花生大師曾在此修行、講法,他的雕像矗立在廟宇之上。民國元(yuan)年(1912年)蒙藏委(wei)員(yuan)會賜予“滿、蒙、藏、漢(han)”四種(zhong)文(wen)字雕刻(ke)的“宗乘寺”匾額。
阿(a)貴廟(miao)(miao)(miao)建(jian)有(you)大(da)(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)及左右(you)配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、馬頭金剛殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)等共(gong)981間,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)旁(pang)有(you)佛塔(ta)一(yi)座(zuo)。阿(a)貴廟(miao)(miao)(miao)的(de)大(da)(da)(da)部分殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)宇在文革時期被燒毀。現(xian)在的(de)大(da)(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、金剛殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)和白塔(ta)是(shi)后來(lai)恢復重建(jian)的(de)。大(da)(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)佛寺(si)中(zhong)供奉佛祖(zu)的(de)大(da)(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),是(shi)整座(zuo)寺(si)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)的(de)核心建(jian)筑,也是(shi)僧(seng)眾(zhong)朝暮集中(zhong)修(xiu)持的(de)地方(fang)。大(da)(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)中(zhong)主供奉釋迦牟(mou)尼佛像,還(huan)供有(you)蓮花生(sheng)大(da)(da)(da)師。大(da)(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的(de)左右(you)為配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)建(jian)筑,西側是(shi)金剛殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。寺(si)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)旁(pang)有(you)轉(zhuan)經筒,來(lai)往者可(ke)以順時針轉(zhuan)上一(yi)圈。
在大殿(dian)周(zhou)圍的(de)懸崖峭(qiao)壁(bi)上有5個奇特的(de)天然巖洞(dong)(dong),分(fen)別是蓮花生洞(dong)(dong)、上樂金剛(gang)洞(dong)(dong)、護法神(shen)洞(dong)(dong)、仙女(nv)洞(dong)(dong)、洪羊洞(dong)(dong)。每座巖洞(dong)(dong)都流傳(chuan)著(zhu)神(shen)奇動人(ren)的(de)傳(chuan)說(shuo)。
蓮花生洞(阿貴洞):蓮花(hua)生洞(dong)供(gong)(gong)主神蓮花(hua)生塑像,喇嘛(ma)們設壇、供(gong)(gong)奉、誦咒灌(guan)頂(ding)就在這(zhe)里舉(ju)行。洞(dong)門右側有一(yi)巨大的(de)鐘乳(ru)石(shi)柱,堪稱(cheng)鎮(zhen)洞(dong)之寶。洞(dong)門外的(de)一(yi)塊(kuai)巨石(shi)上留有一(yi)枚(mei)腳(jiao)印(yin),傳說(shuo)是蓮花(hua)生驅魔降妖時留下的(de)。
上樂金剛洞:供(gong)奉上(shang)(shang)樂(le)金(jin)剛,是藏傳佛教密(mi)宗(zong)本(ben)尊(zun)神(shen),其像(xiang)(xiang)為(wei)(wei)雙尊(zun)。上(shang)(shang)樂(le)金(jin)剛有三面臉,每臉三目,十二臂(bei),主(zhu)臂(bei)擁抱(bao)明(ming)妃金(jin)剛亥母(mu),余臂(bei)持物,雙足踏(ta)人。塑像(xiang)(xiang)為(wei)(wei)上(shang)(shang)樂(le)金(jin)剛與明(ming)妃金(jin)剛亥母(mu)相抱(bao)。
仙女洞:里有白(bai)(bai)救(jiu)度(du)佛(fo)母和(he)(he)綠救(jiu)度(du)佛(fo)母塑(su)像(xiang),是(shi)藏傳佛(fo)教女神,是(shi)觀音化身(shen)的救(jiu)苦救(jiu)難本尊(zun)。以上兩(liang)(liang)尊(zun)為藏王松(song)贊干布的兩(liang)(liang)位夫人(ren),分別(bie)是(shi)尼(ni)泊(bo)爾(er)公(gong)(gong)主和(he)(he)文成公(gong)(gong)主,白(bai)(bai)度(du)母是(shi)尼(ni)泊(bo)爾(er)公(gong)(gong)主,綠度(du)母是(shi)文成公(gong)(gong)主。度(du)母以顏(yan)色區(qu)分,以白(bai)(bai)、綠度(du)母最(zui)為常見(jian)。此外(wai),洞內還供有21個仙(xian)女塑(su)像(xiang)。
護法神洞:洞(dong)里主神(shen)為護(hu)法神(shen),即迦蘭(lan)神(shen),是守護(hu)寺院(yuan)神(shen)的通稱,共有十八(ba)神(shen)。
洪羊洞:迦樓羅天(tian)神(shen)的(de)供養處。迦樓羅天(tian)神(shen)是(shi)(shi)八(ba)(ba)部(bu)(bu)天(tian)龍(long)之一(佛(fo)(fo)(fo)教(jiao)中的(de)八(ba)(ba)部(bu)(bu)眾是(shi)(shi)八(ba)(ba)部(bu)(bu)天(tian)龍(long)的(de)別稱(cheng),是(shi)(shi)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)教(jiao)八(ba)(ba)類(lei)護(hu)法(fa)天(tian)神(shen)),是(shi)(shi)守護(hu)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)教(jiao)的(de)第六天(tian)神(shen)。一般來說,迦樓羅以人(ren)(ren)面鳥身、鳥面人(ren)(ren)身或全(quan)鳥身形(xing)像(xiang)出現,華譯為金翅(chi)鳥。洪羊洞(dong)呈弓形(xing),在洞(dong)壁上(shang)(shang)有(you)(you)兩(liang)(liang)(liang)個1米見方的(de)洞(dong)穴,均用石頭鑲邊,傳說里(li)(li)面有(you)(you)焦(jiao)贊、孟良兩(liang)(liang)(liang)尊塑像(xiang)。兩(liang)(liang)(liang)人(ren)(ren)因盜楊繼業尸骨有(you)(you)功,故立塑像(xiang)供奉。一進(jin)洞(dong)口幾米處分上(shang)(shang)下(xia)兩(liang)(liang)(liang)層,上(shang)(shang)進(jin)下(xia)出,進(jin)里(li)(li)面下(xia)臺階,據傳臺階下(xia)有(you)(you)深(shen)洞(dong),由大石板(ban)蓋著,可是(shi)(shi)沒有(you)(you)人(ren)(ren)考證過究竟有(you)(you)多深(shen)。洞(dong)里(li)(li)有(you)(you)紅(hong)土又稱(cheng)“玉光(guang)土”,信徒們往往取而治(zhi)病(bing),也是(shi)(shi)蒙(meng)醫常用的(de)藥材之一。
傳說蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)花(hua)生曾到過(guo)(guo)洛(luo)陽(yang)和五(wu)臺(tai)山,返回途中(zhong)(zhong),於(wu)(wu)公(gong)元(yuan)774年(nian)(nian)(陰(yin)歷(li))九月(yue)(yue)二十(shi)二來到阿(a)貴廟(miao)。當時(shi)這(zhe)(zhe)里沒有廟(miao)宇,只有山洞(dong)(dong)。傳說五(wu)個洞(dong)(dong)中(zhong)(zhong)居住著一(yi)母所(suo)生的(de)(de)(de)(de)5個少女即5個“杭(hang)瑞(rui)(rui)瑪(ma)”(仙(xian)女)。她們(men)在這(zhe)(zhe)5個洞(dong)(dong)里分別於(wu)(wu)九月(yue)(yue)二十(shi)五(wu)招待(dai)了蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)花(hua)生及(ji)其隨行人員(yuan)。以后將(jiang)每年(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(陰(yin)歷(li))九月(yue)(yue)二十(shi)五(wu),定(ding)為(wei)迎接(jie)(jie)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)花(hua)生祭神日(ri)。次年(nian)(nian)即公(gong)元(yuan)775年(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(陰(yin)歷(li))七月(yue)(yue)初(chu)十(shi),蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)花(hua)生一(yi)行離(li)開了阿(a)貴洞(dong)(dong),此(ci)(ci)時(shi)四周民眾集會(hui)(hui)歡送(song)(song)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)花(hua)生等(deng)人,於(wu)(wu)是又將(jiang)每年(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)七月(yue)(yue)初(chu)十(shi)定(ding)為(wei)歡送(song)(song)日(ri)。至今阿(a)貴廟(miao)每年(nian)(nian)七月(yue)(yue)初(chu)十(shi),九月(yue)(yue)二十(shi)五(wu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)兩次大型廟(miao)會(hui)(hui)就是從(cong)(cong)那時(shi)開始的(de)(de)(de)(de)。相(xiang)傳蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)花(hua)生在此(ci)(ci)居住9個多月(yue)(yue)的(de)(de)(de)(de)時(shi)間里,把這(zhe)(zhe)里的(de)(de)(de)(de)妖魔鬼怪全部用法術(shu)(shu)鎮壓下(xia)(xia)去,還親手(shou)塑起(qi)一(yi)座(zuo)2尺5寸高的(de)(de)(de)(de)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)花(hua)生像。并(bing)說:“你(ni)們(men)每當見到這(zhe)(zhe)尊塑像就如同見到我一(yi)樣,一(yi)切妖魔不會(hui)(hui)傷害(hai)生靈(ling)了,會(hui)(hui)給(gei)當地民眾消除災難(nan)”。蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)花(hua)生等(deng)在接(jie)(jie)受(shou)杭(hang)瑞(rui)(rui)瑪(ma)們(men)的(de)(de)(de)(de)歡送(song)(song)時(shi)還說:“我們(men)西方有個'烏日(ri)斤杭(hang)瑞(rui)(rui)'地區,你(ni)們(men)這(zhe)(zhe)個阿(a)貴可叫(jiao)'亞(ya)吉拉,杭(hang)瑞(rui)(rui)瑪(ma)阿(a)貴'”。“杭(hang)瑞(rui)(rui)瑪(ma)阿(a)貴”也從(cong)(cong)此(ci)(ci)得名(ming)。當時(shi)在這(zhe)(zhe)山溝里還居住著叫(jiao)柯(ke)寶日(ri)·達(da)日(ri)克的(de)(de)(de)(de)老倆口(kou),有個兒子叫(jiao)落本贊達(da)日(ri)。蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)花(hua)生對(dui)他說:“接(jie)(jie)收你(ni)為(wei)徒弟,將(jiang)密教傳授給(gei)你(ni)并(bing)要你(ni)傳遞(di)下(xia)(xia)去”。洛(luo)本贊達(da)日(ri)接(jie)(jie)受(shou)了這(zhe)(zhe)個旨意。但此(ci)(ci)教必須(xu)“真實”言教,學(xue)到咒術(shu)(shu)才能(neng)為(wei)百(bai)姓除害(hai)。于是,洛(luo)本贊達(da)日(ri)歷(li)盡千(qian)辛萬苦到印度薩齊巴地方學(xue)經,經過(guo)(guo)幾年(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)努力(li),終于受(shou)授了法術(shu)(shu),學(xue)到了密咒,回到阿(a)貴廟(miao)后成了第一(yi)個傳徒接(jie)(jie)代的(de)(de)(de)(de)師傅。