Nhan Lo ancient pagoda on the banks of Ma River

A corner of the ancient Nhan Lo pagoda.

Nhan Lo Pagoda faces the West, in front is Ma River, in the South is Tam Thai mountain range associated with the legends of Hung Vuong and Ly dynasty kings who went to fight the Champa invaders and were informed by Dong Co god in their dreams. Legend has it that Nhan Lo Pagoda was built during the Tran Dynasty to serve the spiritual beliefs of mandarins, soldiers and people in the area. The pagoda consists of a Buddhist temple and a mother house. The Buddhist temple is designed in the style of a two-story roofed house. The lower roof is proportional to the porch and has three doors. The mother house is built opposite the Buddhist temple, built in the architecture of a T-shaped house (J), including: the front hall, the back palace. The back palace is built with an arch, divided into two main palaces and two second palaces. Currently, Nhan Lo Pagoda still preserves many ancient artifacts, such as: the statue of the Goddess of Mercy with a thousand eyes and a thousand hands; 2 royal decrees bestowed by the Nguyen Dynasty...

Coming to Nhan Lo Pagoda, visitors not only find peace of mind, but also immerse themselves in the peaceful beauty of this place, with long sandy beaches and watch the Ma River flowing gently in the dry season, fiercely in the flood season. With its beautiful location, unique architectural patterns, poetic natural landscape, and sacredness, Nhan Lo Pagoda attracts many tourists from inside and outside the province.

Mr. Pham Nguyen Anh, a tourist visiting and admiring the scenery of Nhan Lo Pagoda, from Phu Ly Ward, Ninh Binh Province, said: "The scenery of Nhan Lo Pagoda is very beautiful, the environmental sanitation is guaranteed. Coming here, I feel calm and peaceful, leaving behind all worries and anxieties, my soul is relaxed. If I have the chance, I will definitely come back here to visit, admire the scenery, pray for blessings and peace."

Through many historical events, Nhan Lo Pagoda has deteriorated. Thanks to the attention of the State, Party Committees, local authorities, monks, Buddhists, and tourists from all over, the pagoda has been renovated and embellished in many items, such as: the main pagoda, the mother house, the ancestral house, the tower, the four-grace house, the bell tower, the pagoda gate, the monks' living room... Although it has been renovated and embellished many times, Nhan Lo Pagoda still retains its original architecture.

Mr. Tran Trung Tan, a resident who contributed a lot to the construction of Nhan Lo Pagoda in Nhan Lo Quarter, Vinh Loc Commune, said: "I am always proud that the place where I live has an ancient and sacred pagoda that is ranked as a provincial historical and cultural relic. Therefore, I regularly propagate and mobilize my descendants and neighbors in the neighborhood to contribute to the construction of the pagoda and actively participate in protecting, preserving and promoting the values of the relic."

“With its historical and cultural values, Nhan Lo Pagoda was recognized as a provincial historical and cultural relic in 1992. In recent years, the management, protection, restoration and embellishment of Nhan Lo Pagoda have received attention from the Party Committee, government and people of Vinh Loc commune. Currently, the pagoda has been renovated and embellished to meet the spiritual needs of the people. Promoting the achieved results, Vinh Loc commune continues to strengthen propaganda and education on the value of the relic; mobilize social resources to renovate the pagoda grounds. Connect Nhan Lo Pagoda with Ho Dynasty Citadel and Du Anh Pagoda, Tuong Van Pagoda (Vinh Loc commune); Linh Giang Pagoda, Beo Pagoda, Xuan Ang Pagoda (Tay Do commune), Bao An Pagoda (Bien Thuong commune)... to form and develop a spiritual and cultural tourist destination, attract tourists, and meet the cultural and religious needs of the people”, Mr. Trinh Ngoc Tuan, Chairman of Vinh Loc Commune People's Committee, shared.

Article and photos: Nguyen Cuong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ngoi-chua-co-nhan-lo-ben-bo-song-ma-260753.htm