古(gu)拜經(jing)(jing)臺(tai)在(zai)天臺(tai)峰(feng)下,距觀音峰(feng)約2華里。通往(wang)天臺(tai)之(zhi)路要繞寺(si)而過。該寺(si)始建(jian)于唐,原為(wei)一組狹長(chang)的建(jian)筑,民居式(shi)三進殿宇,經(jing)(jing)歷代(dai)修建(jian),現在(zai)面積898平方(fang)米,整個(ge)建(jian)筑古(gu)樸典雅(ya),風格協調(diao),堪稱(cheng)(cheng)佛國明珠,是安(an)徽省重點寺(si)院。相傳(chuan)金地藏(zang)曾在(zai)此(ci)處拜誦《華嚴(yan)經(jing)(jing)》,巖石(shi)上尚留有(you)(you)其一雙凹痕足(zu)跡。僧人(ren)建(jian)此(ci)寺(si)紀(ji)念,名(ming)為(wei)“大(da)愿(yuan)庵”(佛教稱(cheng)(cheng)金地藏(zang)“大(da)愿(yuan)菩薩”)。因為(wei)“拜經(jing)(jing)”較通俗易記,所以(yi)(yi)都稱(cheng)(cheng)它“古(gu)拜經(jing)(jing)臺(tai)”。古(gu)拜經(jing)(jing)臺(tai)的主要景(jing)點有(you)(you)“仙(xian)人(ren)擊鼓”“大(da)鵬聽經(jing)(jing)”“金龜朝北斗”“地藏(zang)真跡大(da)腳印”“蠟燭峰(feng)”,當(dang)陣雨初歇(xie)時還(huan)可以(yi)(yi)觀賞到云海,虛虛實實,佛樂聲聲,恍如(ru)仙(xian)境。
庵始建于清代,同治年(nian)(nian)間(jian)住(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)僧(seng)(seng)福緣重(zhong)修(xiu),光緒年(nian)(nian)間(jian)住(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)僧(seng)(seng)昌(chang)光再建。1923年(nian)(nian)住(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)僧(seng)(seng)龍華(hua)重(zhong)修(xiu)。1928~1935年(nian)(nian)住(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)僧(seng)(seng)隆明(ming)。1943~1953年(nian)(nian)住(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)僧(seng)(seng)仁德(de)。20世(shi)紀60~70年(nian)(nian)代先后住(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)僧(seng)(seng)為紫(zi)峰、寬德(de)。自建寺(si)(si)以來(lai),道風純(chun)正(zheng),僧(seng)(seng)俗-。一(yi)般來(lai)九華(hua)山(shan)(shan)的香(xiang)(xiang)客都要到(dao)(dao)該(gai)寺(si)(si)來(lai)朝(chao)拜金地藏拜經(jing)留下的遺跡,香(xiang)(xiang)火一(yi)直旺盛(sheng),但在“文革”期間(jian),寺(si)(si)院遭到(dao)(dao)嚴重(zhong)破壞(huai),佛像被毀,僧(seng)(seng)人(ren)-離寺(si)(si)。1982年(nian)(nian)九華(hua)山(shan)(shan)管理處(chu)重(zhong)修(xiu),辟為九華(hua)山(shan)(shan)佛教協會接待站,但該(gai)寺(si)(si)因年(nian)(nian)久梁柱(zhu)多有朽毀。
“改革(ge)開(kai)放”以後,僧人重歸寺院(yuan),各項建設(she)得(de)以發展(zhan),寺內法務恢復(fu)正常,寺院(yuan)面(mian)貌煥然一新。近十幾來總共(gong)募化(hua)資金近千萬元,重新興建了大雄寶殿、僧寮、藏(zang)(zang)經樓、地(di)藏(zang)(zang)殿、山門樓、大型素(su)餐廳及香(xiang)客接待(dai)用房,總建筑面(mian)積達二千多平方米(mi),使寺院(yuan)規(gui)(gui)模逐步擴大,為海內外善男(nan)信女提供了一個極好的(de)佛教活動場所。同(tong)時也為弘揚佛法,傳(chuan)播地(di)藏(zang)(zang)精神。1993年起(qi),住持僧圣明率眾僧發心重新規(gui)(gui)劃建設(she)。殿宇雄偉壯麗,型制依舊(jiu),佛像莊嚴,古剎(cha)重光(guang)。
大(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)于1994年住持僧圣明法師(shi)發心重建,建筑面積(ji)650平(ping)方米。大(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)坐北(bei)朝西(xi)南,宮殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)式,雙重檐翹角,框架(jia)結構,造型莊重、渾厚。磚(zhuan)木(mu)結構。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)宇前面三尊大(da)佛,左右文殊、普賢,后(hou)面海島(dao)觀音,兩旁十八羅漢。大(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)西(xi)側為(wei)新建的靈官(guan)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),建筑面積(ji)100平(ping)方米,從西(xi)邊(bian)古(gu)石板上(shang)山(shan)由此(ci)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)進(jin)廟。大(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)后(hou)北(bei)側為(wei)重建的地藏(zang)(zang)(zang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),宮殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)式,2層,建筑面積(ji)300平(ping)方米。一(yi)樓(lou)(lou)內供(gong)漢白(bai)玉地藏(zang)(zang)(zang)及閔公(gong)、道明像(xiang),兩邊(bian)是“十王朝地藏(zang)(zang)(zang)”塑像(xiang)。樓(lou)(lou)上(shang)為(wei)祖師(shi)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)和藏(zang)(zang)(zang)經樓(lou)(lou)。
從(cong)地藏(zang)殿下來左手邊為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)一幢兩進的白色(se)徽式建(jian)筑,3蹭(ceng),4開間(jian),脊高13米(mi)、長13米(mi)、寬(kuan)8米(mi),建(jian)筑面積1000平方米(mi)。一樓(lou)(lou)(lou)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)彌(mi)勒殿,中間(jian)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)彌(mi)勒樓(lou)(lou)(lou),西為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)客(ke)堂(tang),東(dong)(dong)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)齋(zhai)堂(tang)、廚房(fang),牌(pai)匾為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)已故(gu)的仁(ren)德(de)大和尚(shang)手書,穿過彌(mi)勒殿,門楣上是圣明法(fa)師(shi)手書的“阿彌(mi)陀佛(fo)”。二樓(lou)(lou)(lou)是玉佛(fo)殿,西為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)禪(chan)堂(tang),東(dong)(dong)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)藥師(shi)殿。三樓(lou)(lou)(lou)是萬佛(fo)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)。萬佛(fo)殿東(dong)(dong)南坡下建(jian)有(you)客(ke)堂(tang)和餐廳,民居式,2層(ceng)和3層(ceng)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)宇(yu),建(jian)筑面積400平方米(mi)。此外還有(you)“祖(zu)師(shi)殿”,齋(zhai)堂(tang),素餐廳,招(zhao)待所等等建(jian)筑。
從大(da)雄寶殿旁上石階十余步,即到金地(di)藏拜(bai)(bai)(bai)經遺(yi)址。上筑(zhu)敞廳式瓦屋一(yi)間(jian),高約(yue)二(er)丈(zhang),寬丈(zhang)許,供有金地(di)藏坐像。右(you)邊(bian)墻壁上嵌有“古(gu)拜(bai)(bai)(bai)經臺(tai)(tai)(tai)”字樣的(de)碑刻一(yi)方。臺(tai)(tai)(tai)后有峭(qiao)石20米高,造型(xing)酷似“老鷹扒壁”,僧(seng)人(ren)稱“大(da)鵬聽經石”,相傳是金地(di)藏拜(bai)(bai)(bai)經的(de)地(di)方。地(di)面突出一(yi)塊長方形(xing)巖(yan)石,上有凹下的(de)腳印。拜(bai)(bai)(bai)經臺(tai)(tai)(tai)雄踞(ju)天(tian)臺(tai)(tai)(tai)峰谷(gu)峭(qiao)崖之間(jian),以大(da)雄寶殿為主體,形(xing)成眾(zhong)星(xing)捧月之勢。殿南(nan)峽谷(gu)纜(lan)車飛駕(jia),拜(bai)(bai)(bai)經臺(tai)(tai)(tai)為閔園(yuan)至天(tian)臺(tai)(tai)(tai)的(de)索道終點站。