古(gu)(gu)拜經(jing)臺在天(tian)臺峰下(xia),距觀音峰約(yue)2華(hua)里。通往天(tian)臺之(zhi)路要繞寺(si)而過。該寺(si)始建(jian)(jian)于唐,原為(wei)一(yi)組狹(xia)長的建(jian)(jian)筑,民居式三進殿宇,經(jing)歷代(dai)修(xiu)建(jian)(jian),現(xian)在面積898平方(fang)米,整(zheng)個建(jian)(jian)筑古(gu)(gu)樸(pu)典(dian)雅,風(feng)格協調,堪稱(cheng)佛國(guo)明珠,是安徽省重點寺(si)院。相傳金地藏(zang)(zang)曾在此處拜誦(song)《華(hua)嚴經(jing)》,巖石上尚留有(you)其一(yi)雙(shuang)凹痕足(zu)跡。僧人建(jian)(jian)此寺(si)紀念,名為(wei)“大愿庵”(佛教稱(cheng)金地藏(zang)(zang)“大愿菩(pu)薩”)。因為(wei)“拜經(jing)”較(jiao)通俗易(yi)記,所以都(dou)稱(cheng)它“古(gu)(gu)拜經(jing)臺”。古(gu)(gu)拜經(jing)臺的主要景點有(you)“仙人擊鼓(gu)”“大鵬聽經(jing)”“金龜(gui)朝北斗”“地藏(zang)(zang)真跡大腳印”“蠟(la)燭峰”,當陣(zhen)雨初歇時還可以觀賞到(dao)云海(hai),虛虛實實,佛樂聲聲,恍如(ru)仙境。
庵始(shi)建(jian)于(yu)清(qing)代,同治年(nian)間住持(chi)(chi)(chi)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)福(fu)緣重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)修,光緒年(nian)間住持(chi)(chi)(chi)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)昌光再建(jian)。1923年(nian)住持(chi)(chi)(chi)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)龍華(hua)(hua)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)修。1928~1935年(nian)住持(chi)(chi)(chi)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)隆明。1943~1953年(nian)住持(chi)(chi)(chi)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)仁(ren)德。20世紀60~70年(nian)代先后(hou)住持(chi)(chi)(chi)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)為紫峰、寬(kuan)德。自建(jian)寺(si)以來(lai),道風純正,僧(seng)(seng)(seng)俗-。一般來(lai)九華(hua)(hua)山的香(xiang)客都(dou)要到(dao)該寺(si)來(lai)朝拜金地藏拜經留下的遺跡,香(xiang)火一直旺盛,但在“文革(ge)”期間,寺(si)院(yuan)遭到(dao)嚴重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)破(po)壞,佛像被毀,僧(seng)(seng)(seng)人(ren)-離寺(si)。1982年(nian)九華(hua)(hua)山管理處重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)修,辟為九華(hua)(hua)山佛教(jiao)協會接待站,但該寺(si)因年(nian)久梁柱(zhu)多有朽毀。
“改革開放(fang)”以後,僧人重(zhong)歸寺(si)(si)院(yuan)(yuan),各項建設得以發(fa)展,寺(si)(si)內法務恢復正常,寺(si)(si)院(yuan)(yuan)面貌煥然一新。近十(shi)幾來總共募化資金近千(qian)萬元,重(zhong)新興建了大雄寶殿、僧寮、藏(zang)經樓、地藏(zang)殿、山門樓、大型(xing)(xing)素(su)餐廳及(ji)香客接(jie)待用房(fang),總建筑(zhu)面積達二千(qian)多平方米,使寺(si)(si)院(yuan)(yuan)規模逐步擴大,為(wei)海(hai)內外善(shan)男信女提供了一個極(ji)好(hao)的佛(fo)教活動場所。同時也為(wei)弘(hong)揚(yang)佛(fo)法,傳播地藏(zang)精(jing)神。1993年起,住持僧圣明率眾僧發(fa)心重(zhong)新規劃建設。殿宇雄偉壯麗(li),型(xing)(xing)制依(yi)舊,佛(fo)像莊(zhuang)嚴,古(gu)剎重(zhong)光。
大(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)于1994年住持(chi)僧圣明法(fa)師(shi)發(fa)心(xin)重建(jian),建(jian)筑(zhu)面積(ji)650平(ping)方米。大(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)坐北(bei)(bei)朝西南,宮(gong)(gong)殿(dian)式,雙重檐翹角(jiao),框架結構(gou),造型莊重、渾厚。磚木結構(gou)。殿(dian)宇前(qian)面三尊(zun)大(da)(da)佛,左右文殊、普賢,后面海島觀音,兩旁十(shi)八羅(luo)漢。大(da)(da)殿(dian)西側為(wei)新(xin)建(jian)的靈官殿(dian),建(jian)筑(zhu)面積(ji)100平(ping)方米,從(cong)西邊古(gu)石(shi)板上(shang)(shang)山由此殿(dian)進廟。大(da)(da)殿(dian)后北(bei)(bei)側為(wei)重建(jian)的地藏(zang)殿(dian),宮(gong)(gong)殿(dian)式,2層,建(jian)筑(zhu)面積(ji)300平(ping)方米。一樓內供漢白(bai)玉地藏(zang)及閔(min)公、道明像,兩邊是“十(shi)王朝地藏(zang)”塑像。樓上(shang)(shang)為(wei)祖(zu)師(shi)殿(dian)和(he)藏(zang)經樓。
從地藏殿(dian)(dian)(dian)下(xia)來(lai)左手邊為(wei)(wei)一(yi)幢兩(liang)進的(de)白色徽式建(jian)(jian)筑,3蹭,4開(kai)間,脊高(gao)13米、長13米、寬(kuan)8米,建(jian)(jian)筑面積(ji)1000平方米。一(yi)樓(lou)(lou)為(wei)(wei)彌(mi)勒(le)殿(dian)(dian)(dian),中間為(wei)(wei)彌(mi)勒(le)樓(lou)(lou),西為(wei)(wei)客堂(tang),東為(wei)(wei)齋堂(tang)、廚房(fang),牌匾為(wei)(wei)已故(gu)的(de)仁(ren)德大和尚手書,穿過彌(mi)勒(le)殿(dian)(dian)(dian),門(men)楣上(shang)是圣明(ming)法師(shi)手書的(de)“阿彌(mi)陀佛(fo)(fo)”。二樓(lou)(lou)是玉佛(fo)(fo)殿(dian)(dian)(dian),西為(wei)(wei)禪堂(tang),東為(wei)(wei)藥師(shi)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)。三(san)樓(lou)(lou)是萬佛(fo)(fo)樓(lou)(lou)。萬佛(fo)(fo)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)東南坡下(xia)建(jian)(jian)有(you)客堂(tang)和餐(can)廳(ting),民居式,2層和3層樓(lou)(lou)宇,建(jian)(jian)筑面積(ji)400平方米。此(ci)外還有(you)“祖師(shi)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)”,齋堂(tang),素餐(can)廳(ting),招待所(suo)等等建(jian)(jian)筑。
從大雄寶殿旁上(shang)(shang)石(shi)(shi)階十余步,即到金(jin)(jin)地(di)(di)(di)藏(zang)拜(bai)經(jing)(jing)遺址。上(shang)(shang)筑(zhu)敞(chang)廳式瓦屋一(yi)間,高(gao)約二丈(zhang),寬丈(zhang)許,供(gong)有(you)金(jin)(jin)地(di)(di)(di)藏(zang)坐像。右邊墻壁(bi)上(shang)(shang)嵌有(you)“古拜(bai)經(jing)(jing)臺(tai)(tai)(tai)”字樣的碑刻一(yi)方(fang)。臺(tai)(tai)(tai)后有(you)峭石(shi)(shi)20米高(gao),造型(xing)酷似“老鷹扒壁(bi)”,僧人(ren)稱“大鵬(peng)聽(ting)經(jing)(jing)石(shi)(shi)”,相傳是金(jin)(jin)地(di)(di)(di)藏(zang)拜(bai)經(jing)(jing)的地(di)(di)(di)方(fang)。地(di)(di)(di)面突出一(yi)塊長方(fang)形巖石(shi)(shi),上(shang)(shang)有(you)凹下的腳印。拜(bai)經(jing)(jing)臺(tai)(tai)(tai)雄踞天臺(tai)(tai)(tai)峰谷(gu)(gu)峭崖之(zhi)間,以大雄寶殿為(wei)主體,形成眾星捧(peng)月之(zhi)勢(shi)。殿南峽(xia)谷(gu)(gu)纜車飛駕,拜(bai)經(jing)(jing)臺(tai)(tai)(tai)為(wei)閔園至天臺(tai)(tai)(tai)的索(suo)道終點站。