The Tale of Maya Denawa

Taya Denawa lived in ancient times in Bali and had great fame as a king ruling this island kingdom. Nevertheless he was an extremely arrogant king due to his supreme magical power, capable of defeating not only men but also deities. He imagined himself being equal to the gods in Heaven.
So supreme was his power, he dared to proclaim a regulation forbidding his people to make ‘sesajen’ offerings to the gods. Those opposing the regulation would risk the death penalty. Many people were afraid because they knew well how brutal Maya Denawa had been.
Consequently, the people submitted to the king’s orders, even when the rice and fruit harvests were ample. All ‘sesajen’ offerings would go to Maya Denawa who proudly sat on his throne while enjoying the offerings under the eyewitness of his top deputies.
One day, news went out that the aboriginal people of Bali were going to the mother temple of Pura Besakih to perform rituals and dances, while playing music. Maya Denawa got angry upon receiving the news and immediately went to Besakih with his entourage of vice regents, Bedawang and Kala Wong.
In great anger, he then saw the people on the way parading towards Besakih. He fiercely ordered them to halt while asking them where they were going. ‘We will make offerings to the gods in Besakih Temple,’ one of the people answered. Maya Denawa broke in vicious anger and immediately slapped the man.

‘Starting now you shall go to my palace to offer these ‘sesajen’, because there are no gods in the temple and instead I am god!’ Maya Denawa said violently, which meant the people canceled their trip to Besakih and returned home with uncertain feelings.
After that incident, nobody dared to perform rituals in Besakih Temple making it a no-man’s-land in a neglected condition, while Bali was under control of vicious lust. The gods in Heaven got angry to see such a situation and decided to hold a meeting which ended in the conclusion to punish Maya Denawa for his guilt in stopping the Balinese from holding rituals and making offerings in temples.
The gods descended to earth accompanied by a heavenly army to crush Maya Denawa, who was informed about this danger soon and thus took immediate action by preparing military forces in response to the gods’ army.
A severe war took place causing many deaths within a short time, while Maya Denawa’s army got in tight position and retreated in search of safety from the gods’ army which hunted them to destroy the tyrannical king and his military power. The heavenly army hunted Maya Denawa and his aide, Vice Regent Kala Wong, until the bank of the Patas River.
At the time Maya Denawa remained alone, he tried to deceive the heavenly army by disguising as a statue but the gods with their army recognized this trick. One of the gods released his magical spear to the surprise of Maya Denawa, who soon dropped his disguise and ran away. However, Maya Denawa failed to accomplish his trickery and the spear pierced his neck bringing about his death and the ruin of his kingdom. This story is a reflection of the supremacy of dharma over a-dharma. Following the king’s death, the Balinese people renewed rituals and offerings in Pura Besakih, concurrently reflected by Galungan Holy Day ceremony. (Gung Man)

Balineselife
Galungan Mythology

In the Balinese Usana it tells us that Galungan is a commemoration of the victory of Bhatara Indra in his battle with King Mayadanawa. This mythology represents the struggle between Dharma (the good) against Adharma (the bad) that ends with Dharma’s victory.

Before the Mayadanawa era in Bali, the Hindu doctrine was taught well. Firstly, Sang Kulputih, a holy man, came from Java and stayed in Besakih as a pemangku (Balinese priest). He was a wise person that could read the situation within the inner self and the outer world. He was also the one who introduced the ceremony of adoration using banten, followed by holy prayers and the sound of Genta. The arrival of Sang Kulputih was followed by Empu Kuturan, a Resi (holy person) from Java. He initiated a convention known as Samuan Tiga, as the beginning of the Tri Murti doctrine. He also founded the Khayangan Tiga Temple supported by desa pakraman and the Ulunsui Temple supported by karma subak.
Usana Bali also talks about the administration and kings, like Jayapangus, a king in Balingkang, and King Mayadanawa in Bedahulu. Among those kings, the most famous struggle happened during the time of Mayadanawa’s rule, because his administration was different from that of others kings. Mayadanawa was known as a powerful king, greedy, and full of anger. He considered himself to be the most powerful king, even more powerful than God. He even considered himself to be God. He forbade the Balinese to conduct any religious ceremony activities in the temple.
That treatment caused the Balinese people great suffering and Bali became unproductive. Sang Kulputih realized this so he, together with other pemangku, held a prayer gathering at Besakih Temple to plead for guidance to save Bali from disaster. The Gods who dwell in Indraloka blessed this petition. The Gods then chose Bhatara Mahadewa and Bhatara Danuh and other Gods to go down to Bali and present the problem to Bhatara Pasupati who lived in Mount Semeru. From that place, Bhatara Pasupati pleaded to the Gods of Indraloka.
Finally, Dewa Indra arrived in Bali followed by the Gods, giants and thousands of his adherents with their weapons for battle. King Mayadanawa in Bedahulu heard of this arrival. Considering the Kingdom in danger, the king gathered the patih (chief minister), mantri (ministers) and punggawa (soldiers). To find out if it was true, the king chose Patih Kala Wong to be his spy. Apparently, what he had heard was true. The troops, under the orders of Bhatara Indra and his adherents had arrived in Besakih and occupied the place. Bhatara Indra called Bhagawan Narada and appointed him as an Ambassador to Bedahulu to investigate King Mayadanawa’s preparations. As Bhagawan Narada returned, he reported the results of his investigation. Then, Bhatara Indra’s troops went down and were met by Mayadanawa’s troops. The battle could not be avoided. Many of Mayadanawa’s patih died in the battle. After receiving the report from Patih Kala Wong, Maya-danawa became really angry. The King went down into the battle.
Dewa Indra’s troops were ready to face the enemy. Realizing that his men were decreasing in number, Mayadanawa together with Patih Kala Wong used their power to avoid the enemy by disguising themselves. Seeing that Dewa Indra’s troops were thirsty, with his power, Mayadanawa created a poisonous water source (tirtha cetik). Because of their heavy thirst, Dewa Indra’s men drank from this water and after drinking from this water they died suddenly. Seeing this, with his power, Dewa Indra stuck an umbrella into the ground, and produced healing water. This water was showered onto the dead troops until they recovered. This Tirtha (holy water) is today known by the name Tirtha Empul.
Mayadanawa was searched for continually. Realizing that he was being pursued he kept changing his face so that it would be hard to recognize. But Dewa Indra’s power was much greater than Mayadanawa’s and Dewa Indra was easily able to see through his disguises. Finally, Dewa Indra killed King Mayadanawa. From that time on, the people of Bali were permitted to carry out religious activities as in previous times. Bali was saved and everything was under control. Today, the victory of Dewa Indra over Mayadanawa is celebrated as the victory of Dharma over Adharma, more popularly known as Galungan day. (BTN/031)