Badung The Center of Tourism

Taman Ayun:
A Temple Left by Puri Mengwi

Pura Taman Ayun is a unique temple left by the former Mengwi Kingdom on a site about 16 km north of Denpasar City. It is a remainder left by the kingdom and consequently it belongs to the ownership of Puri Mengwi, but the communities of Mengwi Traditional Village (Desa Adat Mengwi) are in charge of maintaining and preserving the temple which is open to the public who wish to perform rituals there. The sacred building is also open to tourists to have dinner there.

Pura Taman Ayun, encircled by pools, is divided into three spaces. In the Jeroan inner space there are shrines or sub-temples of so-called ‘Pura Ibu’, enshrining the ancestors of Mengwi’s King, Pura Pasek Badak honored Batu Bata’s descendants, Pura Padma enshrining a priest known as Ida Pedanda Sakti Wawu Rauh and several merus, representing the Pura Sad Khayangan system. The middle space, Jaba Tengah, is complemented by the buildings of the Grand Pavilion or Bale Agung, so-called Pengubengan, Loji space for beauty dressing, Kulkul drum pavilion and Dalem Behek shrine. The third area Jaba Sisi contains the Wantilan meeting place and Candi Bentar split gate.
During the traditional calendar event of ‘Kliwon’ and full or dark moon, people would flock to this holy site to hold rituals or pilgrimages, while some students organize cultural oration, sermons (dharma wacana) and the like. ‘Odalan’ is a peak event commemorating the founding of the temple in a ceremony held on Anggara Kasih Wuku Medangsia or Tuesday Kliwon, an occasion repeated six-monthly or within 210 days according to Balinese traditional calendar.
There is a unique peed procession held by communities of 36 Desa Adat traditional villages in Mengwi, which is the capital city of Mengwi Sub-District, Badung Regency. During the parade, participants move around through various routes in accordance with their village of origin, while wearing special traditional dress. Communities coming from quarters to the east of the temple would start their parade in Desa Gulingan, people living to the north of the temple would start from Desa Denkayu and those living to the south start in front of Pura Bale Agung. Desa Adat Mengwi community starts in front of Mengwi Royal Palace while moving to the temple on a special day when the odalan is running. Communities coming from villages other than Desa Adat Mengwi would perform their respective parade on a different day, one after another.
During the peed procession, there is parade of colorfully dressed women accompanied a baleganjur gamelan troupe, while traditional security forces are busy taking care of peace and order during the event. In Desa Adat Mengwi, the procession participants are usually more than 700 men. Materials needed to arrange the procession come out of contributions by Desa Adat Mengwi from money collected as entrance ticket sales to visitors of the temple.
Interesting to know is the tradition of aid give to 26 lower-ranked priests in accomplishing the odalan ceremony by 45 men entitled ‘Checkered Army.’ Also, 17 descendants of Mangku Taman Ayun low-ranked priests are present with their helping hands. Specific sacred dances known as Baris Gede, Rejang and Topeng Pajegan mask dance appear on stage. An evening show of various dances such Barong and Janger entertain the public free of charge.
During a dinner held in the outer space of Pura Taman Ayun, tourists can enjoy the peed procession defined as Peed a la Odalan marching from Mengwi Palace’s outer space to the temple area in a gay atmosphere with Balinese dances. Such events have been rare since the bombing tragedy, locals told Bali Travel News. (BTN/015)

See Bali's Regencies : Badung : Taman Ayun: A Temple Left by Puri Mengwi Gianyar :Tumpek Kuningan in Mas Village Bangli : Kuningan Day in Bangli : Ngerebeg in the Town Centre Klungkung : ‘Dewa Maseraman’ Ceremony at Pura Panti Timrah Karangasem : Piodalan Ceremony at Besakih Temple Buleleng : Kuningan Day in Buleleng Jembrana : The Unforgettable Leko Dance Tabanan : Ngerebek : A Unique Ritual in “Dalem Kahyangan Kedaton” Denpasar : Rush to Sakenan on Kuningan Day