Buleleng Northern Lights

Two Temples in Buleleng

Pulaki Temple
Pulaki Temple is situated on steep gorges and rocky hills belonging to the Banyupoh Village area, Grokgak sub district, Buleleng Regency. The name Pulaki Temple is more popular than Dalem Melanting, whereas Dalem Melanting itself is integrated into Pulaki Temple. The establishment of the two temples is closely related to the history of pilgrim’s journeys of the sage Danghyang Nirartha from Java to Bali.
Pulaki Temple is believed as a place where Sri Patni Keniten, spouse of Dang Hyang Nirartha, achieved moksha after having completed her study on the science of keparamarthan. She easily mastered the keparamarthan science so she then became sanctified and achieved moksha, or the release of the soul from the bonds of the cycle of birth, death and rebirth now the highest goals in most schools of Hinduism. Therefore, she was venerated as “Bhatari Dalem Ketut”. Sri Patni Keniten was from Blambangan (East Java) and joined the pilgrimage performed by Dang Hyang Nirartha along with their children.
Pulaki and Dalem Melanting Temple were constructed during the reign of King Dalem Waturenggong (ad 1460-1552). Based on the description of palm-leaf manuscripts Dwijendra Tattwa and Chronicle of Catur Brahmana, Pulaki Temple functions as a holy place to worship Sang Hyang Widhi (Supreme God) and Her Majesty Sri Patni Keniten’s soul who has achieved moksha.
Dalem Melanting Temple
Dalem Melanting Temple is located on the northern beach of Bali Island at Banyupoh Village, some 59 km westwards of Singaraja city. According to palm-leaf manuscript Dwijendra Tattwa and Catur Brahmana Chronicle, the establishment of this temple pertained to a happening when Ida Ayu Swabhawa received keparamarthan science from her father, Danghyang Nirartha.
By thgis keparamarthan science Ida Ayu Swabhawa ean release her, or end sins, therefore she was called “Goddess Melanting” or “Bhatari Melanting”. This youngest daughter of Danghyang Nirartha joined her father’s pilgrim journey (tirthayatra) during the reign of King Dalem Waturenggong (ad 1460-1552) to Bali.
The science of keparamarthan is also called “kemoksan”, namely a science on life perfect ness, or science on supreme life that teaches and leads one in order to achieve moksha in this worldly life. Due to the science of keparamarthan, Ida Ayu Swabhawa could release herself from all sins, became consecrated, just like a deva and disappeared psychically from the sight, then was venerated as deva at “Dalem Melanting Temple”. Apart from being worshipped as Goddess Melanting at the temple, she also became the princess of invisible psychic planes or the so-called “wong samar” in Balinese language.
(BTN/*/para)