The Island of Thousand Temples (52)
“Omkara” Hall at Besakih Temple

If you pay a visit to Penataran Agung Besakih Temple at the second section you will find three gates located towards the third section. At the third section you will find the most primary pelinggih (shrine) of the entire Besakih Temple. Entering the third section you will pass through the second section which has three doors; left-right-center.

The center door is called kori agung (the main gate) in the shape of candi kurung, whilst the second door of kori agung is in the shape of candi bentar. On both sides of the candi bentar exists a pelinggih (shrine) called balai (hall) Omkara. People named this Omkara all as balai mundar-mandir.
Omkara is mentioning the Hindu’s holy letter as Vijaksara – originally from Sanskrit vija means germ/seed and aksara means eternally. So, Omkara means a contour which functiones as the symbol, holy germ, to rise for infinity value. The infinity value is God’s order contained in the holy book.
Swami Dayananda Saraswati, the founder of Arya Samad expressed that Omkara is mentioned to the primary God. The group who is concerned with the purity on Veda was founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati in 1926. According to Yajurveda (XXXII.3), God is na tasya pratima asti (unshaped and unnamed). Rgveda (I.64.46) expressd, God is esa (single), but para vipra (holy person) contribute many names (ekam sadvipra bahuda vadanti).
The Om pronunciation as the God’s name, generally, was realized in the form of the holy letter Omkara. However, in Besakih Temple, it’s physically realized in the shape of a simple building, which is only a small single pole construction square roofed – famed in Bali with the name lelimasan which symbolizes the Omkara.
Many people are wondering, why this lelimasan was built in front of the third section of Penataran Agung Pura Besakih gate? This probably is linked with the concept of deepening the Veda according to Manawa Dharmasastra (II.74). Learning the Veda’s mantra, according to Manawa Dharmasastra, should begin and ended by saying the holy letter ‘Om’, so that the chastity meaning of Veda’s mantra will be unmistaken. It does also while ending to pronounce the holy letter, which will cause the purity of Veda’s mantra not to hurriedly disappear and become useless.
Because of that, within Hindu’s tradition (Indonesia), most people start and end the mantra and worshiping with ‘OM’, including kidung (holy song). Seemly, the concept of deepening the Veda is becoming the inspiration source of two Omkara halls at the second section on Penataran Agung Pura Besakih. Even though archeologically there was no explanation mentioned, at least the historical fact of both Omkara halls were appropriately synchronized with the holy book conception.
DR Somvir (guest lecturer in Udayana university), a Veda literature expertise from New Delhi University, India, claimed, within Hindu’s tradition in India, to pronounce ‘Om’ at the beginning and end part of Veda spiritual study is a kind of must.
Omkara hall which is located at the entering gate towards the third section is in the Veda concept. According to Veda Smrti or above Manawa Dharmasastra, the pronounciation ‘Om’ should be done at the beginning or before learning the Veda. So, that’s why the Omkara hall is sited on the second section and balai pawedaan (sacred building as the site of the priest or holy person in worshiping God by pronouncing Veda’s mantras) sited on the third section showing that our Hindu ancestors in Bali have surely understood how to apply the Veda. (BTN/Wiana)