The Island of Thousand Temples (53)

Still Around Besakih Temple:
Conveying the Balai Gajah and 24-pillared Salu Panjang

The three entrance gates on the second tier of Penataran Agung Pura Besakih are in the shape of candi kurung (arched gate) that is flanked by two candi bentars (split gate). If you enter the third tier of Besakih Temple, you should pass through these three gates. As soon as arriving at the third tier, you will see a sacred building that is called Bali Gajah (Elephant Pavilion)—as the Balinese name it.

Named Balai Gajah, probably because the building is the biggest and the most noticeable among the buildings on the third tier of Penataran Agung Besakih. This Balai Gajah functions as pawedan (a place where holy priests recite Vedic mantra to worship God when the ritual is taking place). Thus, the pavilion is called Balai Pawedan. So, the shape of sacred building at Besakih Temple, in essence, also functions to apply the Vedic holy teachings in governing the life of human beings.
Vedic mantra that contains God’s revelation on the eternal truth and recited from the Balai Pawedan or Elephant Pavilion by priests is called Sanatana Dharma. And, the content of eternal Veda has a remarkably broad sense so it is not possible to be fully understood by human beings who have limited ability. Therefore, it should be applied by the Nutana concept or adjusted in accordance with present time that develops incessantly.
Veda, even though consists of eternal truth, its implementation should be adapted to development of the age as the age ever changes along with its unpredictable dynamic. Hence, such eternal Veda will become the controller of time change in order that next life would be better.
If the purity of Veda is not made a fundamental of time’s change controller, the time will change uncontrollably. It will be hazardous. On that account, the implementation of Vedic concept at Besakih Temple is exactly right. It is firmly stated at Balai Pawedan.
The divine Vedic teaching should also be made an established custom. Sarasamuscaya mentions Veda Abyasa and Acara—Veda Abyasa is divine Vedic teaching that should be made a habit in daily life behavior and Acara is the implementation of divine Vedic teaching in daily behavior. In the Manawa Dharmasastra (XII.95) is affirmed that all interpretations and systems that are not based on Veda will not bear a gracious effect.
Vedic mantra is often said to be an assertive pot-pourri of knowledge. Therefore, layman cannot understand it easily and consequently some rishis (Hindu sage) then compose branches of knowledge.
On the right side of Balai Pawedan of Penataran Agung Besakih Temple, there is a holy building called Salu Panjang having 24 pillars. Mithologically, the Lord Isvara here chairs their vidhyadaras (celestial scientists) to implement several kinds of knowledge to take control of human beings.
Why does this long pavilion have 24 pillars? Up to right now, the writer does not have a definite explanation yet. However, it could be compared to the conception of Veda’s implementation that its verse has 20,389 mantras. Of those mantras, the most ultimate is Savitri Mantra—similarly popular with Gayatri Mantra (Veda Mata or Vedic matrimantra). Savitri Mantra consists of 24 syllables. The rishis as sacred Vedic scientists developed Veda as knowledge by starting from this Savitri Mantra.
For instance, Rishi Valmiki developed 24 syllables of this Savitri Mantra into Ramayana with 24,000 slokas or couplet of sacred Sanskrit verse. There is a great possibility that the Salu Panjang pavilion having 24 pillars is a symbol to remind Hindu devotees in order that in developing sacred teaching of knowledge should be based on Vedic essence. It means that such knowledge is intended to accomplish the purpose of Veda. (BTN/Wiana)