Position of Figures at Besakih Temple

Besakih Temple consists of seven stairs (mandala) is indeed rich in philosophy. Every stair is completed with holy shrine, and each has its own name, function and philosophy. The third stair that we discuss on this edition, for instance, is provided with several holy edifices along with different functions as well. Assuredly, some edifices on this stair constitute abode of Dewa and Pitara. Dewa is divine light (manifestation) of God, while pitara is sacred ancestral soul that is believed to have attained the plane of Dewa so it’s also called Dewa Pitara.

Formally, it is believed that the ancestral soul attained the place of Dewa after passing through the process of sacred ritual. Lontar manuscript Gayatri mentions that the soul of dead person is called Pitra. Having made a ceremony through religious ritual called pitra yajna like ngaben (cremation in Bali), so the sacredness of its soul is called pitara or pitra. Afterwards, another religious ritual is performed called nyekah or mamukur (Atma Wedana), sacredness of the soul increased, from the epithet Pitara to Dewa Pitara.
In the status of such Dewa Pitara the sacred soul that abode at Merajan (family temple that made by every house compound). Sacred soul that is called figure can also be abode at Kahyangan Jagat temple. Should there be any public figure of which sacred soul abode at temple, it will have social value, apart from spiritual value. Concrete example that can be seen at these days is the shrine that lays on the left side of Padma Tiga at Besakih temple that represents the abode of Mpu Dang Hyang Markandeya, while on the right side lays the shrine of Mpu Beradah and Sang Hyang Siem as Buddhist priest.
Sacred souls of the figures are abode at Besakih temple due to their meritorious service that has been presented at such Kahyangan Jagat temple. This matter will be able to bring social impact to honour such meritorious figures. In addition, it also has an impact to establish harmony and social peace through religiosity fundamental. Descendants or followers of such figures also feel being appreciated so it can form cool milieu as living to respect those that have been meritorious.
The existence of religious, scientific, politician, statesman, economic figures and the like that become leader of certain group can, in truth, be divided into four sorts of professions that is called Catur Varna. The Holy Scripture Yajurveda (XXX.5) states that it’s God that creates Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra to preserve and develop science, community welfare and reserve of physical labour force; however, they still have working spirit and are honest to render the positive significance to their life.
These four professions are parallel or horizontal. It means that each profession of the Catur Varna has position in a row, no higher or no lower rank. Holy book Bhagavad-Gita (IV.13) mentions, God based on guna-karma (character, quality and profession) creates Catur Varna. To determine one’s varna, it is not based on genealogy but on things mentioned above—guna and karma.
Existence of the four figures is visualized in the form of veneration on the one’s figure ship at Besakih temple. On the fourth stair, there are trade, religious figures in which in the form of different faith, while on the third stair are visualized with eleven-tiered meru shrine as the abode of Queen Maspahit (Goddess Gayatri, grandmother of Hayam Wuruk, the king of Majapahit). In front of Goddess Gayatri’s meru sits a seven-tiered meru, shrine of Ida Ratu Geng that pays homage to Goddess Saraswati (goddess of knowledge). On the left side of seven-tiered meru, there is three-tiered meru that is called pelinggih Kehen (holy shrine) as the abode of all pratimas (all holy effigies of temple that belong to Luhuring Ambal-Ambal). This depicts that the Dewas that are venerated at several complexes of Besakih Temple at Luhuring Ambal-Ambal, as a matter of fact, no other but divine light of God.(BTN/Ketut Wiana)