Lower and Upper Worlds at Besakih Temple

In the mantra of Yajurveda (XL, 1) is stated,” The real abode of God is this universe”. Things about the universe are described further in the Isopanisad (I.1).

Both references — Yajurveda and Isopanisad—give a sign about all houses of worship for Hindu devotee that is called Pura or Mandira (temple) constitute the symbol of universe. Just as Besakih temple that accounts for a symbol of universe. At Besakih Temple, universe is visualized in several dimensions. Penataran Agung, for instance, located on the second mandala (stair) contains a shrine called Ider Bhuwana—located southerly of Salu Panjang shrine that has 24 pillars with eleven rooms on the right side sits Bale Pawedaan (pavilion where lay priests offer their prayers) that is often called Bale Gajah (Elephant Pavilion).
Ider Bhuwana shrine represents that this universe is one and round. On that account, it is then called Anda Bhuwana (round egg-like universe). The word ‘Anda’ (Sanskrit) means egg and “Bhuwana” means universe (planets as the celestial content). Other than describing that this universe is single and round, Ider Bhuwana shrine also recounts lower and upper world. At Besakih Temple, lower world is called Soring Ambal-Ambal, while upper world Luhuring Ambal-Ambal.
Shrines (temple) that categorised into Soring Ambal-Ambal at Besakih Temple are Pesimpangan, Manik Mas, Bangun Sakti, Merajan Selonding, Gua Raja, Rambut Sedana, Basukian, Dalem Puri, Jenggala, Banua and Merajan Kanginan. Meanwhile, those belong to Luhuring Ambal-Ambal are Penataran Agung Besakih, Batu Madeg, Gelap, Kiduling Kreteg, Ulun Kulkul, Tirtha, Pengubengan and Pasar Agung Temple at Sebudi Village.
Soring Ambal-Ambal that stands for lower world is called Sapta Patala (seven planes of lower world); Luhuring Ambal-Ambal that suggests upper world constitutes the veneration of the Omnipotent God called Sapta Loka and visualized on seven stairs (mandala) of Penataran Agung Besakih.
Centre for the Soring Ambal-Ambal shrine is Merajan Selonding Temple that visualized by the existence of Gedong (chamber) to retain all pretimas (sacred effigy) that exist throughout the vicinity of Soring Ambal-Ambal. Thus, such Gedong shrine also conveys a symbol of lower world’s centrality. While, pretima and prasasti (inscription) along with other paraphernalia of entire proximity of Luhuring Ambal-Ambal are retained in Kehen shrine that located on the third stair of Penataran Agung Besakih. This Kehen shrine has the shape of three-tiered meru shrine that denotes the centre of upper world.
Two groups of temple—Soring and Luhuring Ambal-Ambal—at the complex of Besakih Temple give a sign that Hindu teaching does not only inculcate instructions to believe and have deep religious commitment to the existence and omnipotence of God, but concurrently drive the flourishing of understanding towards the existence of universe along with all other creation of God to develop this life.
God is venerated as soul, origin of lower and upper world to avoid the reality of confidence that God merely abides at the temple. On worshipping is, indeed, symbolized that God abides at temple to make concentration practice easier. But in its philosophy, God is omnipresent. By the belief that God exists at lower and upper world, human beings can comprehend that elements of nature can function due to the existence of God in this universe.
Magma constitutes the spring of fire within the earth’s crust as natural elements causes fertility. This indicates that God exists in the ground so it comes to be endless place of origin of foodstuffs. Accordingly, venerating God as deity of land is meant to implant an understanding on the needs to maintain the land in order its function is not disturbed in producing foodstuff.
God that is venerated in the manifestation as god of land is called Lord Ananata Bhoga—Ananta Bhoga (unlimited foodstuff). Land of which fecundity is undisturbed by human will provide unlimited foodstuff. There is also a temple to worship God in his manifestation as the god of water to instil an understanding towards the importance of water for human life.
Fortunately, God crates water. No life in this world without water. God’s manifestation as the gods of water is venerated as Sang Hyang Basuki—Basuki means safe. No safety without water.
Similarly, there is temple at Luhuring Ambal-Ambal called Ulang Alu and Ratu Subandar. This has the meaning to direct ones that run domestic and foreign trading business at all times should comply with correct and high moral standards, never carry out deceitful action to customer, quality and balance counterfeiting. There are also Widyadhara and Widyadhari shrines meaning God as the lord of knowledge.
So are the remaining that the existence of temple group Soring and Luhuring Ambal-Ambal as symbol to implant the soul and balanced attention on the life on the two planes mentioned above.(BTN/Ketut Wiana)