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Bali,
The Island of the Gods
Except for being renowned as the Island
of the Gods, Bali is also frequently considered
the last paradise by foreign travellers,
probably including you who are now spending
pleasurable holiday in Bali. This epithet
is indeed logic and not excessive as wherever
visitors go during the island excursion
will easily encounter a pura or sanctum
for the Balinese.
Every nook and cranny of Bali, ranging from
coastal territory to mountaintop occur grandiose
temples and at all times hold earnest ritual
procession, either in large or small scale.
During the Galungan and Kuningan feast day,
at the beginning of May 2006 for instance,
atmosphere of temples and other holy places
are extremely exceptional. Other than embellishing
its edifices with colourful fabric paraphernalia,
they are also festooned with ceniga (ornament
made of young coconut leaf) portraying distinctive
philosophical meaning. At temple’s
middle courtyard are set up a couple of
parasols, umbul-umbul, pennants and spears.
In the meantime, at the outermost is erected
a pair of penjor (decorated bamboo pole)
representing the tribute of land crops and
prosperity graced by Sang Hyang Widhi, the
Almighty God.
Every single temple has its own piodalan
or temple festival in compliance with wariga
almanac system in Bali. On the temple festival,
the Balinese from all villages throng to
perform worship to such temples and invoke
safety. Procession of devotees on departing
to temple and ritual series comes to be
an immensely appealing spectacle. If you
make a holiday in Bali, see the Balinese
worshipping earnestly and hold the ritual
from early morning to late night assuredly
give new and unique experience to you. Exuberant
ambience of the ritual and socio-religious
activity of the Balinese comparably describes
the atmosphere of the kingdom of heaven
so then Bali is identical to the island
of the gods.
Pura is originated in Sanskrit word, namely
the root ‘pur’ meaning castle.
Similarly, pura stands for kahyangan meaning
the abode of the gods. Hyang corresponds
to pinnacle. While, that radiating rays
is equivalent to deva. Balinese people believe
that higher place or shining peak is the
abode of deities and God. It is said that
many foreign visitors having outstanding
spiritual power can see many places in Bali
spreading out glorious yellow rays and devout
vibration. These spiritual tourists probably
have introduced Bali as the Island of the
Gods or the Last Paradise. You may, unquestionably,
believe it or not. However, it would be
very advisable if you try to experience
it by yourself during your holiday in Bali
such a hallowed vibration around the temple
you visit.
Process of making the temple according to
guidance of palm-leaf manuscript Sang Hyang
Kamahayanikan where a temple should be encircled
by border, fence or wall (castle) as a specific
marker and is also meant to maintain the
purity of the location later. According
to belief of the Balinese, establishing
a temple along with its requirements and
ritual order constitute one of the implementations
of Dewa Yadnya (holy sacrifice to God) concept.
Palm-leaf manuscript Tatwaning Kusuma Dewa
expounds how one constructs a sanctum along
with its ritual procession to get superior
bliss in his or her lifetime. Temples spreading
throughout Bali are vigorous alcazar to
secure the safety of the island and Balinese
people against various hazards.
Temple in Bali is divided into two kinds,
namely kahyangan and clan temple. Kahyangan
temple is public temple used as worshipping
place of the general public. While the clan
or kemimitan temple is used for venerating
ancestral soul being considered to have
become a deva. Chiefly pertaining to kahyangan
temple in accordance with its hierarchy
is then divided again into two divisions,
namely kahyangan jagat and kahyangan desa.
The kahyangan jagat is temple of which supporting
devotees originited in every nook and cranny
of Bali, while kahyangan desa has devotees
merely from the local villagers.
Kahyangan jagat temple consists of the Sad
Kahyangan and Dang Kahyangan Temple. The
Sad Kahyangan is nucleus temple becoming
the universal veneration temple of the Hindus,
namely the Besakih, Lempuyang and Andakasa
in Karangasem, the Batur in Bangli, the
Batukaru in Tabanan, the Goa Lawah in Klungkung
and the Pucak Mangu in Badung. Meanwhile,
the Dang Kahyangan is the temple having
relationship to the pilgrimage of the saints
like Dang Hyang Dwijendra in Bali such as
the Purancak and Rambutsiwi in Jemberana,
Petitenget and Uluwatu in Badung, the Batuklotok,
Ponjok Batu and Pulaki in Buleleng Regency.
In addition, there are temples becoming
the worshipping place of the Hindus but
do not belong to the Sad Kahyangan or Dang
Kahyangan, namely the Tirta Empul at Tampaksiring,
Penataran Sasih at Pejeng and Candi dasa.
Referring to the seminar on the Coherence
of the Interpretation towards the Aspects
of Hinduism held by the Hindu Dharma Council
of Indonesia, the existence of the Kahyangan
Jagat in Bali is based on the Rwabhineda,
Catur Lokapala and Sad Winayaka conception.
Temples referring to the Rwabhineda conception
are the Besakih as purusha (male element)
and the Batur as pradhana (female element).
Those that based on Catur Lokapala conception
are the Lempuyang, Andakasa, Batukaru and
Pucak Mangu Temple, while that based on
Sad Winayaka namely the Besakih and Lempuyang
in Karangasem, the Goa Lawah in Klungkung,
the Uluwatu in Badung, the Batukaru in Tabanan
and the Puser Tasik (Pusering Jagat) in
Gianyar.
Since the rapid growth of tourism in Bali,
many temples have become attractive tourist
objects. Other than location is far from
hustle and bustle of business activities
they retain magnificent natural view. Just
take examples like Tanah Lot Temple in Tabanan,
the Uluwatu in southern Badung, the Besakih
in Karangasem, the Tirta Empul at Tampaksiring
in Gianyar have become renowned temples
around the world.
Besakih Temple, the mother temple of Bali,
perched on the foot of Mount Agung, including
one of the wonders of the world. Tanah Lot
and Uluwatu Temple are the magnet for tourists
that like to see the pounding waves and
offshore view while gazing at the sunset
leaving for its beautiful berth. Tirta Empul
Temple at Tampaksiring is a convenient place
for self-purification while taking a bath
at the shower having endless water flows.
And, of course, there are many more nice
temples to visit, including a couple of
temples belonging to royal families in Bali
that up to the present times remain to be
well maintained. For instance, Taman Ayun
Temple of the Mengwi Royal Palace is a tempting
place and frequently selected to hold some
tourism event like cultural dinner function.
To enter the temple area, one should pay
attention to some local orders, including
you, foreign visitors. For example, every
visitor should wear Balinese costumes. Women
who are in their period, those in condolence
(who having death within the family) and
the disable or patient suffering from contagious
diseases are not allowed to enter the temple.
In the meantime, within the innermost courtyard
of the temple, household mothers are forbidden
to breastfeed their baby and all visitors
should practice the tri kaya parisudha (three
attitudes being sanctified composed of thoughts,
words and deeds). For further details, your
tour guide will explain more in accordance
with local tradition as each village in
Bali has a bit different tradition. Why
wait, get the experience of Bali now!
Ketut Sumadi
Contributor of Bali Travel News
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