Taman
Ayun Temple
To Be Nominated as World Heritage
The
World Heritage Center, constituting
one of the institutions under the United
Nations, nominated the Taman Ayun Temple
as one of the nominees for the World
Heritage. It was based on the consideration
that the temple, located in Mengwi –
Badung, was assessed as a masterpiece
of work and has universal values..
Pertaining to such subject, the Regent
of Badung, A.A. Gede Agung SH, who is
also a direct descendant of the founder
of the Taman Ayun Temple, welcomed the
Program Specialist team of the World
Heritage Center at the Wantilan Hall
of the Taman Ayun Temple, Thursday (16/11).
They were Mr. Feng Ling (World Heritage
Center, Jakarta), Mr. Erwin (Directorate
General of Ancient History, Department
of Tourism), Hartini Sumono (Faculty
of Cultural Studies, Gadjah Mada University)
Dr. Daud Aris Tanudidjo as well as officials
from the Department of Culture of Bali
Province.
According to Hartini Sumono, the visit
of the team was intended to closely
observe the sites or nominated area,
evaluate the proposal sent to the UNESCO
and socialize the management of world
culture if the site has been registered
as World Heritage.
In the meantime, Regent A.A. Gede Agung
expressed his gratitude and appreciation
for the visit of the World Heritage
Center having a closer look in person
on the existence of Taman Ayun Temple.
“Taman Ayun Temple was established
in the seventeenth century by the first
king of the Mengwi Kingdom, namely our
ancestor,” he uttered.
This temple was set up with the assistance
of a Chinese architect. It has three
functions, like the socio-religious
function: namely as representative temple,
so the people of Mengwi who would like
to worship to the far away Besakih,
Batukaru and Batur Temples, could now
worship at the Taman Ayun temple.
The second function is a unifier. In
other words, the Balinese inhabitants,
comprising several descendant lines,
can pay homage at the Taman Ayun. Meanwhile,
the third function is a socio-economical
one, considering that inside and outside,
the temple is surrounded by a huge pond
that does not only function as an aesthetical
element and controlling the ecosystem,
but also functions as irrigation regulator.
“Water in the pond irrigates hundreds
of hectares of rice field located in
the south of Mengwi. Therefore, the
people coming are farmers that spiritually
and economically depend on this temple,”
said Gede Agung.
According to Mr. Feng Jing, the inclusion
of this temple into World Heritage would
not change any condition that has been
undertaken by devotees, even those traditions
would remain to be preserved as cultural
identity obtaining international endorsement
and recognized worldwide. “All
documents related to the proposal of
Taman Ayun Temple as World Heritage
are in preparation to be further proposed
to the World Heritage Center in Paris.
Then, a special board will evaluate
it,” he observed.
(BTN/*)
