As a matter of fact, Bangli is the home of many villages which still hold ancient Balinese culture (Bali Aga). Panglipuran village is one of them concealing very ancient but exotic architectures. Bonyoh and Sekardadi are the other two. And Bayung Gede is the mother of the Balinese ancient villages.

Fresh air with silent green surrounding will welcome people at Bayung Gede. No one would expect that this village hides privileged customary leadership structure, privileged rules for new married couples, and privileged way in burial. For those unique cultures, Bayung Gede becomes one of 20 villages in Indonesia which attract Indonesian government to develop the tourism at this village in which the origin of the name is still unclear.

There are two versions. First report is related to a long complex myth involving the Lord Siva’s asceticism. This version is hard to be accepted by many people as facts of history. Another logical version was stated by Wayan Suwela. He argued that the name of Bayung Gede is actually Bayu Gede or “Super Power”. In the past, the ancestors needed big big power to clear a dense forest land to be a place for many people to live.

And at that place in which the origin is the forest land, people are still faithful to the ancient customary leadership system called Paduluan Sasih Nem Belas. This structure consists of 4 important positions and 16 subordinates. These 4 important persons who have titles Jero Kubayan Mucuk, Jero Kubayan Nyoman, Jero Bahu Mucuk, Jero Bahu Nyoman are free from customary fine and responsible to prepare the ceremonial stuffs. Each person of Bayung Gede community will definitely be in that structure one day as long as the person matching up to the criteria.

Paduluan Sasih Nem Belas only has responsibility in the area involving ceremonies while Kelihan Desa runs the system of government. However, Bayung Village has no customary written law or awig-awig. They use and strictly follow only the convention.
View Bayunggede Village in a larger map