Bali Hotel Villa Blog Culture Travel Guide Indonesia - BALIwww.COM

Share Bali Indonesia experience with the rest of readers and exchange information, write to our blog instantly NOW!!!

Types of Balinese Temples

Monday, June 11th, 2007 by Sidarta Wijaya

Thousands of temples that scattered all over the island of Bali are not just built for a single purpose. The function of a temple can be determined by the characteristics of the temple that totally depend on the bond that bind the temple congregations to the temple. The bond may be a social, political, economical, or genealogical bond.

The social bond can be in the form of territorial bond, and teacher – student bond. The political bond is created base on the need of the king to unite his people and territory. The economical bond is created based on the similarity of the profession, for example farmer, trader, fisherman, etc. Genealogical bond is established based on kinship or clan.

(more…)

Pura Goa Lawah, Bat Cave Temple

Sunday, April 22nd, 2007 by Sidarta Wijaya

Pura Goa Lawah, Bat Cave Temple, lies just three km northeast of Kusamba Harbor and nine km east of Klungkung on the left side of dramatic road paralleling the sea with uninterrupted views of sea and Nusa Penida. As its name suggests Pura Gua Lawah houses a holy cave begins at the foot of rocky cliff and is said to extend all the way to the base of Mount Agung.

Pura Goa Lawah, Bat Cave Temple
flickr.com/photos/kdynamic/

Oral tradition says the cave leads to Pura Goa (cave temple) within the Besakih temple complex some 30 km away. A tale is told how a prince of Mengwi actually entered the sacred cave to prove that he was the rightful descendent of Mengwi king, and emerged at Besakih, but his feat was never duplicated – entering the cave is now forbidden.

(more…)

More on Balinese Temple

Thursday, March 29th, 2007 by Sidarta Wijaya

Every temple in Bali, whatever its function or size, is the center of activities of a specific corporate social group. It is a permanent, well-organized association with commonly owned property such as the temple itself, temple rice field or land (pelaba pura).

In addition to carrying out the regular ritual connected with the temple, the group is responsible for physical maintenance of the temple, for its decoration with renewed stone carvings, and new cloth banners and for the provision of small and daily or weekly offerings.

pura kehen temple
flickr.com/photos/lamaladelapelicula1980/

The size of a temple congregation (pemaksan, from the word “paksa” means obligatory work) may range from a few people, as in the case of a house yard temple, through several hundred up to tens of thousands, as in the case temple of Sad Kahyangan (six main temple of Bali). The priest of each temple is chosen among its members, either by hereditary succession, popular election or divine intercession via the trance of one worshipper. Since the duties of the congregation are generally considerable, there is usually, in addition to the priest, a secular chairman (klian pemaksan) in charge of the coordination of work and of the group treasury.

(more…)

Tukang Terang (Rain Man)

Monday, December 25th, 2006 by ablteam

When rainy season finally comes, there should be rain everyday in Bali. The service of a rain man (tukang terang) is in high demand, since many traditional or secular events are held outdoor and a sudden down pour of rain will be a great problem.

The traditional rain man of Bali is someone who has strong magical powers that enable him to move the rain from one place to another. The magical power is obtained by observing a strict self-purification and adherence to spiritual processes. Talent and a family line of rain man are also important requirements for obtaining this magical power.
The ability of the rain man is not just moving the rain from one place to another but also in making the rain.

tukang terang1

(more…)

Ulun Danu Temple Batur

Monday, April 17th, 2006 by ablteam

Batur Temple or commonly called Ulun Danu Temple is situated at 900 meters above level of Kalanganyar Batur village Kintamani District on the eastern side of the main road leading to Denpasar or Singaraja via Bangli.

The temple faced west ward where Mount Batur and remains of its solidified black lavas serve as backdrop and Lake Batur stretches far down the slope, enhanced the beauty of nature around the temple.

ulundanutemple1

(more…)

Uluwatu Temple

Monday, February 20th, 2006 by ablteam

The ancient Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple, dedicated to the sprits of the sea, is perched on steep cliffs which have formed where the land ends at the South East coast of the Island. Built in the eleventh century, the temple is one of the oldest and most important temples in Bali. Uluwatu Temple is a classic expression of ancient Bali in a spectacular setting, high above the crashing waves. This is one of the oldest and most important temples in Bali, one of the six original ‘Sad Kahyangan’ (territorial) temples on the island.