Besakih Temple

A. Brief Information

The island of Bali is famous for a number of temples, about11.000 temples; thus people call it as the “Island of Thousands Temples.”

One of the biggest temples and the mother temple called Besakih is located on the foothill of Mount Agung, the highest mount in Bali. The mount is a sacred place for people settling around it.

One story discloses about the origin of Besakih Temple. It said that the temple remained untouched when Mount Agung erupted on March 17th 1963 (other records mention the mount erupted on March 18th 1963), meanwhile the villages around the mount were all died. Such an outstanding fact seems to be out of sense as the temple is just one kilometre away from the mountain, but it really happened.

The word “besakih” is derived from ancient Javanese words “wasuki” or “basuki” that means salvation. Its existence, likewise, is often associated to a figure Basuki Dragon that is believed to be alive amongst the people settling around the mount at pre-Hinduism era. Because of its holiness, you must wear the Balinese sarong to enter the temple.

B. Distinctive Feature

Besakih Temple is a worship place consisting of 22 temples. Some ancient monuments of megalithic age such as Menhir, Tahta Batu and pyramidal terrace are the bases for archaeologists to assume that the temple finished being built in 1000 years.

The temple was built based on the concept Tri Hita Karana, a Hindu concept on the balance between human, nature, and God. The temple‘s structure itself was set as such, precisely faces to mandala (the west, south, east, and north), to represent the nature balance. There is a belief amongst the Balinese people that Catur Lokapala is the guardian of the temple. The biggest temple called Penataran Agung Besakih lies in the center point of mandala, and is an offering to Siwa.

Gelap Temple, which is east of Penataran Agung Besakih Temple, is a tribute to Iswara; while Kiduling Kereteg Temple, south of Penataran Agung Besakih Temple, is a tribute to Brahma. Ulun Kulkul Temple, which is a tribute to Mahadewa, stands west of Penataran Agung Besakih Temple; and Batumadeg Temple, north of Penataran Agung Besakih Temple, is a dedication to Wisnu.

Besakih Temple offers you the sensation of religious tourism. Religious ceremony is often held in the complex. One of them is Ekadasa Rudra ceremony that is held every 100 years. The last Ekadasa Rudra was held in 1979.

Likewise, you can watch the typical architecture of Balinese cultural civilization and numerous historical properties there. For you who love climbing, you can take an escapade tour to Mount Agung.

From : wisatamelayu