Besakih Mother Temple Tour

  26 January 2007, 22:32:51 (90 clicks)

A morning trip to the eastern part of Bali visiting Besakih - know as mother temple of Bali located on the slope of Mt Agung, the highest mount in Bali.

According to description of Markandeya Purana or is also called Raja Purana, beginning of establishment of the temple is full of magical events. It is said a Priest from East Java called Resi Markandeya first put the "Panca Datu" base for the establishment of a temple. The Panca Datu is 5 elements to be buried under the basement to protect the construction from evil spirits. Besakih temple now consists of 18 temple complexes with total shrines around 202 which is not including temples of main clans of Bali for their ancestral temple (Pedarman temple). These temple complexes are real valuable value heritage for Balinese not just the value of religious activity but have built up the solidity and close affinity among Balinese Hindus which in the past was broken into more than 9 small kingdoms. From the name of Gods worshipped in Besakih there is clear mixed concept between Hindu God, local believe and ancestors' worship. While the main one Pura Penataran Agung complex is considered the center of Besakih temple with 53 shrines which has three large seated shrines for Brahma, Wisnu and Shiwa - the holy trinity. Kerta Gosa - located in the hearth of Klungkung town consists of four complexes such as Kertagosa, Taman Gili, Museum and Puputan Klungkung's monument.  The first two sites were built around 17th century when Dewa Agung Jambe governed the Kingdom of Klungkung meanwhile the last two sites were built around nineties. During the era of the Klungkung's Kingdom, Kertagosa was a meeting place for the regional kings throughout Bali in accordance with the needs and the situation of the Kingdom of Bali. Besides it was also used to receive priests, foreigners, as well as functioned as court of justice that solved problems concerning customs also acted against the usual religious practices. Taman Gili is a garden in the middle of a pond that is also known as Bali Kambang (the floating house) where the ceiling is decorated with "Wayang" picture describing about heroscope, Pan Brayut 's children story and Sutasoma story. Museum is located at the western side displays collections of specific prehistoric, arts, way of life of people of Klungkung regency.  Monument Puputan Klungkung is built to commemorate the war between Klungkung Kingdom with the Dutch colonialist which is famous as Puputan (last resistance). Goa Lawah - located about 10 kms east of Klungkung town on the roadside that runs along the south east of Bali. It is not known when actually this temple is built but as a sacred place it is believed as old as Karangasem Kingdom which is started around 1650 AD.  It is famously known as Bat Cave temple where hundreds of hanging bats is never leave the cave from where assumed the name is from.