Pura-pura

1. 1 ) TanahLotTemple
A rock formation off the Indonesian island of Bali. It is a home to pilgrimage temple Pura
Tanah Lot.
Historical aspect : Tanah Lot is claimed to be the work of the 16th-century Dang Hyang
Nirartha. During his travels along the south coast he saw the rock-island's beautiful setting
and rested there. Some fishermen saw him, and bought him gifts. Nirartha then spent the
night on the little island. Later he spoke to the fishermen and told them to build a shrine on
the rock, for he felt it to be a holy place to worship the Balinese sea gods. It was built and has
been a part of Balinese mythology for centuries and it was significantly influenced by
Hinduism.
Architectural aspect :
 Designs blend in with the natural elements of the landscape
 Restorationist do not give any consideration on the compatibility between the temple
architecture and the surrounding environment, their only purpose is to ensure that
the Pura(temple) is following the latest trend of using black lava stone.
Social aspect :
 The temple is forbidden (as many Hindu ones are) to non Hindus
 Religiously it represents a syncretism between traditional Balinese animism and later
Hinduism.
 Priests at the fountain bless visitors by sprinkling holy water over their heads.
 The situation at Tanah Lot Temple fulfilled by prayers so that they must queue
up first into jeroan (=middle place of the temple) Tanah Lot Temple. Before the
prayers do pray at Tanah Lot Temple, prayers most pray at Beji Kaler. Beji Kaler is
source of holy water which is usually used if there is ceremony at Tanah Lot Temple.
The purpose is to clean their body and their soul sanctified before they praying at
Tanah Lot Temple.

2. ( Source : http://www.tanahlot.net/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=arti
cle&id=1329:temple-ceremony-in-tanah-lot-temple&catid=1:latest&Itemid=46
http://the-earth-story.com/post/109564558271/pura-tanah-lot-the-best-
architecture-intends-its
www.bali-indonesia.com/magazine/tanah-lot.htm )
2 ) UluwatuTemple
What makes Uluwatu Temple spectacular is its cliff-top setting at the edge of a plateau 250
feet above the waves of the Indian Ocean. 'Ulu' means the ‘top’ or the ‘tip’ and 'watu' means
a ‘stone’ or a ‘rock’ in Balinese.
Historical aspect : Uluwatu Temple was instigated by Mpu Kunturan, a Majapahit monk who
also participated in establishing several other important temples in Bali such as Pura Sakenan
in Denpasar, about 1,000 years ago. A holy priest from eastern Java, Dhang Hyang Dwijendra,
then chose Uluwatu Temple to be his spiritual journey's final worshiping place. Balinese
Hindu devotees believe that he reached the highest spiritual point of oneness with deities by
a strike of lightning and completely disappeared. Legend, however, says that Dhang Hyang
Dwijendra (also frequently referred to by name as Danghyang Nirartha) was the architect of
Uluwatu Temple and several other temples in Bali, Lombok, as well as Sumbawa. Until 1983,
Pura Uluwatu was hardly accessible and a lightning strike in 1999 set some parts of the
temple on fire. The temple has had some restorations since it was first built.
Architectural aspect :
 The two entrances to the temple area are split gates with leaves and flowers carvings.
 In front of each of them are a couple of sculptures shaped like a human body with an
elephant head.
 A heritage of the 10th century is the one-piece winged stone gate to the inside
courtyard of Pura Uluwatu.
 There are three statues in it, one of them is of Brahma.

3.  There are two stone troughs in the temple area. If both of them are joined, they
create a sarchopagus (Megalithic coffin).
Social Aspect :
 There hasn't been any significant erosion on the shoreline underneath the temple's
towering cliff. Believers regard it as a manifestation of the divine power that protects
Pura Uluwatu.
 Unlike some other tourist destinations in Bali, Uluwatu Temple area has limited
amounts of hassling vendors.
 Visitors must wear a sarong and a sash, as well as appropriate clothes common for
temple visits.
 A Kecak dance is performed everyday at the adjacent cliff-top stage
( Source : http://www.bali-indonesia.com/attractions/uluwatu-temple.htm)
3) Tirta Empul Temple
The temple compound consists of a petirtaan or bathing structure, famous for its holy spring
water, where Balinese Hindus go to for ritual purification. The temple pond has a spring
which gives out fresh water regularly, which Balinese Hindus consider to be holy
or amritha.[1] Tirta Empul means Holy Spring in Balinese.
Historical aspect : Tirta Empul Temple was founded around a large water spring in 962 A.D.
during the Warmadewa dynasty (10th-14th centuries). The name of the temple comes from
the ground water source named "Tirta Empul". The spring is the source of the Pakerisan river.
Architectural aspect :

4.  The temple is divided into three sections: Jaba Pura (front yard), Jaba Tengah (central
yard) and Jeroan (inner yard). Jaba Tengah contains 2 pools with 30 showers which
are named accordingly: Pengelukatan, Pebersihan and Sudamala dan Pancuran Cetik
(poison).
 The entrance is marked by two wing-shaped pillars, a traditional split gate. Once
inside there are several shrines and a large room where you can rest a moment in the
shade.
Social aspect :
 People come here to immerse themselves in this holy water. Sometimes they take
bottles of water home. Tourists can free immerse themselves in one the the three
clean, public pools.
 The Balinese people go once every year to Tirta Empul here to bathe.
 According to legend the source is created by the god Indra. When his forces were
poisoned by Mayadanawa he drilled a hole in the ground to make, which then would
arouse his forces. This hole with water is the fountain of "immortality" with healing
powers.
 The people cleanse themselves in the holy waters of Tirta Empul temple to their
health and happiness.
 According to tradition, that pool is the Balinese fountain of eternal youth.
 Anyone who wants to enter the pool must wear a sarong.
 Water is very important in Bali and is used in almost all ceremonies and rituals. The
waters of Tirta Empul is considered very sacred because of the magical, healing
powers, which would the water contains. The geyser was created by the god Indra. All
the water that is used in cremations in Bali comes from here.
(Source : www.balitourism.nl/tirtaempuleng.htm
http://www.baliaround.com/tirta-empul-tampaksiring-bali-holy-spring-water-temple/ )

5. 4) Bekasih Temple
It is the most important, the largest and holiest temple of Hindu religion in Bali,and one of a
series of Balinese temples.
Historical aspect : Pura Batu Madeg, containing a central stone, indicates that the area of
Pura Besakih was already regarded a holy place since ancient times. In the 8th century, a
Hindustani monk had revelations to build homes for people during his isolation. Throughout
the process, many of his followers died due to illness and accidents. On its completion it was
called ‘Basuki’, referring to the dragon deity ‘Naga Besukian’, believed to inhabit Mount
Agung. The name eventually evolved into ‘Besakih’.
Other shrines were gradually built and Pura Besakih was made the main temple during the
conquering of Bali by the Majapahit Empire in 1343. Since then, Pura Besakih has had several
restorations as earthquakes in 1917 and Mount Agung’s series of eruptions in 1963 damaged
the complex. The lava flow passed by Pura Besakih and it is believed to be a miraculous signal
from the deities that they wanted to demonstrate their power without completely destroying
the holy complex their devotees had built for them.
Architectural Aspect :
 made up of 23 temples that sit on parallel ridges.
 It has stepped terraces and flights of stairs which ascend to a number of courtyards
and brick gateways that in turn lead up to the main spire or Meru structure, which is
called Pura Penataran Agung. All this is aligned along a single axis and designed to

6. lead the spiritual person upward and closer to the mountain which is considered
sacred.[3]
 The main sanctuary of the complex is the Pura Penataran Agung. The symbolic center
of the main sanctuary is the lotus throne or padmasana, which is therefore the ritual
focus of the entire complex. It dates to around the seventeenth century.[4]
 The lava flows missed the temple complex by mere meters. The saving of the temple
is regarded by the Balinese people as miraculous, and a signal from the gods that they
wished to demonstrate their power but not destroy the monument the Balinese
faithful had erected.
Social Aspect :
 Each year there are at least seventy festivals held at the complex, since almost every
shrine celebrates a yearly anniversary. This cycle is based on the 210-day
Balinese Pawukon calendar year.
 Wear a proper top, a sarong, and a sash.
 Woman on their period are forbidden to entry
(Source : http://www.bali-indonesia.com/attractions/besakih-temple.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pura_Besakih
http://www.bali-indonesia.com/attractions/besakih-temple.htm )
5) Pura Luhur Batukaru
Pura Luhur Batukaru is a Hindu temple in Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia. Located on the southern
slope of Mount Batukaru, Bali's second-highest volcano, the temple is one of nine kayangan
jagat (directional temples) meant to protect Bali from evil spirits.

7. Historical aspect : Originally built during the 11th century, Pura Luhur Batukaru was dedicated
to the ancestors of the rajas of Tabanan. It was destroyed in 1604, but rebuilt in 1959. The
temple's most important shrine is a 7-tiered meru dedicated to Mahadewa, the God of
Mount Batukaru.
Architectural aspect :
 The three elements temple area of Watukaru or Batukaru is equal to other temples in
Bali generally which is consisted of outside area (Nista Mandala), Middle area (Madya
mandala) and Center area (Utama Mandala).
 This is especially in outside area where we can meet the existence of Wantilan
building (Meeting Hall) which can be used for multifunction and it is located on the
right of the entrance gate.
 The refurbishment at the parking area has made easy for the Hindu society or all
tourists who pay a visit to this temple. It is also other public facilities like toilet which
is located at outside temple area or the left side of entrance gate is in good condition
and cleans enough.
Social aspect :
 Kubayan is commissioned holy occupation lead the temple ceremony and his status
higher than all priests in Pretending pertinent Ancient.
 In the execution of praying during the temple festival or the certain day ceremony, it
has to be preceded by doing pray in Beji Temple which is located in eastside of Watu
Karu Temple or inside of Madya Mandala (middle area) and Nista Mandala (outside
area).
 After doing pray in Beji Temple, then the praying is continued in the main temple
building located in the center of temple area. This is also not need again clean the
hand and gargle because, it has been conducted the hallowing of body by conducting
pray in Beji Temple.
( Source : http://www.balistarisland.com/Bali-Interesting-Place/Batukaru-Temple.htm
http://www.baliblog.com/places-to-go/popular-and-less-trafficked-temple-sites-pura-luhur-
batukaru.html )