Pura Sada/ Pura Purusada (Sada Temple/ Purusada Temple)

History

Near the market in the village of Kapal you will find the beautifully decorated temple of Pura Sada. Originally a sanctuary of the Mengwi royalty, it dates to the Majapahit era. It has a 16 meter high tower, but, it is the 64 stone shrines resembling ancestral shrines that are the feature of this temple. They are believed to commemorate fallen warriors.

The temple shrines are located in the main courtyard. Among the shrines there is 20-meter-high 11-roofed red-brick shrine, just under which there is room for a statue. Legend has it that a long time ago in Gowan, Mainland China, there was a kingdom called Pura Sada. One of its most famous kings was Sri Dalem Sukaranti, who had two sons, Sanghyang Sri Jayeng Rat and Sanghyang Aji Nur Wasir.

One day the king collected the ashes of Dewi Manik Galih, a goodness of life, and then set sail to scatter the ashes into the ocean. Two ships were prepared, donated by Sanghyang Durwasa, the king of Konca. The ashes were put in a container called a “likya”. The king went on the journey wit 8,000 of his people. Before they set off, he told them to abstain from sexual activities during the journey to keep danger away.

Meanwhile, Bhatara Guru (a manifestation of God), had ordered the gods and goddesses to create a new island to the east of the island of Java. The “Likya” of Dewi Manik Galih’s ashes was going to be placed on this new island, which was later connected to Java. The gods and the goddesses were now waiting for the arrival of the two ships. However, aboard the ships, some of the people broke their king’s rules and the ships sank. As they were sinking, a voice was heard in the sky demanding that the ashes be scattered on the island and Dewi Manik Galih be worshipped as the goddess of the earth and referred to henceforth as Bhatara Sri Murthi. The part of the sea where the ships sank solidified and turned into a new island, which was initially called Gelgel Jagat Kapal (“Jagat” literally meaning “World”). This site was the first part of the island to emerge from the sea, and was later called Jagat Kapal (the village of Kapal). The first ruler, King Sukaranti, obtained a made-in China statue. After being sanctified, the statue was placed in a room, where King Sukaranti built a huge tall shrine for the sacred symbol of Sang Hyang Dewi Manik Galih.

The shrine, located in the innermost courtyard, was later called “Pura Sada” because the king who built it came from the Pura Sada kingdom.

Location

Kapal is just 15kms northwest of Denpasar on the main Singaraja Road to Mengwi. Buses and bemos serve all day on the Denpasar-Mengwi run. Bali itself is served by the international Ngurah Rai Airport, which receives flights from all over Asia, including from Jakarta. The airport is about an hour or so from Kapal by road. Buses from the Terminal Ubung stop at this village on the way to Mengwi. Alternatively, bemos are easily obtained at the various stops

Bali Tourism Info Contact

Ngurah Rai Interantional Airport (0361)751011
Denpasar Government Tourism Office
Jl. Surapati 7,
Denpasar
(0361)223602
Mon-Thurs 7am-2pm, Fri 7-11am, Sat 7am-12.30pm

Bali Government Tourism Office
Jl. S. Parman Renon (0361)222387
Mon-Thurs 7am-2pm, Fri 7-11am, Sat 7am-12.30pm

Department of Tourism, Post & Telecommunications
Jl. Raya Puputan,Niti Mandala Denpasar (0361)222649

Tourist Information Office
Jl. Benesari 7 Kuta (0361)753540

Tourist Information Office
Jl. Gajah Mada 117, Denpasar

Singaraja
(0362) 23332

Lovina: Perama Anturan
(0362) 41161

Ubud Tourist Information Service
Jl. Raya Ubud, Ubud
(0361) 96285
8am-8.30pm

Bali Tourism Info - Team

Pura Taman Ayun (Taman Ayun Temple)

History
Pursuant to Papyrus Chronicle of the Mengwi (Lontar Babad Mengwi), the temple which is now referred by Taman Ayun Temple that it had been newly sanctified in the year 1634 M and it is named with Taman Ahyun Temple. The word of Ahyun is coming from from the root word Hyun meaning a temple is founded in the park (pool with the beautiful garden) which can fulfill the desire. The word Ahyun is then changed into Ayun word. Taman Ayun Temple is one of Hindu Temples in Bali become tourist destination which has been visited by many tourists from local and foreign. This temple is usually visited by tourist once having a set tour to Tanah Lot Temple due to this temple is the same route of the Tanah Lot Temple.

Temple Position and Function

The function of Taman Ayun Temple is a place to pray the god in their manifestation. It is according to the content of Babad Mengwi and the existence of temple building structure, especially the temple that is located in third area (Jeroan). According to Astadewata, the special God is worshiped in Taman Ayun Temple is the God in manifestation as a Wisnu God which his palace located in top of Mangu mount. In papyrus of Usana Bali mentioning that one of Dewa Catur Lokapalas carry through its worship is Meru Pucak Pangelengan that is a temple building with 9 multistoried roofs. Pitara God is a holy soul deity of ancestor who is also referred as the other names of Hyang Pitara or Dewa Hyang. Pitara God is obliged to be worshiped by clan heir (Prati Sentana) in the form of temple ceremony which the same meaning as by the ceremony to the god. The worshiping existence to Pitara God in Taman Ayun Temple can be searched and proved by pursuant to the existence of temple building which lay in by consecution in east which is called Paibon that is representing Special Temple. Taman Ayun Temple in capacities or its status as special altar for the King family of Mengwi Palace or as a Merajan Agung from Mengwi King Families specially for the founder of Mengwi Empire that is I Gusti Agung Putu.

Location And Architecture

The temple is boardered by broad canals and it can only be entered via a bridge leading to a richly ornamented 'candid bentar', the gate which gives access to the outer courtyard (jaba) of the temple.

From this candi bentar a straight, paved footpath leads through the well maintained park past a square pond with a fountain exactly in its center. This fountain has nine water jets, four of which are positioned according the cardinal points, another four according the sub-cardinal points and the ninth in the center, symbolizing the Dewa Nawa Sanga, the nine main gods of Balinese Hinduism.

The footpath leads on to a second candi bentar which gives access to the 'jaba tengah', the more elevated, second courtyard of the temple.

Inside the jaba tengah one finds the walled 'jaba jero', the third and most holy courtyard of the temple in which the most important shrines are located, among others a number of five, seven, nine and eleven tierd meru's. The jaba jero is only accessible during important religious ceremonies, such as the 'odalan' - the day on which the inauguration of the temple is commemorated.

The odalan of the Pura Taman Ayun takes place every 210 days on a day called Anggara Kasih, the Tuesday of the week Medangsia of the Balinese Pawukon calendar. The ceremonies of this odalan comprise a period of several days.

Bali Tourism Info - Team

Ngaben (Bali Cremation Ceremony)

Hindu funerals in Bali are intensely suggestive ceremonies of great cultural and religious signifi- cance. Requiring a complex apparatus and characterized by a large following, funerals are centered on cre- mation of the body, known as ngaben or pelebon. This practice is considered essentig if the 5 ele- ments making up the microcosm of the human body are to be returned to their original residence, the universe's macrocosm. The five elements, Panca Maha Bhuta, are the earth (pertivvi), water (apah), fire (teja), air (bayu), and ether (akasa). Since the pri- mordial dimension can only be attained through water and fire, the ashes are dispersed in the waters of the sea or if the distance is too great, in a river. The funeral ceremony is generally led by a priest and punctuated by a lavish offering of gifts. For the occasion, a large bullock-shaped wooden structure is built and then entirely covered with white drapes if the deceased belongs to a priestly caste; in black.

There are ceremonies for every stage of Balinese life but often the last ceremony-cremation-is the biggest. A Balinese cremation can be an amazing, spectacular, colorful, noisy and exciting event. In fact it often takes so long to organize a cremation that years have passed since the death. During that time the body is temporarily buried. Of course an auspicious day must be chosen for the cremation and since a big cremation can be very expensive business many less wealthy people may take the opportunity of joining in at a larger cremation and sending their own dead on their way at the same time. Brahmans, however, must be cremated immediately. Apart from being yet another occasion for Balinese noise and confusion it's a fine opportunity to observe the incredible energy the Balinese put into creating real works of art which are totally ephemeral. A lot more than a body gets burnt at the cremation. The body is carried from the burial ground (or from the deceased's home if it's and 'immediate' cremation) to the cremation ground in a high, multi-tiered tower made of bamboo, paper, string, tinsel, silk, cloth, mirrors, flowers and anything else bright and colorful you can think of. The tower is carried on the shoulders of a group of men, the size of the group depending on the importance of the deceased and hence the size of the tower. The funeral of a former rajah of high priest may require hundreds of men to tote the tower.

A long the way to the cremation ground certain precautions must be taken to ensure that the deceased's spirit does not find its way back home. Loose spirits around the house can be a real nuisance. To ensure this doesn't happen requires getting the spirits confused as to their whereabouts, which you do by shaking the tower, running it around in circles, spinning it around, throwing water at it, generally making the trip to the cremation ground anything but a stately funeral crawl.

Bali Tourism Info - Team

Pura Uluwatu (Uluwatu Temple) Preview - Bali

Uluwatu Temple (Pura Uluwatu) is one of Bali's six directional temples and Uluwatu's only site of significance. Though a small temple was claimed to have existed, the structure was significantly expanded by a Javanese sage, Empu Kuturan in the 11th Century. Another sage from East Java, Dang Hyang Nirartha is credited for constructing the padmasana shrines and is claimed to have attained Moksha here. More remarkable than the temple itself is its location, perched on a steep cliff 70 meters above the roaring ocean waves. There are more steep headlands on either side, and sunsets over Uluwatu are a sight to behold.

Pura Uluwatu is located on the cliff top close to the famous surf break on the SW of the Bukit peninsula. The temple is regarded, by Brahman's island wide, as his holy 'tomb'. Legend also tells us that Dwijendra was the architect of the beautiful temple, as well as many other major temples on Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa. In the 17th century Niratha also from Java came to Bali and built temples, adding to Uluwatu.

The real attraction is the location for good angle, especially at sunset, walk around the cliff top to the left or south of the temple, watch out for the local monkeys, considered sacred leap along the grey temple walls and between the trees. The late afternoon here are balmy and breezy. the sunset against a backdrop of silver waves, the dark silhouette of the temple in front of the scene. This time to take the camera and capture the unforgetable uluwatu sunset.

Bali Tourism Info - Team