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Village of Yeh Pulu

The carving is between rice field and ravine of Pekerisan river. The site was rediscovered in 1925 by the archaeologists covered by moth and shrubs yet local people still knew them and put some offering at the front of the carvings. In 1949 a simple protection was laid out to avoid water flowing on the surface of the relief. It looks like panel with the size of 25 x 2 meters full with carvings.   

The wall carvings tell the story of Kresna (Krishna) as a youth.

The relief carving in Yeh Pulu depicts the daily life of island people its fully chiselled on rock wall for about 25 meters and some parts depicts Krishna’s manifestations. Dating 14^th Century.

At the end of the wall carvings is the image of Lord Ganesha with flower offering in the front of it.

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Other Hindu temples in Bali, Indonesia

Gunung Kawi  

After Goa Gajah, this Vishnu Temple is said to be the second oldest temple in Bali built around 11^th century.

Lord Vishnu's footsteps in Bali.

(Some images and text contributed to this site by Vikneswaran Shunmugam, Indonesia).

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Much of the place still intact except the entrance part which in ruins due to earth quake. The rock cut and chiselled shrines are of rock mountain. There are so many alters but all the statues are gone, either kept in secret by villagers and some in Bali museum.  

Vishnu Temple is said to be the second oldest temple in Bali built around 11^th century.

(Images and text contributed to this site by Vikneswaran Shunmugam, Indonesia).

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Legend says that temple is built for king Udayana, his Javanese queen Guna Pria Dharma Patni, his concubine, his oldest son Airlangga who ruled East Java , and his youngest son Anak Wungsu. Anak Wungsu ruled on Bali from 1050 to 1077. The four temples on the west side of the river should then have been built for the chief concubines of Anak Wungsu. 

Tirtha Empul – is revered by all Balinese. They say that it was created by the god Indra when he pierced the earth to create a spring of amrita, the elixir of immortality, with which he revived his forces who were poisoned by the evil king, Mayadnawa. The bathing place was built under the rule of Sri Candrabhaya Singha Warmadewa in the 10^th century.  

The waters are believed to have magical curative powers. Every year people journey from all over Bali to purify themselves in the clear pools. After leaving a small offering of thanks to the deity of the spring, men and women go to opposite sides to bathe. 

Pura Arjuna Metapa – Temple where Arjuna meditated is just south of the Pura Pusering Jagat – Temple of the Navel of the World. Arjuna is the hero in the epic of Mahabharata. In this story, Arjuna is meditating on a mountain top, gathering his energies for an upcoming battle with the evil demon Niwata Kawaca. 

Pura Bukit Dharma – Found here is the famous 7 ft high statue of the Goddess Durga in the act of killing a bull possessed by a demon under her feet. In a fighting attitude, her four arms hold a spear, an arrow, a cakra, a shield, a bow and a winged conch shell. Goddess Durga is the wrathful aspect of Siva’s wife or Shakti.   

Pura samuan Tiga – which means the temple “of a meeting of three parties.” During the reign of Queen Gunapriya Dharmapatni and King Udayana (988-1011), Balinese religion had no cohesiveness, no basic tenets which everyone followed. Therefore six holy men gathered at Pura Samuan Tiga to try and simplify the existing religion. Out of this meeting emerged the key tenets of Balinese Hinduism today a) the three elements of manifestation of Sanghyang Widhi, or the Absolute God, being Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu 2) the triune temple system in each village 3) the concept of desa adapt.  

Pura Jagatnatha – Every full moon, young people pay homage at this temple. Dedicated to the Supreme God – Sandhyang Widi Wasa. The tall padmasana, constructed of white coral, symbolizes universal order. The turtle Bedawangnala and two naga serpents represent the foundation of the world; the towering throne signifies the receding heavens. This design, so prevalent on the island, relates to the Hindu myth of the churning of the ocean of milk, when the gods and demons stirred the cosmic ocean to create the nectar of immortality.  The Catuh Mukha, Lord Shiva in his four faced emanation, overseas traffic in the city of Denpasar main intersection.

Sangeh – Ravana, the villainous giant of the Ramayana epic, could die neither on earth nor in air. To kill him, the monkey general Hanuman devised a plan to suffocate the giant by pressing him between two halves of the holy mountain Mahameru – a destruction between the earth and air. When Hanuman took Mahameru, part of the mountain fell to the earth in Sangeh, along with a group of monkeys from his army, whose descendents stayed to this day.  

Such is the legendary origin of Bukit Sari, or The Monkey Forest, a cluster of towering trees and home of hundreds of spritely monkeys. The forest is sacred and for many years no one has been permitted to chop wood here. A moss covered temple lies in the heart of the woods. The temple, Pura Bukit Sari, has a large statue of Garuda in the central courtyard. 

Pura Besakih – Mother Temple called thus, as it houses ancestral shrines for all Hindu Balinese. A cluster of temples, Pura Besakih is the pinnacle of the sacred to all Balinese. It has 86 temples with 22 main temple complexes. It was built in the 8th century, some of the structures were added later in 14th to the 18th century. Today it is the state temple for the provincial and national governments which meet all the expenses. Within the Besakih complex, the paramount sanctuary is the Pura Panataran Agung with its lofty merus on a high bank of terraces. Steps ascend in a long perspective to the austere split gate, Inside the main courtyard stands the three seated shrine enthroning the three aspects of God: Shiva, God as creation; Pramashiva, god without form and Sadashiva, God as half male and half female. Many interpret this trinity to be Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. There are three colors associated with the shrine: red, black and white. Red symbolizes the earth as lava and is associated with Shiva, and black is both water and outer space and associated with Vishnu.    

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan – temple is dedicated to the Goddess of the Lake, Devi Danu, and her consort Vishnu, who rules over water. This is one of the two main subak temples in Bali which determine how water reaches the irrigation ditches all over southern Bali.

Lord Ganesha at the entrance to the Pura Ulun Danu temple and Lord Vishnu or his mount Garuda.

Prajapati

(image source: webmaster's own collection of photos taken during a recent visit).

Temple is dedicated to the Goddess of the Lake, Devi Danu, and her consort Vishnu, who rules over water.

(image source: Insight Guides – Bali – created by Hans Hofer and Eyewitness Travel Guide to Bali & Lombok0

(For more refer to chapter on Greater India: Suvarnabhumi and Sacred Angkor).

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Pura Ulun Danu Batur - This temple is one of the most important on Bali because of its association with Lake Batur, which supplies the irrigation system of Gianyar and Bangli through a series of underground springs. From a distance the temple' silhouette can be seen on the rim of the vast Batur caldera. Garuda - is depicted in stone relief on the courtyard wall.  Devotees from all over Bali present elaborate offerings at this temple, which is dedicated to Ida Betari Dewi Ulun Danu, the goddess of Lake Batur. The respect accorded to the goddess is reinforced by events in the temples history. At its former location closer to the lake, the temple was miraculously saved from destruction in the volcanic eruption of Gunung Batur of 1917, when the lava flow stopped just short of its walls. Another eruption, in 1926 prompted the villagers to move the temple to its present location.

Gunung Batur is not the largest volcano in Bali, it is the most active. It is surrounded by a spectacular caldera, which implies that it was once much larger than now, having blown off its top in an eruption. It has erupted on a large scale more than 20 times in the last 200 years.

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan temple - dedicated to the Goddess of the Lake - Devi Danau - a consort of Lord Vishnu. She who blesses the island with water for irrigating the rice fields.

Hindu gods for a festival in the temple.

(image source: webmaster's own collection of photos taken during a recent visit).

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These waters, enriched with volcanic minerals from the Batur highlands, lead from one terrace to another in descending steps to the sea.  

Pura Saraswati at Ubud  

The royal family commissioned this temple and water garden, dedicated to Goddess Saraswati - the Hindu goddess of art and learning, at the end of the 19th century.

Monkey Forest , Ubud, Bali .

Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal during the mid-14th century. It is possible that this temple was built by the Pejeng Dynasty (the Pejeng Dynasty was centred on Bali in the vicinity of Ubud and was conquered by the Majapahit empire in A.D. 1343).

(Images and text contributed to this site by Vikneswaran Shunmugam, Indonesia).

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(source: Insight Guides – Bali – created by Hans Hofer and Eyewitness Travel Guide to Bali & Lombok). Refer to My Bali Diary - By B Raman - saag.org). (Note: Recently an Ancient statue of Lord Vishnu has been found in Russian town of the Volga region. For more refer to chapter on Suvarnabhumi).

Pura Blanjong - Houses the oldest example of writing known as Prasati Blanjong inscribed on 70 in tall stone pillar. Dating from AD 913 - Sanskrit - displays Hindu influence in Bali 3 centuries before the arrival of Java's Majapahit Court.

The oldest Sanskrit inscription on a preserved pillar in the Prasasti Blanjong temple in Sanur, Bali.

(image source: webmaster's own collection of photos taken during a recent visit).

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Pura Segara - located in Sanur - dedicated to the God of Sea. An unusual temple made of coral. Has a bright statue of Lord Ganesha.

A bright blue Ganesha in the Pura Segara temple in Sanur, Bali.

Pura Pusering Jagat - one of the holiest temples - 1000 year old - is famous for "churning of the Sea of Milk - elaborately carved cylindrical jar out of a single sandstone.

Churning of the Sea of Milk carved out of a single sandstone.

(image source: webmaster's own collection of photos taken during a recent visit).

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Wanar Wana - Monkey Forest in Ubud

Lord Ganesha  - sacred water falls from his tusk in the Wanar wana (monkey forest).

One of the oldest and most haunting places in Bali and is located near a deep gorge and old baniyan trees.

(image source: webmaster's own collection of photos taken during a recent visit).

Ganesha statue at Pura Uluwatu temple, Bali.

(image source: webmaster's own collection of photos taken during a recent visit).

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The Vanishing Gods of Bali

Bali - A new Western Playground

Tourism and Westernization are taking a toll on authentic Balinese Hinduism

Note: Foreigners visiting Bali public temples are hounded to give donations. In spite of paying the entrance fee - Con artists descent on unsuspecting visitors for more donations in order to visit the inner sanctum of the famous temples such as Pura Besakih and Pura Danu Batur in the Northeast and North respectively.

Gods are for sale ?
 

Pura Besakih - Mother Temple of Balinese Hinduism.

Scams abound around the temples - Numerous people are found loitering around the temple to exploit tourists. This kind of behavior takes away the spirituality of visiting the Mother Temple of Hinduism in Bali.

(image source: webmaster's own collection of photos taken during a recent visit).

Refer to chapters on Ethereal Prambanan, Suvarnabhumi, Pacific Waves, Seafaring in Ancient India.

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Scams abound around the temples - Numerous people are found loitering around the temple to exploit tourists. This kind of behavior takes away the charm and spirituality of visiting the Mother Temple of Hinduism in Bali.

There are hardly any Hindu murtis (statues) to be seen even after paying the donations. A better option would be to visit the ancient authentic temples in Java with their beautiful architecture and no one pestering for donations.

Refer to chapter on Ethereal Prambanan

Tourism is changing the attitude of the people. Gods are for sale and temples are untidy in spite of the donations.  That translates in loss of charm for Balinese Hinduism.

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The island of a thousand Gods

Construction cranes on beaches, damaged coral, and floating trash in the turquoise waters off Bali are an unfortunate sign of just how successful the Indonesian resort island has been in attracting tourists. Foreign visitors have been drawn to the unique Hindu culture, art and volcanic landscapes of Bali since the 19th century, but in recent years growing wealth in Asia has spurred new hordes of tourists from around the region.

A dvarpala deity in a traditional home.

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The flood of cash from these conferences, during which room prices surge due to tight demand, is prompting the bulldozing of hills for more resorts in an island that some people already think is far too crowded, with little or no thought given to the limits of the environment. "What is happening in Bali now is over-exploitation of the tourism industry. A policy of selling it cheap, and exploiting it to the last bit," said Wayan Suardana, the head of local green group Walhi in Bali.  With not enough fertile land to go around, tourism provided jobs in hotels, services, manufacturing of things such as souvenirs and furniture, and construction.

Bali Beach Trash Shows ‘Island of Gods’ Hurt by Tourist Boom

In addition, the hotels produce growing mountains of trash. Some 13,000 cubic meters of trash arriving at processing plants across Bali per day, but only half is being processed, said Alit Sastrawan, head of the agency. Lack of monitoring has also meant that trash from big hotels may be dumped on just any available empty land, said Made Suarnata, the head of the Wisnu Foundation, which campaigns for community-based waste recycling.

A predominately Hindu enclave in Muslim-majority Indonesia, Bali has drawn travelers since German painter Walter Spies moved there in 1927, becoming a bellwether for economic wealth from U.S. surfers in the 1960s to Japanese golfers in the 80s.  Perhaps even more serious is damage to one of the island's biggest draws, its pristine waters.

(source: Tourism takes a toll to Bali unique culture and Bali Beach Trash Shows ‘Island of Gods’ Hurt by Tourist Boom). 

Modern Sculptures in Bali

This new park was started in mid 1990s and which may never be completed, is supposed to showcase Balinese art and culture. The focus of the 250 hectare site will be a 66 meter high bronze statue of Lord Vishnu riding upon Garuda built on a hill. Today only the armless head and torso of Wisnu sticks out of the ground; on a nearby cliff protrudes the head of Garuda. The park has rather an artificial atmosphere.

Lord Vishnu bust in Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park.

Garuda - Wisnu (Lord Vishnu) vahana.

Wisnu on Garuda in Nusa Dua.

Arjuna and Kresna (Lord Krishna) sculpture in Gianynar, Bali.

(image source: webmaster's own collection of photos taken during a recent visit).

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US couple goes the Hindu way in marriage 

She's a Jew from California, he's a Christian from Arizona, but both chose to get married according to Hindu rituals in Orissa's temple town of Konark. 

Thousands of people attended the wedding of the American couple, Rabital Volk, 33, and Cain Carroll, that took place last week at a yoga ashram in Konark, 70 km from Bhubaneshwar. They had been formally married in the US earlier, but decided to go in for a Hindu wedding as well. Every traditional detail was observed - there were Vedic mantras, a priest, a fire and even two locals, who stood in for the bride's parents for the ritual of kanyadan to give her away.

Rabital had first come to India three years ago as a tourist and toured several religious spots like Rishikesh and Varanasi before finding her moorings in Konark. Her husband followed her and came to teach yoga. Both worked at the Konark Natya Mandap (KNM), a dance institute founded by famous Odissi guru Gangadhar Pradhan -- Rabital as a student and Cain as a yoga teacher.

" India is the birthplace of yoga and Vedic traditions and spirituality fascinates me," said Cain. "This was a marriage with a difference. It hardly matters that they belong to other religions. Their love for our culture and tradition motivated me," said Prafulla Mohapatra, the priest, who conducted the rituals.

(source: US couple goes the Hindu way in marriage - hindustantimes.com).  For more refer to chapter on Yoga and Hindu Philosophy.

Sage Patanjali
The Yogic practices originated in the primordial depths of India's past. India is the birthplace of Yoga and Vedic traditions and spirituality.

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About Rishi Patanjali

Snake temples at Prayag honor the sage Patanjali’s yogic mastery. His name means “gift of a snake.” It signifies that Patanjali had mastered the Kundalini, the serpent-like energy in the subtle body. 

Nag Kuan: The place, where on Nagpanchmi day, the snake worship is held, is connected with Rishi Patanjali the famous Sanskrit grammarian, located at Jaitpura (3rd BC). Chidambaram: It was here that Lord Siva performed the Tandava dance of creation, and where sage Patanjali later lived and wrote the Yoga Sutras.

(source:  About Rishi Patanjali - Hinduism - By Linda Johnsen p. 222. For more refer to chapter on Yoga and Hindu Philosophy).

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