Vancouver Banshee: Indonesia -- Day 12 Ulun Danu Temple, Bali

Today's Adventures Abroad itinerary said that we would be visiting Ulun Danu Temple, Bali.

Unfortunately the weather wasn't as great as it could have been. A little dark and hazy when we arrived but it did brighten up later on.

Ulun Danu Temple, Bali

From BaliStarIsland:

Ulun Danu Temple is a Balinese Hindu Temple located at Candi Kuning countryside, Baturiti sub district and Tabanan regency. The distance from Denpasar town is about 50 km north side the way from Denpasar to Singaraja. It is set at lakeside of Beratan with beautiful lake view and hills surround it. It is situated in the plateau area with cool atmosphere surround it and hills as a backdrop. We can find at north side of this temple is Pucak Sangkur mount, in the eastside there is Beratan Mount which also referred as Pucak Mangu or Pucak Pangelengan, in the south side there is Terate Bang Mount and in the Westside there is Tapak Mount and Watukaru Mount.

Ulun Danu Temple, Bali

The Story and Philosophy

The name of Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is taken from the lake where the temple is built at Beratan Lake. The name of Beratan Lake is inseparable with the Beratan Mount as Deity and Goddess as fertility source, prosperity to keep the prosperity in life and society life. In papyrus chronicle of the Mengwi, this temple is referred as the name of Parhyangan ri pinggiring danu Beratan (sanctum located in lakeside of Beratan Lake). Ulun is come from Hulu word meaning head or power and in this case is intended by Ulun Danu Beratan means power of Beratan Lake that is Danu Goddess.

Ulun Danu Temple, Bali

Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is consisted of 4 temples complex that are:

Lingga Petak Temple owns the function to worship the Siwa God

Penataran Pucak Mangu Temple is referred this gate as Parhyangan ri pinggiring rawa Beratan or Danu Beratan Temple is founded by I Gusti Agung Putu to worship the Hyang ing Parwata or Deity which is placed in Pucak Mangu that is Bhatara Hyang Danawa as according to papyrus of Padma Bhuwana and Usana Bali, because Mangu Mount is located in north direction, hence it is called the Bhatara Hyang Danawa or Wisnu God

Terate Bang Temple is functioning to worship of Brahma God

Dalem Purwa Temple is functioning to worship of Danu Goddess which is considered to be miraculous of the Bhatara Hyang Danawa or Laksmi Goddess.

Ulun Danu Temple, Bali

Temple Ceremony

The temple ceremony execution at Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is consisted of two types those are:

The temple ceremony which is executed every six-month (210 days) that on Anggara (Tuesday) Kliwon Julungwangi (Base on Balinese Hindu calendar). Every 12 months (420 days) is executed by the bigger ceremony from the ordinary ceremony, so-called Piodalan Agung

Pakelem ceremony is executed at any times as according to situation and condition. The Pakelem ceremony owns the function to worship the supremacy and also cheapness of the infinite for award of life, fertility, prosperity, as impact of the existence of ecosystem balance so that give the benefit for life and universe life forever and ever, during Beratan Lake and Beratan Mount stand up

Ulun Danu Temple, Bali

I don't know which ceremony that we saw here ... but it was amazing. All these people just kept coming and coming and coming. Dressed in local traditional clothing, women carrying packages on their head and the men carrying the Barong.

Ulun Danu Temple, Bali

Look at all the people here and then in the right hand side winding around the grounds.

Ulun Danu Temple, Bali

I had to take a picture of this woman's shoes. They were great.

Ulun Danu Temple, Bali

This guy has a shirt that said: "Young Dumb, and Full of Come" Really at a very important religious site?

Ulun Danu Temple, Bali

From Wikipedia:

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, or Pura Bratan, is a major Shivaite & water temple on Bali, Indonesia — the other major water temple being Pura Ulun Danu Batur. The temple complex is located on the shores of Lake Bratan in the mountains near Bedugul. Water temples serve the entire region in the outflow area; downstream there are many smaller water temples that are specific to each irrigation association (subak).

Built in 1663, this temple is used for offerings ceremony to the Balinese water, lake and river goddess Dewi Danu, due to the importance of Lake Bratan as a main source of irrigation in central Bali. The 11 stories of pelinggih meru dedicated for Shiva and his consort Parvathi. Buddha statue also present inside this temple.

Pura Ulun featured on Indonesian banknote

Lake Bratan is known as the Lake of Holy Mountain due to the fertility of this area. Located 1200 m above sea level, it has a cold tropical climate.