Pura Kehen

Pembuka

Pura Kehen is a Balinese Hindu temple located in Cempaga, Bangli Regency, Bali. The temple is set on the foot of a wooded hill, about 2 km north of the town center. Established at least in the 13th-century, Pura Kehen was the royal temple of the Bangli Kingdom, now the Regency of Bangli.

Temple layout

Pura Kehen temple compound is built over a hilly outcrop. The temple is aligned north-south, with the north part being the highest part of the temple. It is divided into three areas: the outer sanctum of the temple (jaba pisan or nistaning mandala), the middle sanctum (jaba tengah or madya mandala), and the inner main sanctum (jero or utamaning mandala).

Three sets of stairs lead visitors to the outer sanctum of the temple from the street. The landscape is terraced and is decorated with stone statues representing characters from the Indian epic Ramayana. Three gateways mark the entrance into the outer sanctum (jaba pisan). The central gateways or portal is in the form of paduraksa, which is unusual since paduraksa normally used to mark entrance into the inner main sanctum.

The outer sanctum (jaba pisan) features a banyan tree that is at least 400 years old. The enormous banyan tree features a monk's cell high up in the branches. The tree is considered sacred by the people of Bangli. It is believed that if a branch of the tree broke, a disaster (grubug) would follow, usually the death of a person. The location of the broken branch indicates the person that would die; if a branch is broken on the kaja-kangin (northeast) side, a king will die; if it is broken on the kaja-kauh (northwest) side, a brahmin will die; the kelod-kangin and the kelod-kauh means that a common people will die. Several bale (Balinese pavilions) located in the outer sanctum are the bale gong ("gong pavilion") where the gamelans are stored.

The middle sanctum (jaba tengah) is accessed via a candi bentar gateway. The middle sanctum acts as a transitional area between the outer sanctum and the inner sanctum. Several shrines (pelinggih) are located in the middle sanctum. The other southwest side of the middle sanctum, the perantenan area, is used as a place to prepare ceremonial offerings.

The uppermost inner sanctum (jero) is the most sacred courtyard of the Balinese temple. The courtyard features an 11-tiered meru tower, the most sacred shrine of the Pura Kehen dedicated to the God that protects the temple. A padmasana lotus shrine is also located in this courtyard, dedicated to the highest Hindu Trimurti of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Several other shrines surround the main meru tower, dedicated to the gods of the local geography, for example, the mountain gods. Porcelain plates decorate the wall below the inner sanctum. Some of these depict a scene of rural England, with a watermill and a coach drawn by four horses.

Rituals

The major Balinese feast of Pagerwesi was held once every six months at the full moon of the Rabu Kliwon Wuku Sinta day to honor Hyang Widhi and His manifestations.

Another major feast, the Ngusaba Dewa or Karya Agung Bhatara Turun Kabeh, is held on Purnama Kalima (early November) on the Saniscara Pon Wuku Sinta day.

Other smaller feasts held at Pura Kehen are ceremonies to honor other gods, for example, Saraswati, Ulian Sugimanik, Purnama, Tilem, Kajeng Kliwon, and Buda Kliwon.