The temple is certainly the most important institution on the island and the clearest illustration of the spirit of the Balinese religion. There are temples everywhere, from the modest family shrines in every household, to the extravagant temples of the princes and great town temples; large or small, plain or richly carved temples found in the rice fields, in the cemeteries, in the markets, on the beaches, in caves, on deserted hill tops and even on the barren rocks along the coastline.
The Balinese temple is a sacred space in which the deities are honored with rituals and offerings. Whether a simple enclosure with only one or two tiny shrines, or an elaborate complex with scores of sacred structures, the basic function of each temple is the same - to serve as a site where the Balinese pay reverence to the spiritual powers that play such a large role in their lives.
Balinese distinguish two important types. A sanggah (merajan in the refined language) refers to private or family temples, generally translated as “house temples.” Each family compound has one, containing shrines to the family’s deified ancestors (sanggah kamulan). Thus there are several hundred thousand house temples in Bali.
The other word for temple in Balinese is Pura, originally a Sanskrit term referring to town or palace. In Bali, the word Pura has come to refer to a temple in the public domain, generally located on public land.
Three village temples of special significance are the kahyangan tiga (”three sanctuaries”) Pura Puseh to adore God in His manifestation as Dewa Wisnu (Visnu), Pura Desa (Bale Agung) to adore God in His manifestation as Dewa Brahma, and Pura Dalem to adore God in His manifestation as Dewa Siwa (Siva). The function of Pura Kahyangan Tiga is to honor God in His manifestation as stuti/the creator (Dewa Brahma), as stiti/the protector (Dewa Wisnu) and as pralina/the destroyer (Desa Siwa). Pralina means every God’s creation will certainly die, soon or latter. Thus, Siva (Dewa Siwa) or Dewa Pralina is said to be the destroyer, in order to terminate the existence of every God’s creation. Pralina does not totally mean the destroyer. Thus, God veneration site in Kahyangan Tiga is to plead for to God in order that the human is born, lifes and dies naturally. To be born, live and die naturally is not at ease, thus human plead for God’s guidance in His manifestation as Dewa Tri Murti by adoring Him through Pura Kahyangan Tiga.
Ulun Danu Temple
The famous temple sites that tourists visit are regional or island-wide temples. These include the “Mother Temple” of Besakih, high up on the slopes of Mt. Agung, as well as the major temples of Ulun Danu (Batur), Lempuyang, Gua Lawah, Ulu Watu, Batukau, Pusering Jagat (Pejeng), Andakasa and Pucak Mangu. These are nearly all mountain or sea temples, marking the primary poles of the sacred landscape in Bali.
Tanah Lot Temple
Temple festivals are held according to one of two calendrical systems. When it appears on the 210-day wuku calendar, a festival is called an odalan; when it follows the lunar calendar, it is often referred to as an usaba. Various factors, such as local tradition and the size of the ritual, determine whether a festival is officiated by the temple’s own priest (Pemangku) or by a brahmana high priest (Pedanda).
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