By Bagus Perbawa
Prema Tours & Travel Bali
First stop : Goa Gajah (Elephant
Cave) Temple
Second stop : Tirtha Empul (Holy Spring
Water) temple
Third stop : Kintamani (penelokan
area)
Fourth Stop : Besakih (The Mother
Temple of Bali)
Destinations additional information:
Gunung
Kawi, Goa
Gajah, Tirta
Empul, Kintamani,
Besakih
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Folklore has it that when the deities
made mountains for their thrones, they set the highest in the
east, the direction of honour to the Balinese. In every temple,
a shrine is dedicated to the spirirt of Mt. Agung. The tapering
form of cremation towers, meru, and even temple of offerings bear
the shape of a mountain, mirroring reverence to this holy volcano.
On the slope of Mt Agung lies the Pura Besakih
(Besakih temple) the mother temple of Bali. Easily accessed from
Besakih village, the temple houses ancestral shrines for all Hindu
Balinese, who regard Pura Besakih as the pinnacle of sanctity.
Non worshippers are not allowed into the inner temple unless they
wish to pray, but one can see the layout quite easily from the
open gates. Do not enter the grounds unless invited, and be sure
to dressed in Sarong and a temple sash.
In 1963, devotees od Pura Besakih were completing
the preparations for the Eka Dasa Rudra, the greatest Balinese
sacrifices that occurs only once in a century. Suddenly a glow
of fire shone from the crater and Gunung Agung began to rumble.
A priestess interpreted the ashes of the volcano as a sacred potent
sent to purify Besakih, and they all continue with the festival
arrangements.
By the time the great sacrifice was held in march,
the thick columns of dark smoke had started surging from the summit.
Shortly after, the Mountain erupted, killing more then 1000 people.
To the Balinese, the eruption did not occur by chance but was
a chatisement for offending the Gods. The volcanic ash destroyed
most of the crops on the island. The sacrifice ceremony was held
again in 1979, after the priests decided they have miscalculated
the Balinese calendar, and again in 1999, for extra insurance.
Click on top (destinations additional Bali information)
to get more information on Besakih
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High on the slope of Mt Agung, Besakih has
a breath taking scenery of Bali |
The Pura Penataran Agung, the paramount sanctuary
in the Besakih complex (the main courtyard) |
