Pura Besakih Bali's Mother Temple

Bali's Mother Temple "Pura Besakih" the largest temple in Bali, is over 900 meters up the slopes of Gunung Agunng. It has been regarded as a holy place since pre-historic times in Bali. The first recorded mention of its existence is from an inscription of the fifteenth century it has been regarded as a central, holy temple for the entire island.

All the allegiance of the Balinese people comes together at Besakih Temple. Each regency has its own temple within the over-all compound, as do each of the caste groups. There is a total of 18 separate sanctuaries. The three main temple are : Pura Penataran Agung, dedicated to Sang Hyang Widi Wasa : Pura Kiduling Kreteg, dedicated to Brahma; and Pura Batu Madeg, dedicated to Wisnu.
To the Balinese a visit to the temple sanctuaries at Besakih is a special pilgrimage. Each temple has its own Odalan, or anniversary celebration, and on the full moon of the Balinese month "Kedasa" the entire compound of Besakih celebrates the visit of the gods, with an enormous throng of visiting pilgrims.

Pura Besakih , the holiest of all temples in Bali. It origated most probably as a prehistoric terraced santuary where worship andoffering were made to the God of Gunung Agung, the dominant landscape element in the Balinese world. Over a thousand years and more, it was enlarged and added to until grew into the present complex of about 30 temples. In the 10th century it was apparently a state temple. According to inscriptions kept here, an important event took place in the year 1007. If can only be quessed that this was associated with death rituals for queen Mahendradratta, Udayana's Co-ruler who died yhe previous year. Since the 15th century it was the state temple of the Gelgel - Klungkung dynasty which built a series of small templs inhonor of its deifie rulers. Now is the state temple for the provincial and national governments which meet all expenses. Today, Pura Besakih is revered by al Balinese as the "Mother Temple" Of Bali.

Within the Besakih complex, the paramount sanctuary is the Pura Penataran Agung which rears is lofty merus on a high bank of terraces. Steps ascend in along perspective to the austere split gate. Insede the main courtyard stands the three-seated shrine enthronigh the Trisakti, the trinity of Brahma, Visnu and Siwa. During festivan the shrines are wrapped in colored cloth sybolic of the deities. The Pura Penataran Agung And two other important temples higher up the slopes likewise together symbolize theTrisakti. In the center Pura Penataran Agung is hugh with white banners for Siwa : to the right, Pura Kiduling Kreteg with red banners for Brahma: and Pura Batu Madeg, to the left, with balck banners for visnu. These letter two temples are taken care of by the Karangasem and Bangli regencies respectively, certain othr being the responsibility of the other regencies. All of Bali comes thogether at Pura Besakih. Relegiosly. oness is symbolized in the padmasana in Pura Pentaran Agung, dedicated to Sang Hyang Widdhi Wasa, in the Supreme God.