Temples

Bali has been called "land of thousand temples" - What an undestatemen! Bali might be a small island, but there are many more than thousand temples. Every village has at least three temples, a family compoun has one, each rice growing co-operative (subak) has a temple, even comperaions have them. Some are simple affairs, others are elaborate sorawling complexes of major and minor temples, incorporating pagodas and shrines.

The there important village temple are : the pura puseh (temple of origin) ; the pura desa (village temple); in the centre and pura dalem (temple of the dead). The temple of origin is associated with Brahma the creator, and fces Gunung Agung, towards kaja, as does the village temple with is associated with Wisnu, the preserver. The temple of the dead is a domain of siwa, the destroyer, and faces the sea kelod.

Although no two temples are the sane, amny do share similarties i n design. Most temples have countryards, each with a split gate etrance, known as a candi bentar . The first coutryard is open andspacious with a number pf a small pavilions (bale) where people assemble for prayer and ceremonial preparations.
The second coutryard is much the same , while the inner sactum is a adobe of the gods. Leading to the inner counytryard is a set of doors. Open the doors and a wall prevents the right. The wall is an aling-alingand the prevents spirit from entering the countryard, because it's thought that spirits from great problems negotiating conser! within this countryard are the number of meru shrines wich line the northern and eastern walls. The multi-tired meru have odd-numbered roofs, depending on the god to wich they are dedicated. Located in the north-est corner i sthe lotus throne. This is a padmasana, the seat of Ida Sanghyang widi, the supreme god. If there are three thrones, they are dedicated to the supreme god's manfestations as Brahma, Wisnu, and Siwa.

Each temple has a pemangku who maintains the compound and anyone, regardless of sex or caste, can became one. The high priest, or pedanda, presides over ceremonies, and must be of the brahma caste.