Batur Temple

Batur Temple, also known as Ulun Danu Batur Temple, is located in Kalanganyar, Batur village, Kintamani, approximately 900 meters above sea level. It is also known as the Temple of the Crater Lake, dedicated to the Lake Goddess Ida Batara Dewi Ulun Danu, and Tirta Empul, where run the holiest waters of Bali, believed to have magical curative powers.

Batur Temple is the second largest temple in the island. Huge ceremony, called Ngusaba ke Dasa, is held here every year.In the past, Batur Temple was located on the south western slope of mount Batur. After the destructive eruption in 1917 which ruined the temple. Head of the village along with the villagers brought the surviving shrines and rebuilt Batur Temple to the higher place in Kalanganyar.

In 1927, the people of Batur rebuilt Ulun Danu Temple which once lay at the foot of the volcano. Most of the 285 planned shrines are yet to be completed. At present, the temple is simply designed.

History

Before Mt. Batur’s devastating eruption in 1917, Batur Temple was originally located at the base of the volcano near the north western shore Of Lake Batur. Lava covered the village of Batur, destroying 65.000 houses, 2.500 temples and more then a thousand lives but miraculously stopped at the foot at the temple. The people took this as the good omen and continued to live there. In 1926, a new eruption buried the entire temple except the highest shrine, dedicated to God in his manifestation as Dewi Danu, the Goddess of the lakes and waters. The villagers were then forced to resettle on high ridges and begin their task rebuilt BaturTemple, commonly known as Pura Ulun Danu of Batur village.

Several ancient Balinese holy manuscripts (lontar) have served as sources of information describing the history of Batur Temple. Its significance as part of the “Sad Kahyangan,” a group of the six most revered temples on Bali, is documented in the Widhi Sastra Lontar, the Raja Purana Lontar and the Babad Pasek Kayu Selem. Batur Temple is also referred to as “Kahyangan Jagat” temple which means it is a public place of worship.

Throughout its history BaturTemple has been a sanctuary dedicated to the fertility Goddess, Dewi Danu. She is the Goddess of lakes and waters. Mineral rich waters flow from Lake Batur, led from one rice terrace to another, in descending steps to the sea. In the Usana Bali Lontar, one of the sacred texts housed at the temple, there is an ancient legend that describes the formation of Dewi Danu’s throne. The legend goes as follows:

It is said that on the night of the new moon during Margasari the fifth month, the God Pasupati (Siwa) removed the peak of the sacred Hindu Mt. Mahameru in India and divided it into two parts. Carrying one part in his left hand and the other in his right the two pieces were brought to Bali to be used as thrones. The piece carried in the right hand became Mt. Agung – the throne for his son, the God Putranjaya (Mahadewa Siwa) and the remaining portion carried in the left hand became Mt. Batur – the throne for Dewi Danu, the Goddess of the lakes and waters. This legend refers to Bali’s two most revered volcanoes Gunung Agung and Gunung Batur as two symbolic elements ; male and female (Purusa and Pradana), or two complimentary manifestation originating from one source; God (Ida Sang Hyang Widhi).

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