A beautiful floating temple on Lake Bratan, located in the village of Candikuning, Baturiti, Tabanan. You can say that this temple is the second most important temple in Bali after the Besakih temple.

In Balinese, this temple considered Rwa Bhineda or the balance of two opposite as Pradana (feminine) while the Purusha (masculine) is Besakih temple. This temple is also a landmark of Bali because this temple is the most visited tourist destination with amazing scenery and also its history.

The History

This temple was built in the 17th century and dedicated to the Goddess of Lake and river Dewa Batari Ulun Danu.

Balinese believe that the temple has the meaning of universal balance. Rebuilt in 1926, in Ulun Danu Beratan temple usually, prayers are conducted to strengthen prosperity, while in Besakih Temple prayer would worship their almighty to the people achieve spiritual satisfaction by having the strength for the soul

The name of Ulun Danu Beratan temple was taken where is the temple was built, which is in Beratan temple. This floating temple has four groups of shrines, they are facing each of the four points of the compass.

The Four Temples Complex

  1. Lingga Petak temple : to Worship The God of Siwa
  2. Penataran Pucak Mangu Temple : to worship the Hyang ing Parwata
  3. Terate Bang Temple : to worship The God of Brahma
  4. Dalem Purwa Temple : to worship The God of Danu (Laksmi)

Temple Ceremony

There is 2 type of ceremony in Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, they are :

  1. The temple ceremony is always held every six months (210 days) that on Tuesday Kliwon Juluwangi (anggara). Every 12 months (420 days) called piodalan Agung, this is a bigger ceremony than the ordinary ceremony.
  2. Pekelem ceremony can be held anytime. The aim is to worship the supremacy to ask the award of life, fertility, prosperity, etc.

The Purpose and the Significance

According to the Balinese, Ulun Danu Beratan temple is the core of all water temple in central Bali and has a high authority overall irrigation system that takes the water from Lake Batur.

This system is recognized by UNESCO World Heritage because this system not only compromises the technical of rice field cultivation but also the social religion in Bali known as ‘Tri Hata Karana’. Here the 4 main purposes of the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

  1. To worship God, Sang Hyang Widhi for his care for the lake, and all of the water in Bali
  2. To worship the Goddess of Lakes and rivers as well as beauty and fertility, Laksmi.
  3. ‘Ulun Danu’ means ‘Above the Lake’
  4. Lake Bratan itself is a significant part of the Ulun Danu Temple.
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