 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
In the story of Dang Hyang Nirartha
(a Hindu high priest), when he traveled around
Bali, he came upon tanah lot which is located
in tabanan and here, he decided to stay the
night. It is said that this very important priest
came to bali in about 1411 according to the
balinese icaka calendar, or 1489 AD by the western
calendar.
After pending some time in the temple of Siva's
Hair, he moved on going further east. The esteemed
priest and his devoted followers followed the
southern coastline of Ball on their journey.
For the entire trip along the shores of Bali,
he was accompanied by the sound of the crashing
waves in his ears and the sharp breeze penetrating
his body. It was through this closeness with
nature that, he thought of the power of God
and God's power to create all of nature and
all the contents of the world. It also occurred
to him that, as God had created humankind, humans
should give thanks and pay respect to God. The
priest Dang Hyang Nirartha always carried a
special carving knife, with which he could carve
Inscriptions and notes on the long "lontar"
palm slabs, and wrote what he saw, felt or thought
of as important.
The recordings were made in verse form. This
priest was such a great man, that when he was
totally involved in something. he forgot about
all else and never tired in his journey. His
feet virtually floated above the ground he traversed.
It wasn't long before he arrived at a small
Island almost, Joined to the shore that was
made of coral. Here he stopped a moment to rest.
The people here were all fishermen and they
gathered together to pay their respects. The
fishermen wanted Dang Hyang Nirartha to stay
at their modest homes, but he refused their
invitation. He wanted to spend the night on
the small island because the air was cool and
fresh. He also had a wonderful view from this
vantage point.
That evening before he retired for the night,
he was able to teach the people who came to
see him moral ethics, religion and welfare.
Dang Hyang Nirartha advised the people at this
time to build a Parhyangan (temple) at this
place where he had chosen to stay for the night.
Because of the feeling this holy man felt in
his inner soul, and other strange, mysterious
and miraculous happenings that occurred there,
the priest knew that this was the right place
to praise God (Sanghyang Widhi Wasa). From there
on the Balinese would have a place at which
they could praise God and request salvation
and safety for the world.
When Dang Hyang Nirartha
finally left this place, the people with whom
he had spoken, indeed built the holy temple
and gave it the name "Pura Pakendungan"
which nowadays is better known as "Tanahlot".
This temple is well know throughout not only
Indonesia, but the entire world. Why is this
temple one of the favorite tourist attractions
for people from around the world ? You should
go and see for yourself - it is beautiful
and unique. You will have to arrange to travel
31 Km from Denpasar and that will take about
an hour. Ran port is no problem as tourist
buses go there all the time if you won't have
some other private transport arrangement.
The best time to see it is in the afternoon
when the sun setting in he west splits the
shore line in half along a north-south axis.
His spectacle will live on long in your memory.
There is a religious ceremony coming up on
the 7th of August 1996. The atmosphere will
be even further enhanced as the Balinese Hindus
in their ceremonial rests go to the temple
to pray |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
