Pure Tuluk Biyu, Abang, Kintamani, Bali. The holiest most spiritual place in Bali. More stories to follow soon with more information, and why we state this.
Description
The Temple of Tuluk Biyu
Ancient History
Hinduism/Buddhism/Siwaism Comes to Bali from Java
Hinduism first came to Indonesia in the fourth century A.D. With further exposure to the ‘outside world’, Hinduism and Buddhism united in Central Java around the ninth century, and a further infusion brought Siwaism (Shivaism) from South India. These three branches of Hinduism, already separated in India, became the religion of the Majapahit Empire in East Java. As to the development of religion in Bali, Mpu Kuturan, visiting Bali in 1019 AD, found nine separate religious sects and succeeded in consolidating them into three: Buddhis, Siwais, and Wesnawist and called the Trisedhaka.1 It is interesting to note that when Mpu Kuturan was ‘consolidating’ religions in Bali, Temple Tuluk Biyu was already serving as an important temple, dedicated to Siwa, as illustrated by records from 1011. More on this later. In the fourteenth century, under pressure from the spread of Islam on the island of Java, the remnants of the Majapahit Kingdom fled to Bali. Priests, artisans and the Royal Family came from their collapsing empire in East Java to reestablish their kingdom in Bali and influenced forever the local religion and culture. There followed in Bali, an explosion of temple building as the Majapahit dedicated themselves to the continuing spiritual development of the indigenous Balinese and the relocation of their own spiritual centre to Bali.
Pura Tuluk Biyu The ancient Desa (village) of Air Hawang (water in the sky) is often mentioned in Bali’s history as a very important place in the spiritual life of Bali. A large temple complex located there was managed and protected by the different Raja (kings) of Bali. Historical records referring to the village and temple go back to the time of Raja Dharmodayana Warma Dewa, the one supreme Raja of Bali in the 11th Century, with written records from the year 1011 AD. A clear reference to the Pura (temple) of Tuluk Biyu is also in historical texts from the Majapahit Kingdom in which it was recorded that Mpu Kuturan , who was a follower of (or commanded by) Mpu Rajakretha, had the vision of developing all temples that were “brought” from Majapahit Java with their spiritual location in Bali. An extensive list of temples includes the most important ones as: “Pura Besakih, Pura Batumadeg, Pura Batumanyeneng, Pura Pintuaji, Pura Kadaton, Pura Tanahmel, Pura Tuluk Biyu, Pura Tampurhyang, Pura Batukaru” and others.
1Eiseman, Fred B., Jr., Bali Sakala & Niskala, v1, Periplus 1990
Desa Air Hawang and Pura Tuluk Biyu were originally located on the eastern shore of Lake Batur at what is now the village of Abang (Red). Mount Abang itself was originally called Mount Tuluk or Kulit Biyu (The Mountain of Banana Trees). Of course it is easy to see, even today, that banana trees in this area are, indeed, red. Sometime before the arrival of the Majapahit, the original temple was dedicated to the god known as Bhatara Ri Tiluk Biyu (Lord of the Mountain) and Dewa Danu (Goddess of the Lake). These names are connected to the indigenous religion of Bali at that time. When the Hindu religion came to Bali, with Siwa as the contextual focus, ancient Balinese scriptures (prasasti) note the temple as dedicated to Siwa Parawateswara2 or Siwa Raja Gunung (Lord of the Mountain) and Parwati Dewi/Putri Gunung (Princess of the Mountain.)
References in ancient Balinese scriptures refer to a ‘transfer of the gods’ from Java to Bali. In this context, the area of Batur and Kintamani play an important role. Pura Tiluk Biyu counts among its sacred relics two gold statues symbolizing Siwa and Parwati. The statues are of solid gold measuring about 25 centimeters in height. These statues were studied by archeologists around 1965 and, according to their findings, the statues were made some time around 900-950 AD
The Pura Tiluk Biyu priest’s story of the statues’ origin is as follows. A holy person known as Ida Mpu Galuh came to this area from the Majapahit Kingdom. A person with strong spiritual knowledge and mystic power, Ida Mpu Galuh created the two gold statues by his yogic powers, and not by hands. He also executed several huge spiritual ceremonies similar to what was usual at the time in the Majapahit Kingdom to “develop the spirituality” that he found at Batur. Ida Mpu Galuh continued to live and exercise his spiritual concepts at Desa Batur, and his last directive to his followers and villagers was to never forget to exercise/execute spiritual ceremonies towards these gods to ensure prosperity and the spiritual balance of nature for Bali, the Majapahit Kingdom, and the world, forever, to the end of the earth. Among these, the ceremony known as Dewa Sraya, or translated as Wholeheartedly Devoting Oneself to God.
In Hindu scriptures and mythology, Shiva’s second wife is known as Parwati. In 1926, Mount Batur erupted, devastating the western side of the lake and destroying Desa Batur. Landslides from Mount Abang buried Desa Air Hawang. Following this natural disaster, the villagers moved the temple by carrying out the sacred relics from the ruins of the old temple and rebuilding the temple at its current location, on the rim of the crater overlooking Mount Batur, Lake Batur and Mount Abang, at Kintamani.
Even today, some parts of the original temple can still be seen in the small community that has rebuilt on top of the landslide. The runes of the original temple site was the location of several important ceremonies during October, 2006 observance of the Dewasraya Ceremony.
The Dewasraya Ceremony Having been charged with the responsibility for maintaining Bali’s harmony through constant observance of specific ceremonies, the Tuluk Biyu Temple has continued to perform a Dewasraya Ceremony approximately every five years. In 2001, this was not possible due to lack of funds. In 2006, the Karya Agung Madewasraya Ceremony was in full held for the first time since 1011 AD.
The decision was made as a result of the tragedies of two terrorist bombings in Bali and several natural disasters affecting Indonesia since 2001. This grand and important ceremony was last performed when conditions in Bali were extremely dire and the need to reestablish peace and harmony was great. It is intended that the Karya Agung Madewasraya Ceremony brings people together to pray, ‘whole-heartedly giving oneself to god’, for the return of peace and harmony, not only for Bali, but for the world. In reviewing the actual Schedule for Ceremonies Oct. 2006, it is interesting to note that in addition to the Karya Agung Madewasraya Ceremony on October 7, there were specific ceremonies for ‘maintaining the ‘wall’ between the negative and positive forces’, ‘appeasing the negative forces so that they will allow peace and harmony to return’ and a complete day’s ceremony for each of the regencies in Bali.
Prasasti – Historical and Archeological references from Indonesian history.
At Pura Tuluk Biyu there are 21 Prasasti ‘pages’, inscribed on copper plates, containing references to the historical facts, listed below, that can be found in other Indonesian or Balinese sources. (referenced by R. Goris, a Dutch government official in the 1920’s.)
1. The stone ‘pages’ were written in year 933 Saka, or 1011 AD according to the Gregorian calendar.
2. They contain clear references to Raja Paduka Sri Dharmodayana Warma Dewa, ruler of Bali in the 11th Century.
3. They were written using Java Kuna (kawi), the ancient Javanese writing form. 4. They contain clear reference to Desa Air Hawang.
5. They contain instructions regarding the Dewa Sraya ceremony. (However, the four most important ones, regarding the ceremony, are now missing - most probably taken by R. Goris, in the 1920’s. Currently, a search of Dutch museums is underway to locate them.)
6. They contain references to Bhatara Kulit Biyu (Lord of the Mountain). Another reference to show some changes of names aprox. 170 years later in other
Balinese prasasti include these below. (referenced by Sukarto K. Atmojo)
1. Writings from the year 1103 Saka, or 1181 A.D. Gregorian calendar.
2. References to Raja Paduka Sri Maharaja Haji Jayapangus Arkajacihna Nariswarisanas, then ruler of Bali (also referred to as Son of the Sun) and his Queen, Paduka Sri Mahadewi Sri Sasangkajaketana (also referred to as Daughter of the Moon).
3. Written in Java Kuna.
4. Desa Air Hawang and Pura Tuluk Biyu now referred to as Er Abang.
5. Reference to Bhatara Bathari Tuluk Biyu (Lord and Goddess of the Mountain) 6. Clear reference that Pura Tuluk Biyu and its “protectors/priests” was/is a location of great importance, protecting/caretaking something on behalf on someone of great importance at that time.
In addition to the two statues within the temple and “in the hands of the goddess Ida Ratu Subandar” there is another ancient object made from Chinese porcelain, shaped as an ancient lion or tiger with a dragon’s head. This object was also studied and found to be made a bit later than the two gold statues. Several Balinese people with a Chinese ethnic background had been invited to study the historical background of these ancient objects. Several of them, having brought photos into China itself to try to find similar objects and more information about them, were unable to find any other similar objects. According to archeologists, these objects most probably were present in Bali even before the Ming Dynasty.
Some Balinese Hindu Concepts
God in Hinduism has what is referred to as many different personalities with many different names- some explainable and understandable within our human capacity, and some not.
A basic principle in Balinese Hindu, and Hinduism in general, is that both good and evil exist as a part of nature and in some sense, as