The Besakih Temple is referred to as the Mother Temple for that is the extent of sanctity that this sacred site emulates. A must visit for those holidaying in Bali, below is an outline of this attraction.
History
Back in the 8th century, a Hindu monk had a revelation to construct houses in this location and it was only in the completion of this project the area was named Basuki. This name was derived from the dragon god ‘Naga Besukian’ who the locals believed inhabited this sacred mountain. Eventually, though, the name Basukih became Besakih.
About
For over a 1000 years, the Besakih Temple has been venerated as the Mother Temple and thousands of pilgrims have been flocking to this holy site ever since. Since bygone eras, the Pura Batu Madeg has been considered a holy site because the central stone found within, is believed to be divine.
Natural Disasters
In the years 1917 and 1963 two major volcanic eruptions took place on this mountain and lava flowed over the temple. Despite the disaster, the holy complex stood tall and this, in turn, strengthened the faith of the devout believers in the area.
Location
The temple is accessible from many a Jakarta hotel the likes of Alila Jakarta and more.
Going in
Four of the temples in this complex reflect four different forms of the Balinese Deity at north, south, east and west points. It is a treasure-trove of sacred sites where every monument offers something to learn from and to savour.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+
