Checking out a cool local temple near Mengwi Bali

On the way through the small lanes north of Sangeh Monkey Forest I saw a small local temple with an 11-tiered meru, very important in Balinese culture. Ordinarily a temple might have a few different merus and an important temple might have a 9-tiered roof (they are always odd numbers). Eleven is the max and it was strange that this was the only large meru in the temple. This temple had no sign at all indicating its name or anyone around. I was free to stroll inside and take photos. There is no 1 design for Balinese temples, but there are certain familiar parts to each and usually a somewhat similar layout. This temple had the usual perimeter wall and the entrance was through a candi bentar (split gate). Many larger temples have an outer, middle and inner courtyard, but this one had just 2, the inner courtyard also access via another candi bentar.

The sacredness of the temple gets higher the further in you go, the inner courtyard being the place the Gods come down to Earth during the Galungan festival. Many temple have a rectangular block of stone blocking the entrance on the inside. Its not exactly blocking it, but you have to walk around it. This is called an aling-aling and is designed to keep evil spirits out, as spirits can only walk in straight lines. This temple did not have an aling-aling but the 11-tiered meru was intriguing. This structure is called a meru Sanghyang Widi Wasa, the supreme deity. Single-tiered (and occasionally 9-tiered) meru are called meru Gunung Batur and are dedicated to the sacred Mt. Batur.

Three-tiered (and occasionally 11-tiered) meru are called meru Gunung Agung, in honor of Bali's most sacred mountain. Its interesting to see how the old animist beliefs are so strong on Balinese Hinduism, ancestor worship, laying offerings to appease the Gods and keep spirits away, worshipping the sea and the mountains. This part of Balinese cultures goes back thousands of years and was entrenched way before Europeans or outside religions got their paws on the island. Apart from the meru the other place I was interested in was the pavilion which contained the ceremonial umbrellas. This pavilion was highly decorated with a painting of a Hindu God inside.

I'm sure attending a ceremony here would be wonderful, especially their odalan (birthday of the temple), where the village takes part in a 3-day ritual of bringing offerings and worshipping here.