Jagatnatha Temple

Jagatnatha temple located in the center of Denpasar Town, that is the biggest Hindu temple in the capital city of Bali Province. Jagatnatha Temple built in east of Puputan Badung square garden is a public shrine to worship for Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa (call for Hindu god). It is strategically located on Major Wisnu Street that is very easy reached from any directions as well as famous temple and appointed as a tourist destination in Denpasar City. Jagatnatha Temple many visited by the Hindu people especially during the Hindu Holiday season including full moon.

Jagatnatha Temple Philosophy

Name of Jagatnatha Temple is taken from special name which is not similar with other familiar temples in Bali taken from the location where the temple is situated such as Besakih Temple, Ulundanu Batur Temple, Lempuyang Luhur Temple, Luhur Andakasa Temple, Puncak Mangu Temple, etc. Among other famous Hindu Temple in Bali, the first ceremony held at Jagatnatha Temple is also similar with other temples by conducting small ceremony procession. The unique of Jagatnatha Temple is not having the Pengemong (the group of people/organization/team who support, keep, maintains the temple) like other temples in Bali, but it is only own the small volunteers and people who worship at Jagatnatha Temple. At the beginning, Jagatnatha Temple is managed by temple development committee of Jagatnatha Temple and afterward managed by The Hindu Holiday Committee which is institutionally stipulated Badung Regency Government decree. But nowadays, this temple has been taken over by the government of Denpasar City. When we look from the exposure of Jagatnatha Temple Concept, it can be concluded the elements and structures of Jagatnatha Temple set in the main temple area (Utama Mandala) those are details as follows:

Padmasana : is a main building of the temple as a symbol of a seat of Sang Hyang Widhi (god). The word of Padmasana is derived from the Sanskrit, old Javanese and laterally means a throne or a seat of god in lotus shape. In the concept of Arcanam and Citra-Lekha, lotus flower is a plant secret as a seat or throne for the god or the authority in many different forms which is famous called Istadewata of god and goodness.

Fish Pond surrounding of Padmasana : If we look the physical structure of the ancient temples in Bali, usually set a Titi Ugal-agil (bridge made from wooden rods) with the pond under it at the entrance gate. Please see and compare the Titi Ugal-Agil at Agung Taro Temple located in Taro Village and Taman Sari Temple located in Klungkung town. The function of Titi Ugal-Agil is to purify every Hindu people who entering the main temple area.

Twin Canopies : The twin canopies are set in front of Padmasana and the canopies building at temples in Bali Island generally has function to put the embodiment of god or Gagaluh on the procession of ceremony (Pawedalan). However, the Pawedalan at Jagatnatha Temple has function as an altar to put the offerings especially on praying procession of Balinese Hindu Holyday such as full moon, dark moon, Galungan and Kuningan Days, Saraswati Day, Siwaratri Day and other important days.

Altar of Sang Hyang Anantaboga : This altar is located in north part of main temple complex.

The well for taking Holy Water or Tirtha : The well is set in north part of main temple complex.

Bale Paselang : If there is not specific big ceremony held in this temple, Bale Paselang is usually used to keep the offerings and sometimes used as a place for Mesanti (reading and singing the holy bible which is famous called Geguritan or Kekawin). If there are plenty of Hindu people do for praying, then this Bale Paselang is used as a resting place.

Perantenan/Kitchen : It is a building has multi functions where the context of kitchen activities, it is not has function on ceremony but it is also accordance with other religious activities at this temple.

Gudang/Store : This store is functioning to keep the gamelan and others temple belonging items.

Bale Gong : Bale Gong is a building to beat the gamelan during the ceremony procession and it is sometime also used as a rest place for Hindu people.

Apit Surang / Entrance Gate : In the west part of the main temple complex area from north to the south, it had been built some of the buildings as follows:

• Bale Kulkul is a beautiful tower build ing to hang the wooden bell
• Apit Surang Kiwe is left entrance gate
• Gelung Kuri is a center entrance gate
• Apit Surang Tengen is right entrance gate
• Dakam Karang Althar (Tugu)
• Bale Bengong is a canopy of rest
• Bale Pawedan is a canopy for Hindu Priest reciting the mantra