Winter 2019 - 16. Kehen Temple

16.  Kehen Temple

Entrance to the Kehen Temple

There are a lot of temples in Bali, from very small to large and then there is this Monastic Temple, the Kehen Temple. This is a Royal Temple. It is old, very old (first built in the 11^th Century) and was used to swear in government officials who worked for the King. The official had to publicly commit to their job under the threat of severe punishment by both the gods and humans. (I wonder how today’s officials would fare knowing they could die if they did not do their job right.)

Gateway to the Next Level (Large Banyan Tree Beyond the Gate)

The whole of the temple as we see it today stems from the 13^th Century and as you can see it is terraced. The stone statues, around and throughout the temple, represent Ramayana; an Indian epic. 

Many steps lead up to the very top, the sanctum of it all. Atop I found the Meru Tower,  dedicated to the main god, a Trimurti  in this case. (A Trimurti is a triad of deities, typically Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer.) 

Meru Tower in the Centre Back

Religion is complicated in Bali but it permeates everything, daily life is suffused with actions that all connote ‘religion’. It is almost a subconscious action for the Balinese. Tradition asks the Balinese to do this or that and they just do it. It’s their culture to obey and believe.

Meru Tower

I had a hard time following some of the descriptions of the gods Agung talked about up here near the Meru Tower. I had no clue what a Trimurti was. Agung tried to explain it, but it did not sink in. I had to study this in my own way to get an inkling of it. So my next blog covers just MY understanding of the Hindu Religions. Well some of it.

A Royal Palace Needs Throne Chairs

It’s a hard study, the names are different in each and every country…and yet, much of Asia believes in these stories. You might want to skip my next blog if you are not into religion. Here is one of the websites I used to get some ideas. https://hinduwebsite.com/onegod.asp

The Banyan Tree

From the top of the Kehen Temple we had a wonderful view of the surrounding area. This Temple is walled as are most temples. The word Pura means a Balinese Hindu Temple. 

I loved the old Banyan tree that still grows on one of the lower terraces, despite it being more than 400 years old, it is doing well. Someone built a small platform inside the tree, way up, for meditation purposes. 

Souvenir Shops Across the Street

There are many minor buildings outside the temple, too. This area was a governmental complex when the King of Bangli was in charge. In today’s age, like the cathedrals of Europe, both the temples and the cathedrals are tourist focused centers. The evidence of that are the souvenir stalls at street level where you can buy stuff ‘cheap’. 

Souvenir Masks

An old lady walked over to me when I returned my rented sarong and told me she had the perfect shirt for me. The lady was 98 years old and still worked everyday day at her stall. She was spry and nimble. What a life she must have had and yet, here she is talking to tourists, getting by on what little she earns. 

Sometimes the best experiences one can have are just talking to the people around those ‘tourist’ places.

98 Year Old Woman Who Did Not Have a Shirt to Fit Hans