Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
Ulun Danu Beratan temple is a major Shivaite and water temple on Bali, Indonesia — the other major water temple being Pura Ulun Danu Batur. This lakeside temple was constructed in honor of Dewi Danu, goddess of the lake that was formed by a volcanic eruption 30,000 years ago.
Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, or Pura Beratan, is the second most important temple in Bali after the mother temple Besakih. The temple is found on the shores of Danau Beratan (Lake Beratan) in the mountains near Bedugul. The temple was built in 1926 and is dedicated to Dewi Batari Ulun Danu, goddess of lakes and rivers.
The name of Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is taken from the lake where the temple is built at Beratan Lake. The name of Beratan Lake is inseparable with the Beratan Mount as Deity and Goddess as fertility source, prosperity to keep the prosperity in life and society life. In papyrus chronicle of the Mengwi, this temple is referred as the name of Parhyangan ri pinggiring danu Beratan (sanctum located in lakeside of Beratan Lake ). Ulun is come from Hulu word meaning head or power and in this case is intended by Ulun Danu Beratan means power of Beratan Lake that is Danu Goddess.
The flashes history of Ulun Danu Beratan can be known based on archeological data and historical data that contained in Mengwi chronicle. There is a sarcophagus in form of a stone and a board on the left of Ulun Danu Beratan Temple that is come from the megalithic tradition around 500 BC. Both artifacts are now placed on each Bebaturan (terrace). It can be predicted that the location where the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple had been used as a place to carry out the ritual since Megalithic era.
Based on the data of Mengwi chronicle was implicitly out line that I Gusti Agung Putu as the founder of the Mengwi Kingdom builds the temple on the edge of Beratan Lake, before he established Taman Ayun Temple. On this Lontar (bible made from papyrus leave) is not mentioned when he was found the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, but on the Lontar was fond the Taman Ayun Temple establishment with the ceremony held on Anggara Kliwon Madangsia ( Tuesday, Balinese calendar ) Saka year 1556 ( 1634 AD) .
The temple ceremony execution at Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is consisted of two types those are:
- The temple ceremony which is executed every six-month (210 days) that on Anggara (Tuesday) Kliwon Julungwangi (Base on Balinese Hindu calendar). Every 12 months (420 days) is executed by the bigger ceremony from the ordinary ceremony, so-called Piodalan Agung
- Pakelem ceremony is executed at any times as according to situation and condition. The Pakelem ceremony owns the function to worship the supremacy and also cheapness of the infinite for award of life, fertility, prosperity, as impact of the existence of ecosystem balance so that give the benefit for life and universe life forever and ever, during Beratan Lake and Beratan Mount stand up