According to the concept Balinese Rwa Bhineda (The Balance of two opposites), Pura Ulun Danu Batur is regarded as Pradana (feminine) while Pura Besakih is purusha (masculine), thus the two temples complete the universal Balance. Whereas at Pura Besakih, God is worshipped to strengthen the soul of the people to achieve spiritual happiness, at Pura Batur, prayers are conducted to strengthen economic prosperity.
Lying at an altitude of 900 m above sea level, the temple is located at Kalanganyar Village, Kintamani sub district, Bangli regency, in the heart of Central Bali. Rebuilt in 1926, the temple is dedicated to Dewi Batari Ulun Danu, the goddess of lakes and rivers. "Ulun Danu" itself literally translates as "head of the lake". Until 1917, the Ulun Danu Batur Temple was nestled in the northwestern slope of Mount Batur. The large eruption of Mount Batur in 1917, which swallowed thousands of lives and ruined the entire area, equally sorely damaged the temple. The head of the village and the residents then decided to bring the surviving shrines with them and rebuilt the temple at higher ground in Kalanganyar. In the following 1926 eruption, the entire the Batur village, including the temple, was once again buried by lava. But the 11-tiered meru shrine of Dewi Danu located in the temple compound survived. After the catastrophe not only was the temple rebuilt on higher ground, but the village was also shifted higher.
This temple is the core of all water temples in Central Bali. It is paramount among all water temple systems which has great authority over all irrigation systems that draw water from Lake Batur in Bali’s famed Subak landscape. This unique system, which is a recognized UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, comprises not only the technical aspects of rice cultivation and irrigation but is moreover part and parcel of the social and religious unity on Bali.
The history of Pura Ulun Danu also can be traced from Lontar Babad Mengwi. An Indonesia's scripture. In that scripture, there is a story about I Gusti Agung Putu, who loses in a war against I Gusti Ngurah Batu Tumpeng. After the loses, I Gusti Agung Putu meditating in mountain Mangu, to obtain strength and enlightenment. I Gusti Ngurah Agung Putu then built Bela Ayu castle, and goes to war against I Gusti Ngurah Batu Tumpeng again. This time he won.
Afeter his victory I Gusti Agung Putu, built Pura Ulun Danu Bratan and founding the Mengwi kingdom.
It is said that the construction is happen around 1634 AD (1556 saka) one year before I Gusti Agung Putu built his Pura Taman Ayun.
Main purposes :
to worship Sang Hyang Widhi and His care to the lake, river and water. It also used to worship Laksmi goddess, goddess of the lake and the river also a goddess of beauty and fertility.
Ulun Danu, means above Danau, or above the lake.
Lake Bratan it self is an important lake.
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