Dalem Sakenan Temple: Danghyang Nirartha's Spiritual Trail on Serangan Island
An important temple located in southern Bali, above the coast in the northwest of Serangan Island, there is a temple known as Kahyangan Jagat temple and still has a Buddhist connection, Pura Dalem Sakenan.
Hindus use temples as places of worship to worship God Almighty in its various aspects and manifestations. There are four types of temples known to the Balinese people, namely Kahyangan Jagat Temple, Kahyangan Tiga Temple, Swagina Temple, and Kawitan Temple. Kahyangan Jagat Temple is a sacred place with the concept of Sanga Mandala or Dewata Nawa Sanga. It can be interpreted that Kahyangan jagat Temple is known as the nine main temples which become the "sthana" (place) of the nine Gods Guarding the Cardinal Directions.
Pura Dalem Sakenan is a sacred place and a place to ask for salvation. Pura Dalem Sakenan as the seat of Hyang Sandhijaya is also called Tatmajuja, always maintaining the tranquility of the ocean (segara pakerti), the savior of the world and merayascita all kinds of kala bhuta, humans, all kinds of diseases and eliminate all kinds of disasters in the world.
Pura Dalem Serangan is located in Serangan Village, Denpasar City, Bali, is one of the Sad Kahyangan Jagat Temples built with the background of gratitude of people who feel "sira angen" with the beauty of Serangan Island. In the past, Pura Dalem Sakenan was called "Sakyamuni", which means "Buddha" in the history of Shiva Buddha in Bali. The history of Pura Dalem Sakenan cannot be separated from the journey of holy men, such as Danghyang Nirarta and Empu Kuturan.
Madya Mandala Dalem Sakenan Temple (Source Photo : Personal Collection)
Pura Dalem Sakenan was originally just a shining stone found by Danghyang Astapaka when traveling to Bali in 1530 M, finally making a temple. Then Pedanda Sakti Wawu Rauh (Dang Hyang Nirartha) came to Bali to see the temple and perfected it by performing a ceremony. The temple was then named Pura Dalem Sakenan.
Pura Dalem Sakenan has the concept of swamandala, consisting of pelinggihs and buildings inside. Pura Dalem Sakenan consists of two temples, namely Pura Dalem Sakenan and Pura Pesamuan or Penataran Agung Sakenan. This temple has three courtyards (trimandala): Uttama Mandala, Madya Mandala, and Nista Mandala. Each courtyard is bounded by a perimeter wall complete with Kori Agung, Apit Lawang and Bebetelan. At the top of the grand kori is carved the head of Kala. Inside the Uttama Mandala there are a number of temples, such as Candi, Bale Tajuk, Bale Pesandekan, and Apit Lawang.
Sakenan Dalem Temple (Source Photo : Personal Collection)
In front of the Kurung Temple that connects the Uttama Mandala and Madya Mandala there are two Ganesha statues flanking the Kurung Temple. Madya Mandala is entirely surrounded by walls and complete with Bentar Temple on the west side and Petetesan on the north and east sides. The Nista Mandala is just an empty courtyard.
The pelinggih buildings in the main mandala are rocks in the form of Padma Capah stana Ida Batara Masjati, also as a Jro Dukuh Sakti worship. Meru Tumpang Tiga stana Batara Batur, Intaran, Ida Batara Muter. Gedong Jati statue of Ida Ratu Ayu, Gedong (Tajuk) statue of Batara Buitan and Batara Muntur. There is also a bale gede or bale paruman function as a meeting place for the pemangku, and also a place to purify the pratima of Ida Batara and the place for the sulinggih and the kings when there is a pujawali ceremony.
Pujawali (Great Celebration) and Piodalan (Birthday) of Pura Dalem Sakenan falls on Saturday Kliwon Kuningan according to the Balinese Pawukon calendar which is 210 days long. The celebration lasts for three days with its peak on Sunday. The celebration coincides with the celebration of Kuningan Day, 10 days after Galungan, usually the celebration is also enlivened by various performances such as Barong Dance to Mask Dance.
After arriving at Serangan Island, the pemdek (pilgrims) first stop at Susunan Wadon Temple, which is located to the east of Sakenan Temple. Next, they continue to Susunan Agung Temple, and then Dalem Sakenan Temple, which is near the westernmost beach of Serangan Island. In literary studies this series can be traced from the words Pura Susunan Wadon, Susunan Agung and Pura Dalem Sakenan. There is an understanding of Purusa, Pradhana, and Susunan Agung as "Lingga", "Yoni", and the place of union between Purusa and Pradana (the union of the self with maharoh as the origin of every living being. It was this understanding that Mpu Kuturan found that gave birth to the Susunan Lanang and Susunan Wadon temples. The same thing also happened during the presence of Dang Hyang Nirartha so that, as a tribute to him, the Pura Dalem Sakenan temple was made which is a union between Shiva and Buddha.
