Pura Besakih Bali is a painting by Melly Terpening which was uploaded on March 14th, 2015.
Pura Besakih Bali
Pura Besakih or The Mother Temple of Besakih in the village of Besakih on the slopes of Mount Agung in eastern Bali, Indonesia, is the most... more
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Price
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Dimensions
21.000 x 15.000 inches
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Title
Pura Besakih Bali
Artist
Melly Terpening
Medium
Painting - Watercolor On Paper
Description
Pura Besakih or The Mother Temple of Besakih in the village of Besakih on the slopes of Mount Agung in eastern Bali, Indonesia, is the most important, the largest and holiest temple of Hindu religion in Bali,[1] and one of a series of Balinese temples. Perched nearly 1000 meters up the side of Gunung Agung, it is an extensive complex of 23 separate but related temples with the largest and most important being Pura Penataran Agung. This is built on six levels, terraced up the slope. This entrance is an imposing Candi Bentar (split gateway), and beyond it the even more impressive Kori Agung is the gateway to the second courtyard.[2]
The precise origins of the temple are not clear but it almost certainly dates from prehistoric times. The stone bases of Pura Penataran Agung and several other temples resemble megalithic stepped pyramids, which date back at least 2000 years. It was certainly used as a Hindu place of worship from 1284 when the first Javanese conquerors settled in Bali. By the 15th century, Besakih had become a state temple of the Gelgel dynasty.[2]
This Mother Temple is actually a complex made up of twenty-two temples that sit on parallel ridges. It has stepped terraces and flights of stairs which ascend to a number of courtyards and brick gateways that in turn lead up to the main spire or Meru structure, which is called Pura Penataran Agung. All this is aligned along a single axis and designed to lead the spiritual person upward and closer to the mountain which is considered sacred.[3]
The main sanctuary of the complex is the Pura Penataran Agung. The symbolic center of the main sanctuary is the lotus throne or padmasana, which is therefore the ritual focus of the entire complex. It dates to around the seventeenth century.[4]
A series of eruptions of Mount Agung in 1963, which killed approximately 1,700 people[5][6] also threatened Pura Besakih. The lava flows missed the temple complex by mere meters. The saving of the temple is regarded by the Balinese people as miraculous, and a signal from the gods that they wished to demonstrate their power but not destroy the monument the Balinese faithful had erected.
Source : Wikipedia
Uploaded
March 14th, 2015
More from Melly Terpening
Comments (48)
Ian Gledhill
Melly..This stunning water color painting,has been voted as the winning entry in the 'Awesome Asia group members contest 'Religions of Asia' for June 2017...Congratulations..Ian (admin).
Ian Gledhill
Congratulations..On your 2nd.Place in the 'Awesome Asia' group monthly contest 'Asian Places of Worship'. With this stunning painting of the temple 'Pura Besakih' in Bali,Indonesia...Melly..Very well done..Ian (admin).
Ian Gledhill
Congratulations: your beautiful watercolor painting of Bali,is being featured in the 'Awesome Asia' group..Melly..:)
Melly Terpening replied:
Thank you very much Ian for the honor to be featured on the homepage Awesome Asia Group. I really appreciate it
Music of the Heart
I love the way you have installed all these people there Melly..what a great charming atmosphere!! Fantastic work my friend! FL
Maria Hunt
I voted for this but failed to congratulate you on your Sale... Such a beautiful work. Fave & Thumbs up!!! : )