Ulun Danu Bratan Temple - Bali

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, or Pura Bratan, is a major water temple on Bali, Indonesia — the other major water temple being Pura Ulun Danu Batur. The temple complex is located on the shores of Danu Bratan (Lake Bratan) in the mountains near Bedugul. Water temples serve the entire region in the outflow area; downstream there are many smaller water temples that are specific to each irrigation association (subak).

Ulun Danu Temple is a Balinese Hindu Temple located at Candi Kuning countryside, Baturiti sub district and Tabanan regency. The distance from Denpasar town is about 50 km north side the way from Denpasar to Singaraja. It is set at lakeside of Bratan with beautiful lake view and hills surround it. It is situated in the plateau area with cool atmosphere surround it and hills as a backdrop. We can find at north side of this temple is Pucak Sangkur mount, in the eastside there is Bratan Mount which also referred as Pucak Mangu or Pucak Pangelengan, in the south side there is Terate Bang Mount and in the Westside there is Tapak Mount and Watukaru Mount.

The name of Ulun Danu Bratan Temple is taken from the lake where the temple is built at Bratan Lake. The name of Bratan Lake is inseparable with the Bratan 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 Bratan (sanctum located in lakeside of Bratan Lake ). Ulun is come from Hulu word meaning head or power and in this case is intended by Ulun Danu Bratan means power of Bratan Lake that is Danu Goddess.

Pura Ulun Danu is notable for its impressive location: it sits on a tiny island, in a great lake at the foot of the ancient mountain of Bratan. Dedicated to the goddess Dewi Batarai Ulun Danu, the guardian of lakes and rivers, the temple boasts stunning views of the nearby mountains as they reflect in the surrounding waters. It was almost entirely rebuilt after Mount Bratan erupted in 1926, and these days it’s easily reachable via the main road from Denpasar to Singaraja.

Ulun Danu Bratan Temple is consisted of 4 temples complex that are:

*Lingga Petak Temple owns the function to worship the Siwa God.

*Penataran Pucak Mangu Temple is referred this gate as Parhyangan ri pinggiring rawa Bratan or Danu Bratan Temple to worship the Hyang ing Parwata or Deity which is placed in Pucak Mangu that is Bhatara Hyang Danawa as according to papyrus of Padma Bhuwana and Usana Bali, because Mangu Mount is located in north direction, hence it is called the Bhatara Hyang Danawa or Wisnu God.

*Terate Bang Temple is functioning to worship of Brahma God.

*Dalem Purwa Temple is functioning to worship of Danu Goddess which is considered to be miraculous of the Bhatara Hyang Danawa or Laksmi Goddess.

In Papyrus Chronicle of the Mengwi is elaborated by the history of Ulun Danu Bratan Temple founding together with existence of the Mengwi Empire. Therefore its status is pertained with the secondhand of Temple Empire what is usually pertained as Dang Kahyangan. It is the same to the description in papyrus of Usana Bali and Padma Bhuwana, hence Puncak Mangu Temple where the Panyawangan (representative place to worship) is the Ulun Danu Bratan Temple. So it is called by entire Balinese residents as Kahyangan Jagat (The Biggest Group of Hindu Temple in Bali).

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pura_Ulun_Danu_Bratan,

  http://www.balistarisland.com/Bali-Interesting-Place/

Images: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Pura_Ulun_Danu_Bratan