Tanah Lot Temple is one of the famous Bali Tourist Attractions located on the coastal side of the Beraban countryside, Kediri sub-district, and Tabanan Regency. It is situated 30 km on the west side of Denpasar town and about 11 Km on the south side of Tabanan town. The temple is built on a rock of a 3-acre size and is reachable in a few minutes by walk because it is just 20 meters from the coastal lip.
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Tanah Lot Temple – One Of Most Popular Tourist Destinations In Bali
Tanah Lot Temple is very famous among Bali Tourist Attractions with spectacular sunset views. At some nooks of coral reef around Tanah Lot Temple, there is a holy tame snake in black and white color where according to the local society believe that it as a deity property and as the guard of the temple from the bad influence.
Tanah Lot Temple Philosophy
The word of TANAH LOT consists of two words that are TANAH word interpreted as a reef looking like Gili or isle. LOT or LOD word has meant the sea. So Tanah Lot is meaning the small island floating on the sea.
The location is now called Tanah Lot has been used at a Megalithic period as a place that looked into holy, proven from the existence of menhir. Pursuant to environmental conditions, hence the structure of Tanah Lot Temple is built at an irregular reef plain of its angle which is only consisted of one plain yard as Jeroan.
Tanah Lot Temple is different from other temples on the island of Bali, Tanah Lot does not have a few pages because it is built on a plain of coral that irregular corners of his home. Inside the actual temple compound itself, there are tiered shrines that follow the fundamental elements of Balinese design where the number of levels constructed is symbolic of the complexities of the faith.
There are other formations within the area that indicate that the site is not only of great religious importance but also maintains archaeological value. Temple nestled in the ocean has a ritual or ceremony which takes place every 6 months or 210 days. At that time all the Hindus from different areas in Bali will come to worship in peace and harmony to invoke.
Tanah Lot Temple History
Dang Hyang Nirartha” better known as Pedanda Sakti Wau Rauh” came from the region of Blambangan, East Java to Bali Island around the 16th century. At the time of the Reign of King Dalem Waturenggong in Gelgel, Bali. Later, he held a sacred journey (Dharmayatra) and walk down the south coast of Bali Island from the western to the eastern regions.
In the journey, in the end, he found a beach in the Tabanan area (now is Tabanan Regency), not far from the Baraban Village. Furthermore, he saw a rock in the shape of a small island in the sea. In this place, he meditate and he felt the vibrations of chastity. So on top of the rock, he suggested setting up a holy building for the worship of God then is now the Tanah Lot Temple.
One of the uniqueness of the owned Tanah Lot is across the street from the temple there are a number of caves in which lived a few sea snakes are colored black and white generally can be met on the coast. Part of its stomach there are no athwart skin, there is only small skin, but this sea water snake is very noxious but snake bite case are very seldom happened because the sea water snake is generally very passive.
These snakes are very tame and not to be bullied for being considered a forerunner of the keeper and protecting the entire area from unseen evil forces. Then there is also the trust in the Tanah Lot Temple there is also the source of holy water, exactly beneath the temple. Holy water is believed can bring sustenance to anyone who drank it.
The function of this temple can be realized from the function of the main temple building which is located in the temple main area. In this place, there is the main temple to worship the god in form of Dewa Baruna or Bhatara Segara, the sea power. The media of worship to this god is the temple building with 5 storied meanwhile the 3 storied temple building in the north part of this area is purposing to worship to Dang Hyang Nirartha.
Tanah Lot Temple Function
In order to know the status of Tanah Lot Temple can be realized from the temple history, function, and also incoming devotee existence pray when temple ceremony is held. In this case, can be realized as follows:
- Tanah Lot Temple as dang Kahyangan (the big Holy Temples in Bali), because the history and the Penyiwi (The people taking care of the temple) are from the local people from Tabanan regency and surrounding area
- Tanah Lot Temple as Segara Temple, because its function as sanctum to worship the Bhatara Segara, the God with manifestation as the ocean Power Deity
Not to be separated from the myths that include everything from the establishment of the Tanah Lot Temple this temple remains one of the main icons of tourism in Bali Island. This will be an impressive religious tourism journey for you let alone a visit while holding rituals accompanied by the event themed Tanah Lot Spectacular will make a trip on the Bali Island is becoming increasingly a memorable one.
The most popular time to pay a visit to Tanah Lot Temple is late afternoon when the sun begins to settle over the horizon and the temple is silhouetted against the vibrant glow of the sky. The site draws a crowd of travelers who come by the busload to witness this magnificent temple scene against a background of crashing waves.