The Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

The Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is a testament to Bali’s deep spiritual roots. In a land sprinkled with thousands of temples, this sacred complex stands out in terms of beauty, history, and reverence.

The temple is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the Balinese goddess of water, over whom the island’s indigenous people have a special affection. Dewi Danu is the goddess of Lake Bratan, as well as the land it nourishes with its waters – Bali’s rice terraced fields. She is an integral part of Bali natives, especially for those whose lives depend on the crops and the water she provides. For thousands of years, Bali’s farmers have come to Ulun Danu Beratan Temple to deliver crops, express their gratitude, and pray to the gods for more rain so their crops will grow strong. It is a place where the oldest locals of Bali gather to honor the gods and perpetuate the traditions of devotion and respectfulness.

Once a single body and the largest lake in Bali, Lake Beratan experienced an ancient event that split its waters by a powerful earthquake. Three distinct lakes emerged: Beratan, Buyan, and Tamblingan.

The name Beratan originates from Brata, which means one harmonizes with the nine meanings of life. The nine facets are called Tapa Brata; the word Brata is used to describe meditation and other harmonization activities to seek balance with nature.

Therefore, the name Ulun Danu Beratan is a reference to the source temple of Lake Beratan, and the place holds a specific spiritual weight. Today, Lake Beratan is the second-largest in Bali, serving as the primary irrigation source for rice fields and plantations all over Bedugul Village. The area is characterized by a mountain often considered the holy mountain, served by the mountain’s cooler climatic conditions and volcanic soils, both spirituality and agricultural conditions.

Locations:

Private drivers or taxi services are among the most common ways to get to the Ulun Danu Bratan Temple from the Denpasar Airport or a number of other popular tourist locations around Bali.

Depending on the specific pick-up spot, the distance traveled, and the traffic conditions, the ride from the airport can take between 2 and 2.5 hours.

From Ubud, the trip varies between 1.5 and 2 hours and offers a beautiful road trip surrounded by vibrant greenery .

Visitors staying in Kuta or Nusa Dua, or Seminyak can expect approximately 1.5 to 3-hour-long transfers to the temple due to the heavy traffic in these crowded tourist neighborhoods .

Despite the differences, all the routes offer a beautiful view of Bali’s travelers and the sights.

See Picture

History:

In the lush expanse of Bali’s thriving landscapes looms the glorious structure of Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, showcasing both the rich history of the island and the spiritual dedication of its people. Brought to the realm through folklore and legend, the temple’s story is uncovered through the miraculous discovery of ancient writings on fragile lontar leaves.

The story begins with the valiant I Gusti Agung Putu, a noble warrior suffering a bitter defeat at the hands of the fearsome I Gusti Ngurah Batu Tumpeng, who sought solace amid the tranquil heights of Mount Mangu.

According to the legend, I Gusti Agung Putu won a decisive victory over his rival after meditating on Mount Mangu, the place where Lake Beratan now exists. To commemorate his triumph and demonstrate his newfound authority, he erected a temple along the banks of the new lake, founding the Mengwi Kingdom in the process. This most likely happened before 1634 A.D, or 1556 in the Balinese Saka calendar, connecting the temple’s origin with the history of the ancient kingdom.

Moreover, while the manuscript shows the link to the royal legacy, the temple’s site was ancient and already considered sacred in Megalithic times. Preceramic megaliths have been unearthed around Lake Beratan and stored within and surrounding the temple. Furthermore, the place is dedicated to the water goddess Danu, “referred to as the queen of water, beauty, and fertility” . The lake Beratan also receives water from mountain springs and the highlands around it; thus, the temple utilized the water for irrigation and played an important role in central Bali’s irrigation agricultural lands and the highland villagers’ veneration of water.

The Temple Layout:

The architectural form of Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is just as spiritually vital as the content of its symbols. In the central part of the temple, there are four especially high facilities, the name of which is Meru. These are large shrines with an original shape: the shrines are topped with decreasing increasingly more tiers .

The first meru, which is the highest, has 11 tiers, and it is namesake after Lord Vishnu. A popular legend states that this place is responsible for the fertility of the lands around these places. The temple is thus visited for fertility, prosperity, and longevity. The devotees believe that the life force of this territory depends on the patronage of this deity

Next to Lord Vishnu's temple, the second meru is installed, and it is shorter, counting only seven tiers. It belongs to another deity of the triad –Lord Brahma, which is a creator according to myth. It serves as an element of the temple culture and religious castle.

The third in the trinity – Lord Shiva / Devi Parvati best represented in the residence of the meru with three sections. They represent a single cycle of life and the principle of eternal dance of creation- destruction. The muniatis largely play the sacred symbol.

These buildings are fundamentally designed in an odd-number form: three, seven, and eleven. The temple is focused on the worship in these places. Through the temple, through the energy of both the body and the soul in these places.