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Meru at Pura Besakih

Keywords : Pura Besakih, Karangkasem dynasty, Klungklung dynasty

Site common namePura Besakih
Type of artworkArchitecture
Village-
Province/CityKarangasem
StateBali
CountryIndonesia
Geographic Coordinates
Decimal degree		Lat : -8.374387
Long : 115.4509474

History of productionPura Besakih is the most significant temple in Bali as this temple locates on the slope of Gunung Agung, the highest mountain in Bali. Gunung Agung is also compared with Mt. Meru, the abode of Śiva. Moreover, this temple is the dynastic temple of several Balinese dynasties, including Karangkasem and Klungklung.
ArtMeru is the name for the square tower with series of sloping thatched roofs, symbolizing the tower for the high-rankings. This kind of tower, therefore, is normally assigned for the significant gods. Meru normally locates inside the innermost courtyard of the temple. The thatched roof is normally perishable and always re-thatched, different form the brick-or-stone gateway which is quite permanent.
PeriodHistorical Period
Art periodBalinese Art
Age15th-20th Century A.D.
ReligionBrahmanism-Hinduism
Religion and beliefThe tower called as Meru is reminiscent of the mountainous pivot of the universe, Mt. Meru, the abode of Śiva. This type of tower is therefore associated with the abode of the gods.

Type of LicenseAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)
RightsPrincess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
Date of record creation2015-02-00
Record creatorChedha Tingsanchali