Pura Kehen

Pura Kehen is a Balinese Hindu temple located in Cempaga, Bangli Regency, Bali. The temple is set on the foot of a wooded hill, about 2 km north of the town center. Established at least in the 13th-century, Pura Kehen was the royal temple of the Bangli Kingdom, now the Regency of Bangli.

History
Pura Kehen was the main temple of the Bangli Regency. Bangli Regency was formerly the center of a kingdom known under the same name. The Bangli Kingdom was one of the nine kingdoms of Bali. The name Bangli derives from bang giri, meaning "red forest" or "red mountain". The Regency of Bangli was founded by the Gelgel Kingdom of the Majapahit dynasty.

Pura Kehen was mentioned three times in three copper inscriptions dated from the late 9th century, the early 11th century, and the 13th century. The copper inscriptions mentioned the temple under different names. In the late 9th-century inscription, the temple was mentioned as Hyang Api ("god of fire) by the Brahmans who maintain the temple. In the second inscription dating to the early 11th-century, the temple was named Hyang Kehen; the word Kehen is derived from the Balinese word keren which means "flame". In this period, the Pura Hyang Kehen was the official temple where oath ceremonies took place for royal officials. In such ceremonies, those who are proven unfaithful will be subjected to the terrible sapata ("curse") to him, his families, and his descendants. The oath ceremony was performed in front of the figure of Hyang Api or Hyang Kehen, the god of fire Agni. A vessel known as bejana sarpantaka was used for such performance; this vessel, which is decorated with four serpents winding around the vessel, was kept in an enclosed pavilion to the east of the main shrine of Pura Kehen.

The temple was named Pura Kehen in the 13th-century inscription. All inscriptions mentioned the association of Pura Kehen with the village of Bangli.

Temple layout
Pura Kehen temple compound is built over a hilly outcrop. The temple is aligned north-south, with the north part being the highest part of the temple. It is divided into three areas: the outer sanctum of the temple (jaba pisan or nistaning mandala), the middle sanctum (jaba tengah or madya mandala), and the inner main sanctum (jero or utamaning mandala).

Three sets of stairs lead visitors to the outer sanctum of the temple from the street. The landscape is terraced and is decorated with stone statues representing characters from the Indian epic Ramayana. Three gateways mark the entrance into the outer sanctum (jaba pisan). The central gateways or portal is in the form of paduraksa, which is unusual since paduraksa normally used to mark entrance into the inner main sanctum.

The outer sanctum (jaba pisan) features a banyan tree of at least 400 years old. The enormous banyan tree features a monk's cell high up in the branches. The tree is considered sacred by the people of Bangli. It is believed that if a branch of the tree broke, a disaster (grubug) would follow, usually the death of a person. The location of the broken branch indicates the person that would die; if a branch is broke on the kaja-kangin (north-east) side, a king will die; if it is broke on the kaja-kauh (north-west) side, a brahmin will die; the kelod-kangin and the kelod-kauh means that a common people will die. Several bale (Balinese pavilions) located in the outer sanctum are the bale gong ("gong pavilion") where the gamelans are stored.

The middle sanctum (jaba tengah) is accessed via a candi bentar gateway. The middle sanctum acts as a transitional area between the outer sanctum and the inner sanctum. Several shrines (pelinggih) are located in the middle sanctum. Other southwest side of the middle sanctum, the perantenan area, is used as a place to prepare ceremonial offerings.

The uppermost inner sanctum (jero) is the most sacred courtyard of the Balinese temple. The courtyard features an 11-tiered meru tower, the most sacred shrine of the Pura Kehen dedicated to the God that protects the temple. A padmasana lotus shrine is also located in this courtyard, dedicated to the highest Hindu Trimurti of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Several other shrines surround the main meru tower, dedicated to the gods of the local geography e.g. the mountain gods. Porcelain plates decorate the wall below the inner sanctum. Some of these depict a scene of rural England, with a watermill and a coach drawn by four horses.

Rituals
The major Balinese feast of Pagerwesi was held once every six months at the full moon of the Rabu Kliwon Wuku Sinta day to honor Hyang Widhi and His manifestations.

Another major feast, the Ngusaba Dewa or Karya Agung Bhatara Turun Kabeh, is held on Purnama Kalima (early November) on the Saniscara Pon Wuku Sinta day.

Other smaller feasts held at Pura Kehen are ceremonies to honor other gods e.g. Saraswati, Ulian Sugimanik, Purnama, Tilem, Kajeng Kliwon and Buda Kliwon.