Taman Ayun Temple is a sacred area which included in one type of "Kingdom's temple" that existed on the island of Bali, with mileage 18 kilometers from Denpasar city (capital of Bali island), and this holy place is located at Mengwi village, Mengwi sub-district, Badung regency - Bali.
Talking about the history origin of Taman Ayun Mengwi temple, very closely related to the establishment of Mengwi's kingdom in the year 1627 AD (Saka year 1549), and Mengwi's kingdom itself has another name, ie: "Mangapura", "Mangarajia", and "Kawiyapura" which has very long history with various abilities as a great empire.
According to the inscription, that the existence of Taman Ayun Mengwi's Royal temple was built by the king of Mengwi, which at that time the rope Mengwi government still held by the first King of Mengwi, namely: "I Gusti Agung Ngurah Made Agung" and change the name to be "Ida Cokorda Sakti Belambangan" in the year 1627 AD (Saka year 1549) and this temple finished purified in the year 1634 AD (Saka year 1556).
Concerning the architecture of Taman Ayun temple was made by the king's colleague whose a Chinese descent from Banyuwangi named: "Ing Khang Ghoew", often called "I Kaco". And literally meaning of this holy place comes from uric word of "Taman" means garden, and "Ayun or Ayu" means beautiful.
So its meaning leads to a holy temple area which surrounded by a beautiful water garden and used by the balinese hindu community of Mengwi to express gratitude to the God for all the blessings that have been given with regularly held a religious ceremonies.
also give an opportunities to all of Mengwi's community to join in religious ceremony which held at Taman Ayun temple, such as: "Meajar - Ajar ceremony", "Memendak Hyang Pitra ceremony", "Nunas Pekuluh ceremony (holy water)", Ceremony to eradicate pests in rice fields and other ceremonies.
The existence Pura Taman Ayun is one type of "Paibon / Pedarman temple" from Mengwi's royal family which primarily to worship the spirits ancestors from the king with realizing a construction of "Gedong Paibon".
Taman Ayun temple also divided into three (3) yard, ie:
- Outer yard (Jaba Sisi / Nista Mandala)
- Middle yard (Jaba Tengah / Madya Mandala)
- Inner yard (Jeroan / Utama Mandala)
And for the visitors or "Pemedek" (Mengwi community who will perform worship), to enter the inner yard constructed has to pass a "Paduraksa" (Kori Agung), whereas in Madya Mandala (middle yard) and Nista Mandala (outer yard) has to pass "Apit Surang / Candi Bentar " (split gate).
In addition of Gedong Paibon building, on the inner yard (Jeroan) also equipped with pelinggih (shrines) as "Pesimpangan / Pengayatan" of all big temples (Sad Kahyangan) throughout the entire of Bali.
Purposes establishment of the building shrines by Mengwi's king is: for all hindu society who live around mengwi can use the temple to invoke blessing for safety, well-being, fertility and prosperities.
In addition, also built a shrine as place to worship "Pasek Badak" and to worship the spirits ancestors of Pasek Badak that respected by the whole "Bala Putra" (Soldiers of the Kingdom).
Mengwi Taman Ayun temple is also a garden for resting place and recreation to Mengwi's royal family, and the temple has an area of 4 hectares (40,000 m2) with a height about 180 - 240 meters above the sea level, surrounded by large water pool. Which at the first time this water pond planted with variegated flowers,
such as: lotus flowers, while around the edges of the pond is overgrown with frangipani flowers, Cempaka, Kenanga, Sekarwati, Plasa, Tunjung, Siulan and fruit trees, such as: mangosteen trees, durian trees, Wani trees, mango trees, and rambutan trees.
The existence of Taman Ayun temple strongly influenced by the ebb flow of royal Mengwi, in the year 1890 AD (Saka year 1812) there arose war with the king of Badung, and finally Mengwi defeated and the 10th of Mengwi's king, namely: "I Gusti Agung Made Agung" died in the war.
Finally, all the royal family who are still alive fled to the east area, and while in exile, Taman Ayun temple not maintained well as before the war were treated very well, so that arose damage to the existing buildings.
In 1911 AD when half of the royal family returned, then Mengwi Taman Ayun temple eventually nursed back, but on Saturday 20th January 1917 AD occurred a very powerful earthquake (gejer Bali), so many of the buildings being collapsed and damaged.
The renovation has been done several times since the earthquake from volcanic eruption of Kintamani Batur and the eruptions of Mount Agung in Karangasem East Bali) that hit Bali island, and rejuvenation done on Saturday 20th, January 1917 AD, then in 1937 AD has implemented the buildings improvements globally, and in the year 1949 AD, in 1972 and last improvements in the year 1976 so it looks like now.
The temple ceremony in Taman Ayun implemented every six (6) months, on "Anggara Kliwon Medangsia" or every 210 days in balinese calender.
Taman Ayun temple has been visited by tourists since before the World War, while as "Pengemong" (society who maintain the temple) by the royal family of Puri Gede Mengwi and assisted by a committee consisting of "Prajuru Adat", such as: village of Mengwi which consisted of 38 indigenous village called "Mangu Kertha Mandala".
And for those of you who intend to visit Taman Ayun temple, will be charged entrance fee ticket at IDR 30,000 per person and must be paid at the front gate before entering Taman Ayun temple.
For further explanation from tourist attraction of Mengwi Taman Ayun temple and how to arrange sightseeing trip to this sacred area, please "Contact Us" at Sorga Bali Tours (Online organizer for holidays, Adventure packages and Tour service activities).
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