Kehen Temple
Kehen Temple is situated on a small hill side in northern part of Bangli at Pekuwon sub village, Cempaga Village, Bangli Regency about 45 Km from Denpasar. This great temple in the middle of Bangli stores several essential inscriptions declared as an Indonesian cultural heritage.
How long has Kehen Temple existed? According to Bendesa (village responsible person) of Cempaga Village, I Nyoman Resiyasa, it’s hard to predict the temple’s existence. Obviously, Bangli’s history began and basically adopted Kehen inscriptions on the 10th of May 1204. “It means that Kehen Temple had existed long before,” adding that the temple underwent renovation in 1917, after an earthquake demolished it.
Resiyasa who is usually called Mekel Bulakan, or Jero Mangku of Kehen Tehen said, there are 113 shrines existing around Kehen Temple. However, the main shrine is in the shape of Meru Tumpang Solas (eleven leveled shrine). On the left side of this Meru exists other shrines in line called Puncak Yang Ukir, Hyang Puserin Jagat, Betara Sanghyang Pujung Sari, Bhatara Gunung Tengah, Bhatara Gunung Koloka, Bhatara Gede Sema, Bhatara Tamansari, Bhatara Ratu Penyarikan, Bhatara Ratu Pasek Tugu and Bhatara Ratu Pasek Majembul.
Whilst on the right side there are other shrines such as Bhatara Ngurah Agung, Bhatara Gunung Agung, Bhatara Manik Tirtha, Bhatara Ratu Maspahit, Bhatara Ratu Gede Pande and Bhatara Ratu Pande Madura all sited at the main temple area (utama mandala) with a further ten different also located at Jaba Duwur and Jaba Sisi.
It was explained that historically the responsible clan/society of Kehen Temple is Gebog Domas (domas means eight hundred), which means the people who occupy 800 karang ayahan (dwelling land) and bebanoan spread within Bangli and surrounding areas.
Gebog Domas, Bebanoan (supporting people) and also pakaseh/subak members around the temple’s area will be responsible on any ceremonial execution, temple’s maintenance under the coordination of the Jero Gede, Kehen Temple.
The feast day ceremony of Kehen Temple falls every 210 days, Buda Kliwon Shinta (27 July 2005), whilst the Ngusaba ritual is carried out once in every 3 years, on Purnama Sasih Kelima
Leave your response!