the Monkey Forest
the Monkey Forest located at Jalan Monkey Forest, Padang Tegal. According to the book Pura Purana, the Monkey Forest is a Sacred Monkey Temple established in the XIV century. At that time, the Kingdom of Gianyar was controlled by the Pejeng Dynasty or around the beginning of Gelgel Dynasty.
Monkey Forest is inhabited by some 300 monkeys and 14 deer, while there are also three temples—the Dalem Agung, Mandi Suci and Prajapati—and two burial plots. Several plants like banyan tree, pule (Alstonia cholaris), nagasari (Mesua ferrea), gaharu, jelema, ancak (Ficus ruphii), bilva (Aegle marmelos), kesambi (Schleichera oleosa), champak, majegau (Aquilaria malaccensisllam) and others take part in beautifying this object. They all can function as the ingredients of holy oblation.
To make sure that everyone can enjoy the allure of Monkey Forest it is currently guarded by 15 personnel, daily serving as overseers of the tourists making visit there. Also 12 pecalangs (traditional security from the local customary village) are assigned to assist the tourism police.
Once in six months, a religious rite is held here as an implementation of harmonious relationship amongst the humans, to nature (including animal) and to God as mandated in the Tri Hita Karana (three causes of happiness). This ritual activity is conducted coinciding with the Hindu affection day called the Tumpek Kandang (affection to animal). The Hindu community in Bali within its six calendar months (210 days) celebrate six times affection day, namely Saturday Kliwon as an embodiment of affection to domesticated animals (cow, pig, duck, chicken and so on), plants, works of art, weapon (tools or devices made from iron or metal), family and universe (earth) appreciated into rituality called Tumpek Kandang, Tumpek Wariga, Tumpek Wayang, Tumpek Landep, Tumpek Krulut and Tumpek Kuningan.
Execution of holy sacrifice like this (yajna) aims at maintaining the harmonious relationship of human to nature in order the latter could give prosperity of life. Within the circle of community, this execution is generally carried out on a small scale (nista). However, rituals at the Monkey Forest are held in grandiose scale (utama) in the midst of the forest witnessed by the administrators of local customary village.
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