Why is it called the mother of temples in Bali, because the complex of the Besakih temple is very large and very wide and there are many small temples in it, being one of the largest temples and the most temples in it, so it can be said to be the mother of the temple. on the island of Bali. Bali’s “mother temple”, Besakih temple, is over 900 metres up the slopes of Gunung Agung. It has been regarded as a holy place since pre-historic times in Bali. The first recorded mention of its existence is from an inscription that dates from 1007 A.D. Since the Gelgel dynasty of the fifteenth century it has been regarded as a central, holy temple for the entire island. All the allegiances of the Balinese people come together at Besakih. Each regency has its own temple within the over-all compound, as do each of the caste groups. There is a total of 18 separate sanctuaries. The three main temples are : Pura Penataran Agung, Dedicated to Sang Hyang Widi Wasa : Pura Kiduling Kreteg, dedicated to Brahma; and Pura Batu Madeg, dedicated to Wisnu. To the Balinese a visit to the temple sanctuaries at Besakih temple is a special pilgrimage. Each temple has its own odalan, or anniversary celebration, and on the full moon of the Balinese month “Kedasa” the entire compound of Besakih celebrates the visit of the gods, with an enormous throng of visiting pilgrims.

Regarding the history of the Besakih Temple, there are several versions that tell about the history of this Besakih Temple, because the Besakih Temple is classified as very old, so research must still be carried out for history. Because in the Besakih Temple complex there are many relics of the megalithic era, such as menhirs, stone thrones, and pyramid terrace structures. These relics show that Pura Besakih comes from a very old age, long before the influence of Hinduism. Based on the stories circulating in the community and existing research, it can be explained about the history of besakih from several versions, including the following:

1. Besakih Temple History Based on Rsi Markandeya

   History Besakih Temple based on Rsi Markandeya : It started in 1284 where there was a rsi of Indian Hindu with name Rsi Markandeya descent who was a religious leader of Indian descent. Once he was meditating in the Dieng plateau and then he received a revelation to build the Besakih Temple. Then Rsi Markandeya went to the island of Bali through the forest in Java. According to the revelation heard and seen, Rsi Markandeya came to Bali by crossing the Segara Rupek (Bali Strait), the Rsi was accompanied by 8000 followers, the journey went straight to Mount Toh Langkir (now Mount Agung), to the slopes of the mountain which was still forested. In the wilderness, the sage and his followers began clearing the forest to clear land for agriculture. But his mission failed because many of his followers died of illness, mysterious events and were eaten by wild animals. As a yogi and ascetic, he knew that there was a mysterious power or aura that ruled the island. Finally he returned to Mount Dieng to meditate and ask for directions
   Then he got a revelation by bringing 400 people from the village of Aga who are residents of the foot of Mount Raung. But before starting the work, he performs ritual ceremonies such as mecaru and plants 5 metal elements or five Datu including gold, silver, copper, bronze, iron, and is accompanied by Mirah Adi (main gem), so that they are safe in doing their work in the forest on the slopes. Holy mountain. And it turns out that in carrying out the work of encroaching on the forest there are no more disasters. Perhaps this is the basis of Hindus today, always perform a yadnya ceremony before opening a new land, be it for a house, rice field or moor, and for a temple to plant the five elements of Panca Datu metal.
   After that he distributed land to his followers to be used as rice fields, plantations and houses. When Rsi Markandeya was on Mount Toh langkir (mountain agung) he saw that the island of Dawa (now the island of Bali) was not that big, so he replaced it with the name Wali Island which is now the island of Bali, where the word “wali” (Palawa language) from South India) which means sacred offerings, then at present the offerings or sacred ceremonies are known in the form of offerings which are brought by the people to the temple when they pray.
   Furthermore, the Toh Langkir area was developed by him and was given the name Besuki which later changed to the name Basuki which means safe. Meanwhile, the place where Rsi Markandeya performed the offering ceremony and planted the 5 metal elements (Panca Datu) was known as Besakih Temple. Initially from a shrine, then a temple called Besukian was built, then the temple continued to grow, the construction was carried out in stages, so that it became the largest temple complex which is now known as Pura Besakih.

2. Besakih Temple History Based on Sri Kesari Warmadewa

   History Besakih Temple based on Sri Kesari Warmadewa is the founder of the Warmadewa dynasty which ruled Bali for several centuries, believed to be the first founder of the temple complex in Besakih. This can be seen from the inscription at 914 CE the Belanjong pillar (“Blanjong Inscription”) in southern Sanur and the Penempahan inscription, and the Malet Gede inscription (835 Saka)9 which tells of Sri Kesari being a Buddhist king from the Syailendra dynasty who led a military expedition and to build a dynasty in Bali. As for the three inscriptions found if there is a similarity in the connection from Bali with the Sanjaya Dynasty in Central Java.
   This is a date according to the Indian Saka calendar. Another thing that attracts attention is that the three inscriptions essentially describe the victory of King Sri Kesari against his enemies. As a result of the obsolescence of the inscriptions, only two of the enemies can be identified, namely in the Desert and in Suwal. It should be added that the location of Gurun and Suwal is not yet known with certainty. Among experts, some argue that the Desert may be the same as today’s Lombok. Another opinion states that the Desert may be synonymous with Nusa Penida.
   Sri Kesari Warmadewa is known to be very diligent in worshiping to worship the gods who reside on Mount Agung. His place of worship is called Merajan Selonding or Merajan Kesari Warmadewa. As for him, it was he who carried out the expansion of the Penataran Agung Besakih temple which was once very simple and built the temples in Besakih to complement the existing sacred buildings including: Pura Gelap to worship Lord Iswara, Pura Kiduling Kreteg to worship Lord Brahma, Pura Ulun Kulkul to worship God. God Mahadewa, Pura Batumadeg to worship Lord Vishnu, Pura Dalem Puri to worship Goddess Durga, Pura Basukihan to glorify Naga Basukihan. It was he who ordered the people to celebrate Nyepi on Sasih Kesanga.

The Besakih’s name is come from the word of Basuki, the old language from Sanskrit Wasuki, and then it become the Ancient Java Language. In this Sanskrit, the Basuki means congratulation. In mythology of Samudramanthana has mentioned that Basuki is a dragon that twines the Mount Mandara. The omission has come from tradition megalithic which had been indicated that it had to be sanctified place. It seems, the Besakih temple is coming from very old era which is far before the existence of Hinduism influence. Hereinafter, an Ancient Bali king of Sri Kesari Warmadewa found the Merajan Selonding Temple in this temple complex area. He also commands to build the Blanjong Monument that is located in Sanur Village. The Besakih Temple complex is built pursuant to cosmos balance. It is based on the nature conception which is disseminating the fundamental temple complex that is arranged to pursuant of the way direction. So, this building can deputize nature as symbolic of the world balance existence.

Besakih temple is not only one temple there, besakih is called a temple complex, in which there is another temple, so besakih is said to be the largest temple on the island of Bali, where there are many supporting temples underneath which there are very many. In addition to the Panca Dewata temple which maintains the cardinal directions of the universe, there is also a main temple called the Basukihan temple and better known as the Besakih Temple. Located at the foot of the Penataran Agung Besakih Temple, on the right if we are going to climb the steps of the Penataran Agung Temple, there is a temple whose main pelinggih is meru tumpang pitu (level seven). This temple is named Pura Basukihan in which place according to the estimates of the Sulinggih. The Besakihan temple is the main temple of the temple complex in Besakih and according to sources from the priest here, Danghyang Markandeya planted Pancadatu Pedagingan (five types of metal with complete rituals) at Basukihan Temple, Penataran Agung Temple and Dalem Puri Temple is the mother of Kahyangan. Three in the villages namely Puseh temple, Desa temple and Dalem temple. From the most advanced equipment contained in each of the temples, as well as religious literature related to the procedures for building a temple, it appears that the Basukihan temple is the Puseh Jagat temple, Penataran Agung Temple functions as a Jagat Village temple and a Pura Pura Penataran Agung. Dalem Puri as the Dalem Jagat temple. Thus Basukihan Temple, Penataran Agung Temple and Dalem Puri Temple are the center and all Puseh temples, Desa temples and Dalem temples are located anywhere, so that Besakih temple as a whole is a Penyungsung Jagat temple. What is held in this temple is Hyang Naga Basuki. Piodalan day falls on the day of Buda Wage Kelawu or Buddha Cemeng Kelawu.

What is meant as the Panca Dewata here is a god who resides in the direction of the wind which aims to protect the universe from all directions, as for the cardinal directions such as East, South, West, North and Central, which have their respective roles and functions. The Panca Dewata is a manifestation of Lord Shiva whose job is to maintain the cardinal directions of the universe and the Penataran Agung Temple is the center. Here we explain about the temples in Besakih Temple which are included as the five gods wind guardian direction of Besakih Temple, there are 5 temples that function and have different roles according to the direction of the wind.

1. East: Pura Gelap is located in the east and functions as the worship of God in its manifestation as Bhatara Iswara who is in charge of protecting the east direction of the universe or Bhuwana Agung. The origin of the word dark does not mean dark in the true sense, but this dark word comes from an ancient Balinese language called kawi language which means lightning or lightning with a blinding white light. Pura Gelap as a medium of worshiping God in its manifestation as Dewa Iswara, the god of light. This earth can be a vehicle for life because of the sun. This sunlight is the leader of other natural resources so that it functions to give life to the contents of this nature. As one of the pillars of the temple guarding in the east direction of the wind
2. South: Pura Kiduling Kreteg is located in the south which functions as the worship of God in the form of its manifestation as Bhatara Brahma. In charge of guarding the southern direction of the universe, the name Kiduling kreteg is taken from the ancient Balinese language which means next to the bridge, and it is true that the location of the Kiduling kreteg temple is located next to the bridge of the Penataran Besakih Temple. One of the goals of worshiping God as Lord Brahma at the Kiduling Kreteg Temple is to guide Hindus to always develop their creative power in realizing Vedic truths in individual and social life and to maintain the spirit of life so that they can live on the path of Dharma. Symbolized in Pelinggih Meru Tumpang Eleven and is located in the far corner in the northeast of the area of ​​Pura Kiduling Kreteg and is often declared as the Ratu Cili Palace by the local community
3. West: Ulun Kulkul Temple is located in the west which functions as a worship of God manifested as Hyang Mahadewa, and functions to guard the west direction where there is a large kulkul or kentongan in this temple. This temple was built during the time of King Sri Kesari Warmadewa, Isaka 835. At first this temple was a place of Kulkul (Kentongan). Because in this temple there is a large Kentongan whose material comes from silingui wood, so until now it is believed to be the origin of the kulkul in Bali. Based on the concept of belief like this, every village that will make Kulkul for the Kahyangan Tiga temple or pretend that is considered common by the community, at the time of release, ask for tirta at Ulun Kulkul. Furthermore, during the reign of King Sri Kesari Warmadewa, Ulun Kulkul Temple was believed to be a place to give birth to justice. So that the officials who were there at that time were carried out in this temple.
4. North: Batumadeg Temple is located on the north side of the Penataran Besakih Temple which is one of the sublime ambals of this Besakih Temple, in the Batumadeg Temple area it is very wide and there is a pelinggih in it, as for when viewed from the shape of the temple it can be said that this temple is from ancient times. megalithic and this is confirmed by the presence of a large stone in the pelinggih Meru. The name madeg stone is called because in this temple there is an upright stone in Balinese which means standing upright which in archaeology is called menhir. Maged stone as a symbol of worship of Bathara Ida Ratu Saktu Watu Madeg as a manifestation of Ida Bhatara Vishnu in the Shiva pasu pata worship system. And the Menhirs are placed in Meru Tumpang Solas which can be seen when you visit this Batu Madeg temple, you will not be able to see directly, because the location of the menhirs is at inside of this Meru Tumpang Solas.
5. Center: Penataran Besakih Temple is located in the center and is the largest temple of the existing temple group, which serves to worship God with his manifestation as Lord Shiva. Among all the temples included in the Besakih Temple complex. So Penataran Agung Temple is the largest, the most temple buildings, the most types of ceremonies and is the center and all temples in Besakih. In the Raja Purana Besakih it is said that the Penataran Agung Besakih Temple is the place of the Batara Kabeh Pesamuaning. One of the characteristics of Penataran Agung Temple is the presence of Padma Tiga. As a center for worshiping the Tri Purusa, namely Lord Shiva, Lord Sada Shiva, and Lord Parama Shiva. Then there is the pawedaan bale as a place for the sulinggih mapuja. Bale agung as a place for the walaka and sulinggih paruman.