Mother Temple of Besakih

Pura Besakih is the most important on the island of Bali Hindu shrine located in Indonesia and " Mother Temple " of all Balinese temples. The temple was probably founded in the 8th century and is located at about 950 meters above sea level on the southwest slope of Mount Agung, a still active volcano. The entire system consists of over 200 buildings, including multi-level temple towers ( meru ), shrines ( pelinggih ), open pavilion ( bale ) and other closed buildings belong. The dynasties have their own district at a time. All communities have within the extensive grounds have their own temples or shrines areas, each surrounded by a wall.

Holiest of the three major temple precincts is the Pura Agung Besakih Panataran in the center in which the one God Sanghyang Widhi Wasa according to the Indian terminology as Trimurti - that is the Hindu Göttertrinität Brahma Vishnu Shiva - is worshiped.

Once a year, during the full moon is a visited by many Balinese believers big party held in this temple complex when the Rajas of Bali appear and sacrifice to their ancestors. Every hundred years after the Balinese lunar calendar is also celebrating the Eka Dasa Rudra here, a great sacrificial ceremony in which the universe is symbolically cleansed.

Eka Dasa Rudra During the last erupted on February 18, 1963 from the Gunung Agung. Large areas were destroyed, over 1,100 people died and 86,000 were left homeless. East of the temple came down a hot debris flow ( lahar ). At the outbreak on 18 May 1963 most of the buildings were destroyed by an earthquake; previously lapilli were descended on the plant.

Since 19 October 1995 Pura Besakih is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.