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{{Short description|Balinese Hindu temple}}File:Pura Dalem Agung Padantegal 200507.jpg|right|thumb|360px|Richly adorned kori agung gate and pavilions within Pura Dalem Agung Padantegal compounds in BaliBaliA Pura is a Balinese Hindu templeWEB,www.bali3000.com/all-about-bali/Temples.asp, Temples in Bali, Bali Directory, 2010-07-21, dead,www.bali3000.com/all-about-bali/Temples.asp," title="web.archive.org/web/20100511065215www.bali3000.com/all-about-bali/Temples.asp,">web.archive.org/web/20100511065215www.bali3000.com/all-about-bali/Temples.asp, 2010-05-11, and the place of worship for adherents of Balinese Hinduism in Indonesia. Puras are built following rules, style, guidance, and rituals found in Balinese architecture. Most puras are found on the island of Bali, where Hinduism is the predominant religion; however many puras exist in other parts of Indonesia where significant numbers of Balinese people reside. Mother Temple of Besakih is the most important, largest, and holiest temple in Bali.WEB,www.sacred-destinations.com/indonesia/mt-agung-pura-besakih, Mount Agung and Pura Besakih, Sacred Destinations, 2010-07-20,www.sacred-destinations.com/indonesia/mt-agung-pura-besakih," title="web.archive.org/web/20100711182312www.sacred-destinations.com/indonesia/mt-agung-pura-besakih,">web.archive.org/web/20100711182312www.sacred-destinations.com/indonesia/mt-agung-pura-besakih, 11 July 2010, live, Many Puras have been built in Bali, leading it to be titled “the Island of a Thousand Puras”.

Etymology

File:Ulun Temple on Lake Bratan (7609679414).jpg|upright|thumb|The pagoda-like Pelinggih Meru shrine of Pura Ulun Danu BratanPura Ulun Danu BratanThe term pura originates from the Sanskrit word (-pur, -puri, -pura, -puram, -pore), meaning “city”, “walled city”, “towered city”, or “palace”, which was adopted with the Indianization of Southeast Asia and the spread of Hinduism, especially in the Indosphere. During the development of the Balinese language, the term pura came to refer to a religious temple complex, while the term puri came to refer to a palace, the residence of kings and nobles, similar to Javanese kratons.

Design and layout

(File:Bali temple diagram.png|thumb|upright|Balinese temple layout, arranged in three zones (mandalas))Unlike the common towering indoor Hindu temples of the Indian Subcontinent, puras are designed as open-air places of worship within enclosed walls, connected with a series of intricately decorated gates between their compounds. These walled compounds contain several shrines, meru (towers), and bale (pavilions). The design, plan, and layout of the pura follow the trimandala concept of Balinese space allocation.WEB,www.scribd.com/doc/19670648/Traditional-Balinese-Architecture, Traditional Balinese Architecture, School of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Udayana University, 2010-07-20, Three mandala zones are arranged according to a sacred hierarchy:

1. Nista mandala (jaba pisan): the outer zone, which directly connects the pura compound with the outer realm and the entrance to the temple. This zone usually takes the form of an open field or a garden that can be used for religious dance performances, or as an additional space for preparations during religious festivals.
2. Madya mandala (jaba tengah): the middle zone of the temple, where the activity of adherents takes place, and also the location for supporting facilities of the temple. In this zone usually, several pavilions are built, such as the bale kulkul (wooden Slit drum tower), bale gong (gamelan pavilion), wantilan (meeting pavilion), bale pesandekan, and bale perantenan, the temple’s kitchen.
3. Utama mandala (jero): the holiest and the most sacred zone within the pura. This enclosed compound, and typically the highest, usually contains a padmasana, the towering lotus throne of the highest god, Acintya (the Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa in modern Balinese, or “All-in-one God“); the pelinggih meru (a multi-tiered tower-shrine); and several pavilions such as bale pawedan (vedic chanting pavilion), bale piyasan, bale pepelik (offering pavilion), bale panggungan, bale murda, and gedong penyimpenan (storehouse of the temple’s relics).

However, the layout rules for arrangements of the facilities of the two outer zones, nista mandala and madya mandala, are somewhat flexible. Several structures, such as the bale kulkul, could be built as outer corner tower; also, the perantenan (temple kitchen) could be located in the Nista mandala.File:Taman Ayun, Bali, Indonesia.jpg|thumb|Pura Taman AyunPura Taman Ayun

Gates

There are two types of gates within Balinese architecture: the split gate, known as candi bentar,WEB,www.indo.com/culture/temples.html, Bali:The Land of Temples, Indo.com, 2010-07-20, and the roofed tower gate known as paduraksa or kori agung. Both types of gates have specific roles in Balinese architectural design. Candi bentar is the gate used in the nista mandala, while the kori agung is employed as the gate between the madya mandala and Utama mandala inner compounds. The rules for gate types are also valid for non-religious compounds such as puri, nobles’ and kings’ residences.File:Bali, Pura Besakih 6.jpg|Pura Besakih: stairs and terraces leading to the candi bentar split gate.File:Pura Taman Saraswati3.JPG|Pura Taman Saraswati (Ubud): towering kori agung gate.

Types of pura

There are several types of pura, each serving certain functions of Balinese rituals throughout the Balinese calendar. The Balinese temples are arranged according to the physical and spiritual realm of Balinese people, which corresponds to kaja-kelod sacred axis, from mountain tops to the realms of gods, hyang spirits, the middle fertile plain the realm of humans, and other beings, all the way to the beach and ocean, and the many realms in Indonesia.

Pura Kahyangan Jagad: Puras are located in the mountainous region of the island, built upon mountain or volcano slopes. The mountains are considered as the sacred magical and haunted realm, the abode of gods or hyang.WEB,www.babadbali.com/pura/kahyangan_jagat.htm, Babad Bali - Pura Kahyangan Jagat, www.babadbali.com, id, 2018-05-20, The most important pura kahyangan in Bali is Mother Temple of Besakih complex on the slopes of Mount Agung. Another example is Pura Parahyangan Agung Jagatkarta on the slopes of Mount Salak, West Java.

Pura Tirta: “Water temples”, a type of pura that associates religious function and water management function as part of the subak irrigation system. Each of these temples corresponds to a drainage basin. The priests in these temples have the authority to manage the water allocation among rice paddies in the villages surrounding the temple. Some tirta temples are noted for their sacred water and having petirtaan or sacred bathing pool for a cleansing ritual. Another water temple is built within lakes, such as Pura Ulun Danu Bratan. The best example of this type of temple is Pura Tirta Empul.

Pura Desa: A type of pura dedicated to the worship of Brahma the Gods and deities, that are located within villages or cities, serving as the center of Balinese people’s religious activities.

Pura Puseh: A type of pura dedicated to the worship of Vishnu.

Pura Dalem: A type of pura dedicated to the worship of Shiva, Durga, Mother nature, Banaspatiraja (barong), Sang Bhuta Diyu, Sang Bhuta Garwa, and other deities, usually Shiva’s shakti, Durga, is venerated in this temple. In the human life cycle, the temple is connected to rituals concerning death. It is also common for a pura dalem to have a big tree like a banyan tree or a kepuh which is usually also used as a shrine. The Pura Dalem is typically located next to the graveyard of the deceased before ngaben (cremation) ceremony.

Pura Mrajapati: A type of pura to worship prajapati (the lord of people) or the cosmic might. Most often, in this temple, Shiva is worshipped in his form as prajapati.

Pura Segara: “Sea temples”, are a pura that are located by the sea to appease the sea Gods and deities. It is usually important during the Melasti ritual. One example of this type of temple is Pura Tanah Lot and Pura Uluwatu.

Nine directional temples

The nine directional temples (Pura Kahyangan Padma BhuwanaWEB, The most sacred Hindu places of worship in Bali, 2018, hinducouncil.com.au,hinducouncil.com.au/new/the-most-sacred-hindu-places-of-worship-in-bali/, 2024-05-20, or Pura Kahyangan Sad Winayaka

• Pura Lempuyang Luhur (half in Karangasem district and half in Abang district, Karangasem Regency),WEB, Pura Lempuyang Luhur, map, openstreetmap.org,www.openstreetmap.org/way/389139240map=19/-8.39495/115.64753, for the east direction, this temple is also one of the six “sanctuaries of the world”;
• Pura Luhur Uluwatu (in Pecatu, Badung),WEB, Pura Luhur Uluwatu, map, openstreetmap.org,www.openstreetmap.org/way/707659668map=14/-8.8394/115.0816, for the south-west direction;
• Pura Pucak Mangu (in the village of Pelaga, Petang district, Badung Regency, on Mount Catur),WEB, Pura Pucak Mangu, map, openstreetmap.org,www.openstreetmap.org/node/4226572587map=15/-8.2558/115.1971, for the north-west direction;

• Pura Pusering Jagat (Pura Puser Tasik) (Pejeng, near Ubud, in Gianyar),WEB, Pura Pusering Jagat, map, openstreetmap.org,www.openstreetmap.org/way/655852421map=16/-8.5179/115.2972, for the center direction.