| Pura Beji Sangsit | |
|---|---|
 Pura Baji of Sangsit, a pura built in North Balinese style. | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Pura |
| Architectural style | Balinese |
| Location | Sangsit,Buleleng,Bali,Indonesia |
| Address | Jalan Raya Sangsit, Sangsit, Sawan, Kabupaten Buleleng, Bali 81171 |
| Coordinates | 8°05′01″S115°08′03″E / 8.083646°S 115.134199°E /-8.083646; 115.134199 |
| Estimated completion | 15th-century |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Truna Pesaren |
Pura Beji Sangsit is aBalinese temple or pura located in Sangsit,Buleleng, on the island ofBali,Indonesia. The village of Sangsit is located around 8 kilometres (5.0 miles) east ofSingaraja. Pura Beji is dedicated to the rice goddessDewi Sri, and is revered especially by the farmers around the area. Pura Beji is an example of a stereotypical northern Balinese architecture with its relatively heavier decorations than it is southern Balinese counterpart, and its typical foliage-like carvings.[1]
Pura Beji dates back from the 15th-century, during the time of the arrival ofBrahmins to Bali from the HinduMajapahit Kingdom ofJava. At that time, the village of Sangsit was known as Beji. Pura Beji was constructed during the reign of Pasek Sakti Batu Lepang in north Bali.[2] The architect and maintainer (pengempon) of Pura Beji was Truna Pesaren.[3]
The wordBeji has the same meaning with the Balinese temple pond, similar with one inPura Tirta Empul. This associates Pura Beji with purification by way of holy water. In fact, a former pond supposedly fed by an ancient well has been discovered on the east side of Pura Beji. Because of its association with a water source, the farmers around the village of Sangsit revered Pura Beji as "pura subak",subak is a term for the Balinese paddy irrigation system which was introduced in 1074 during the reign ofMarakata. Because of this, the temple is also known as Pura Subak Beji, and is highly revered by the farmers who honored it in return to the fertility of their rice paddy.[4]
Pura Beji has been restored several times. A 20th-century photograph shows damage on thecandi bentar split gate of the Pura Beji. The temple's restoration is done carefully by maintaining the original style back into the temple.
Pura Beji is built in the style typical of northern Bali. Shrine bases and the white sandstone walls surrounding the temple are covered in foliage-like carvings e.g. vine motifs or figures of flowers, a feature that can only be found in northern Bali. Traces of colors have been discovered in these carvings, which indicate that the temple have been painted. Intact statues of demons and guardian nagas inspired by Hindu epics decorate the stone staircases and the walls.
Pura Beji is divided into three areas: the outer sanctum of the temple (jaba pisan ornistaning mandala), the middle sanctum (jaba tengah ormadya mandala), and the inner main sanctum (jero orutamaning mandala).[5][6]
In the outer sanctum is thebale kulkul where theslit-log drum is kept to announce the time for prayer. The bale kulkul of Pura Beji is unusually lacking plant-like carvings and is relatively bare compared with the other architectural elements of Pura Beji, which indicates that the bale kulkul was built later in period and probably by a non-Northern Balinese sculptor.[4]
Access to the middle sanctum is provided by acandi bentar split gate. This candi bentar is carved with heavy decorations of plants and flowers in northern Balinese style. Multiplebhoma heads are carved on the top of thecandi bentar, providing extra protection to the temple against evil spirits. In the middle sanctum are several pavilions orbale.[4]
Access to the inner sanctum or thejero is provided with a largepaduraksa portal. The portal is heavily decorated with carvings of vines and flowers typical northern Bali style. The top of thepaduraksa is carved with multipleBhoma heads, a kind of BalineseKirtimukha protectors of the temple. A unique feature of the Pura Beji is that thealing-aling (a kind of barrier structure to deflect evil spirits) is carved with a figure of two Dutchmen playing stringed instruments, flanking a figure of Naga. The main shrine in the form ofpelinggih is located in the inner sanctum, dedicated toSang Hyang Widhi. Other deities honored in the temple are Dewa Braban, Dewa Ayu Manik Galih, andDewi Sri.[7]
