The location of the temple is high on a peak of Bali mountain chaine
around 2 kms north of Kintamani town.
Panulisan temple is known also as Tegeh Koripan temple. In 971 AD the people of Canigan village near
Dausa village around 3 kms north to Kintamani asked to the king to be discharged the responsibility of
worshipping "Bhatari Mandul". That is the description of inscription preserved at Bukit
Indrakila temple at the village. The temple is on the peak of a hill accessible by more than 200 steps
with around 60 degrees elevation.
There are big number of ancient stone carvings some of which
bears the dates and the person being symbolized with the sculpture. This site has invaluable historical
source for the construction of Balinese history, including the relation between Bali and Chinese Chung
dynasty. A unique temple called "Balingkang" just few kms from the temple, and within Panulisan
temple itself there is a sculpture symbolizing "Ratu Chung Kang" ( Her Majesty of Chung king )
which has a close relation with the existence of Balingkang temple.
Among the batch of ancient
stone sculptures is found the first tradition in Bali that an artist carved his name on the creation. It
is quiet strange, as in Bali normally artists never mention his/her name on their creation. Once he/she
created an art work, it become the public ownership, group ownership, or anonymous works. They never
claim his/her intellectual rights, even they were proud when their creation become model of the work of
others. We found the name of an artist called "Mpu Bga" who carved the stone sculpture. This
artist did not just carved here at Panulisan but at Sibi Agung temple in southern part of Gianyar
regency, a please almost 60 kms away from Panulisan temple.
Some important sculptures are the Shiva Bhairawa's
symbol called "Lingga", a couple of royal wedding bearing the date 1011 AD, supposed to the
symbol of King Udayana and his wife, a sculpture of a princess bearing the date 1077 AD and name
"Bhatari Mandul". The Chinese sculpture, and a sitting couple which is also supposed to be
the icon of king Udayana and his wife.
About the existence of Chinese princess figure in this temple
which is still worshipped by the Chinese society living in Kintamani and surrounding, there is the same
opinion from historians. It is an indication that one of Balinese king married Chinese princess from
Chung dynasty. The existence of "Balingkang" temple is an indication that king of Bali built
their temple in the version of Chinese Buddhist. Balingkang itself gives an indication that it was a
Chinese word " Bali-khan" means "king or Bali" A legend about Balinese king married
Chinese princess is preserved in the form of traditional dance called "Barong Landung" means
tall barong, a couple of black king with Chinese white-yellow princess. An indication that the
latest Balinese king of Sri Astasura was the figure in question, is not yet solved. An ancient
manuscript called "Usana Bali" mentions that a king of Bali who was defeated by Majapahit
kingdom of East Java due to his negligence in performing religious ceremony and even prevented the
Balinese people to organize praying in the temple, sounds provocative. In the scripture the king was named
Maya Denawa or Sri Gajah Waktra, or Sri Tapolung. If we observe the mask used for the Barong landung
dance it looks that the king was not a wise man, but a ruthless and dictator.
In the temple of
Panulisan there are not many shrines have been built, only some pavilions used to preserve the ancient
stone sculptures which are considered very sacred objects by their people who have the responsibility
to maintain and perform the religious ceremony in the temple. A regular ceremony is also conducted based
on Hindu Java calendar which is consist of 210 days.
Bibliography
- Goris, Dr. R. : Sejarah Bali Kuno, Singaraja, Bali, not date
Sekte-Sekte di Bali, translated by Soejono, Bhrattara, Jakarta, 1974
Bali Atlas Kebudayaan, Pemerintah Republic Indonesia, no date
Arti Pura Besakih Menurut Sejarah dan Ibadat, Majalah Bhakti, Th. II, No. 17
- I.H.D.: Kumpulan Penelitian Tentang Pura di Bali, diperbanyak untuk Lingkungan Institute Hindu Dharma Denpasar, Bali, no. date
- Kempers, Dr. A.J : Monumental Bali, Introduction to Balinese Archaeology & Guide to the Monuments, Periplus Addition, 1989
- Linus, Drs. I .Kt. : Sedikit Tentang Hubungan Konsepsional antara Candi dan Pura di Bali, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Udayana, Denpasar, 1974
- Rata, Drs. I.B. : Konsepsi Dasar dan Pengembangan Pura di Bali, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Udayana, Denpasar, Bali, 1979
- Pemda Propinsi Bali : Sejarah Bali, 1980
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