Manuscript Rajapurana
Explains the origin of Besakih Temple. The name of Besakih temple of Bali has probably penetrating beyond tourism bibliography and the world Hindu society. But when and how Besakih temple was first constructed, no one known exactly. Many source claim to know and describe the temple existence in the vague of the formal record from the kingdom. It is a pity that kings as far as back to 9th century did not leave a systematic record on the temple. To mention one of the manuscript that claim to know and explain about Besakih temple of Bali is Rajapurana. The short account is as follows : A priest named Sang Markandeya did a hermitage at Dieng hill in central java. Due to the trouble given by invisible being then he left Dieng and choosed to make his hermitage at Mt. Raung, east Java. In his concentration he saw light and mountain chain from west to east, with the highest peak, that was mount Agung. According to the voice from the sky he can own the area which north and southern sides of the mountain range were dense tropical forest with fertile land. Near the place of his hermitage at Mount Raung there was already civilized village which population is called the "Aga". After the priest explained about the new and promising land the people asked him to head to the new land and departed with 8.000 members. Arriving at certain place in Bali the priest asked his people to clear out the land by cutting big trees, shrubs, and other plants. Unfortunately many of the members meet dangerous situation even causing death such as scratched by tiger, killed by big snakes and the fever. The priest feel that their coming to Bali would not be success, and he asked his people to stop working. The priest returned to Mount Raung and made a hermitage again. In his comtemplation he revealed that the island of Bali is very strongly kept by magic force. Knowing this the preist back again to Bali, now with 4.000 new followers. Arriving at the previous place where the members now meet the priest group, the priest headed on to east Bali and climb up to the foot of Mount Agung. Here the priest made a hermitage and got the inspiration to implant the 5 metals or called "Panca Datu". Then this place is known as Besakih. Further the manuscript describes that a clan of Bali called Manik Angkeran as the family that hold the right as the cleaner and staf for the temple of Besakih in Bali. The clan of Manik Angkeran which is not clear now in Bali whether it can be grouped as Brahmana, or Kesatrya or others. It is said that the name of Besakih come from Basukih, a serpent live in a cave on the foot of Mt. Agung. A priest from Java, Empu Sidhimantra was in good relation with the serpent, the priest visited her every full moon. One upon a time the priest was sick, and he asked her son to come to Bali meeting the serpent which was said "Naga Basukih". The son of priest name is Manik Angkeran a hard gambler, and so often neglecting his duty. After a brief advise of religious ethic the priest let his son departing to Bali and Manik Angkeran arrive in Bali at a place called Tolangkir to offer the serpent the meal as always done by the priest. Yet Manik Angkeran meeting the serpent asking the charm for winning the gambling the serpent blessed his request, and let him back to Majapahit in Java. Manik Angkeran asked the serpent back first to its cave, and after half of serpent entering the cave he saw the tail with diamond, he then arose his gradiness to take the diamond, and cut the tail of the serpent and run away. With the magic power of the serpent Manik Angkeran catched up and burnt. Empu Sidimantra got omen on his long time un-returned son, and headed to Bali meeting the serpent. He got the explanation of what was happened. The priest recovered the tail of the serpent without trace of injury, and bring his son to alive again. At last the priest give the serpent his son as the person to look after the temple and have the right to conduct the ceremony at Besakih. The priest then return to Java, and in order his son can not leave Bali to Java he stroke his cane to form the barrier. This buries is a narrow sea called "Segara rupet" of Bali strait. This is the story mentioned on the manuscript, which not conform with the fact of history and some events mentioned are beyond our reason to understand. There are many manuscript which have the same character with Rajapurana, and for Balinese it is never questioned. For historians indeed this story is far from constructive information on the cultural history of Bali.
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