Besakih Temple holds ritual festival

DENPASAR (indo.com): Besakih Temple is curently holding a ritual festival. The festival started on September 10, 2004 will run through September 19, 2004.

Besakih Temple is an ancient Hindu heritage. Pre Hinduism concept is still found on the big ancient stones (megalithic era) and worshipping concept to God is also applied at Besakih Temple (worshipping to the God who reside on Mount Agung, worshipping to the holy dragon of Basuki and honoring the deities or ancestors). This concept is actually similar to that of trinity.

Besakih temple is called a mother temple because many temple compounds are available there. There are five large temple compounds, which represent the five holy directions. There are tens clan temples which celebrate their festival on the different day and other compounds used to honor the founding father of Besakih temple, Rsi Markandya (a priest from East Java) and the dragon of Basuki (a holy guardian dragon which is believed reside in the cave of Mount Agung). So, the biggest elaborate purification ritual of Eka Dasa Rudra, which is held once a century, must be held at Besakih area.