MY APPEAL

With the height of my voice I call for your attentions. Please hear my appeal… for now I shall tell you what you should do to save the most beautiful place in the world. I’m begging for help from all of you O devout Hindus, my brothers and sisters in dharma, all of you who love Bali and have joyfully pleased your selves by her charm and beauty… I don’t know if you won’t listen to what I say, would Bali stay as glorious as before? … Would the Devas stay to protect our descendants of the future and continue to bestow their blessings to them… If you won’t listen and act accordingly, then everything will be too late, "even for The Supreme Lord Vishnu to help you…"

Transformation of Consciousness
When we talk about transformation in humanity we should consider what the real meaning of transformation is. We tried so hard to take transformation to our lives. Of course it is the better one. Yes, we want a better life, happier, free of anxiety, free of sufferings, sorrow, etc. The actual transformation wasn’t take place only in physical platform. We have three dimensional or three platform of existence. The physical or mundane or external platform and mental or mind or internal platform. But the most important is the transcendental platform, the consciousness, the Chit-vastu (Living and conscious spiritual substance). The Chit-vastu is our True Self, the Atma. The material energy, called Maya, is also one of the multi energies of the Lord, since The Supreme Lord is the source of all energies, source of everything, janmadhya-asya, and we, the living entities, the individual jiva-atma are also the energy – marginal energy – of the Lord. The living entities are described as superior to material energy. When the superior energy is in contact with the inferior energy, an incompatible situation arises; but when the superior marginal energy is in contact with the superior energy, the living entity is established in his happy, normal condition. This is what we should know before talk about any “transformation”.

As taught by the Vedas, we should realize our true identity as the eternal Atma. When this Atma entrapped within illusory external energy of material nature, he became embodied or conditioned soul. He forgot his real identity and misidentifies himself with physical body. There is no way for conditioned soul to escape from this situation and he “eternally” illusioned by the material external energy. This very illusion put him into the ocean of samsara, experienced false happiness and sorrowful condition, without perpetual bliss. Though he has tried his best to make himself happy, but everything end in more sorrowful condition. This is the nature of conditioned life under illusory external energy.

So if we do want a real transformation, we should take spiritual journey to our inner self, our real self and realize our true identity as Atma. The real transformation should take on transcendental platform for getting its real meaning and value. The real transformation actually a reformation, coming back to our true identity. This is what we called Transformation of Consciousness. But if we take our present position as the starting point, then we could get two kinds of Transformation, Downward and Upward.

Downward Transformation means we get more entangled, more attached to the external illusory energy. So we kept our self under perpetual influence of this energy. That’s why we called this Downward Transformation, since we take shelter under inferior energy. Now we have to go Upward, otherwise there is no way to escape from the strong affinity with this inferior material energy. We have to deal with the superior energy, take shelter under infinite transcendental energy. Only by accepting this path we can get into Real Upward Transformation of Consciousness. Surrender and put our self under Infinite Supreme Divinity. This is the real value of Dharma, the skillful means to go “Upward” called Saranagati as indicated by Lord Krishna in the Charam-sloka of Srimad Bhagavad-gita, sarva-dharman-parityaja…

The Key To Deal With The Infinite
Surrender, service, and dedication: this is the key to deal with the infinite, Vaikuntha. Without knowledge and without much energy one can attain fulfilment. It is not necessary to have the energy to be able to move a mountain. Also to read all the scriptures in the world and put them “within our belly” will not produce any good.

A typical example was shown in the Mahabharata. Lord Krishna foretold that when the rajasuya-yajna of Maharaja Yudhistira would be finished, a particular bell there would ring automatically. In that way everyone would know that the yajna was completed. The sacrifice was held and everything was finished, but the bell did not ring. Bhima asked Krishna, “You said that the bell would ring automatically. Everything has now been finished but it is not ringing. Why not?” Krishna replied, “No. One thing is still remaining.” “What is that?” “Vaishnava-seva, the service of a Vaishnava.” Bhima was surprised: “What do you say? So many munis, rishis, Narada, Vyasadeva, and even You Yourself are all satisfied with having been well fed, yet You say that Vaishnava-seva has not been done?” “Yes.” “So where is that Vaishnava?” Krishna then indicated, “Go to the outskirts of town, and there you will find a particular Vaishnava of the lowest caste. He does not go anywhere, but he is satisfied by taking the Name of the Lord and leading a full life of devotion without any care for the world.”

Hearing this, the Pandavas went with a chariot to receive that man. They found him, an ordinary poor man of the lower class, and they approached him. He was perplexed: “What is this? Oh, so many important men have come to my cottage. What is the matter?” He became very much panic-stricken. Then they petitioned him with folded palms, “We have come to bring you to take some food at the place of the yajna.” What to do? He could not avoid their order.

Draupadi had to cook, so she prepared various palatable dishes. She thought, “Vaishnava-seva has not been done. So many rishis, munis, and even Lord Krishna has been fed, but Vaishnava-seva has not been done!” So with all her skill she cooked foods of various types, and the man was fed, but the bell did not ring. Bhima asked, “What is the matter? He has finished eating but the bell has not rung.” Krishna said, “There must have been some offence against Vaishnava-seva, and therefore the bell did not ring. What do you say? Do any of you have any doubt or bad conception about this man?”

The Pandavas then asked one another if any of them had thought any evil about him. At last Draupadé admitted, “I had some thought in my mind that the man is lowborn, and although I prepared so many curries with the utmost attention and skill, he mixed all the preparations together and then ate that. He does not know how to eat because he comes from a very low class, this is what I had in my mind.” Krishna explained, “There is some contempt for the Vaishnava, and therefore the bell has not rung. There is no other course than for you to go to him again, bring him, and again feed him.” So the Pandavas went and brought him back. This time all of them waited with great respect as he took prasadam, and the bell rang with every morsel.
This example has been shown to us. Those who are niskincana do not want anything, no name, no fame, or anything of the kind. They are naturally satisfied with whatever comes, and they are wholesale dedicated to the Lord. Such devotion can be found anywhere without any show of grandeur. No worldly grandeur is necessary; just richness of the heart. No knowledge, no education, no honour of a high birth, no power, and no gorgeousness. Krishna consciousness is full, so sufficient, so absolute, that just a particle of that contains everything. All grandeur, all education, and everything is there; it is of such a nature. Service, self-dedication, saranagati, surrender: that is the necessity, not valour or learning. “You fail to understand, but he is all right. He must be thought to be a sadhu, a truly honest man, and nothing else. He may have no name or fame or good presentation, or any of the qualities that attract us; none of these are necessary.” (see Bhagavad-gita 9.30)

Self-contentment does not require anything. It can stand alone. It is self-sufficient. Krishna consciousness is self-sufficient. It does not require any form of paraphernalia to establish itself; it is a self-established thing. With it there will be no need of hankering for anything, whether it be grandeur or anything else.

So what is our practical point here? For so long, let we take our condition here, in Bali. Bali was celebrated everywhere as the most beautiful island and have this Hindu-Vedic spiritual culture as the base of her people’s lives for centuries. What is the base for these arts, amazing beauties, and other cultural wonder of Bali? They are service, devotion, and loving dedications. The pure dharma of love manifested as our tradition and way of life characterized by Satyam, Sivam, Sundaram, and Santosham (truth, auspicious, beauty, and universal well being). Upward Transformation of Consciousness lead to the ultimate realization of The Supreme Absolute Truth is shining brightly in the core of the heart and its rays manifested as the rightful conducts in accordance with Universal Dharmic Law of The Divine. So these Satyatva, Sivatva, and Sundaratva were dedicated to the Divine. They are real manifestations of our Love to The Lord. But here we even find such activities of love, though totally dedicated to Parameshwaran Lord Krishna Himself, Devatas, great sages, etc. but bereft of service and loving attitude toward Vaishnavas, the pure devotee of the Lord, and then everything would become nothing!

Necessity of Transcendental Association
Today in our society we didn’t even care about the real intentions of rituals, artistic offerings such as dances, musical performances, dramas, etc. as dedications of love for The Supreme Lord, Devatas, and sages. We just thought them as means to entertain the tourists, to get more money, more Euros, more USD… We invite tourists from everywhere but we never invite even a single Sadhu to our place. Today we just held our religious ceremonies and cultural performances just for entertaining mundane persons and for some materialistic gains. Without service to the Sadhus and Vaishnavas, even if we offer everything to the Devatas, it was considered fruitless! Sadhus and Vaishnava-bhagavatas are the abode of all spiritual perfections, all Upward Transformations of Consciousness, and as Consciousness formed by association, so there will be no spiritual advancement without their pure association or Sat-sangam. There is no other hope for any Upward Transformations of humanity.

The Great Sage Agasthiya, Mula Guru (Original Spiritual Preceptor) of Nusantara. He was the first Sadhu who gave us association by his instructions, mystical presence, and continual coming of his disciples and member of his spiritual lineage (Parampara)

We can’t deny our need for material prosperity. Yes, we do need money or wealth… But if we just think for mundane things or how to please mundane persons, then surely this will lead us to mental degradation and Downward Transformation of Consciousness. If we, the degrade-minded persons, also associate only with our other degraded fellows, we will get more degraded, more conditioned, and more attached to worldly things. So if we really want to make Upward Transformation, then we have to find a way how to bring the most auspicious Sangam of Sadhus and Vaishnava-bhagavatas to our place.

Acharya Dharmakrithi of Suvarnadvipa, Master of Bodhicitta

Acharya Dipamkara Srijnana or Guru Atisha. A Buddhist master from Vikrampur Monastery, Bengal-India and founder of Kadampa order in Tibet, sailed to Sumatera to found his Guru Dharmakrithi of Srivijaya. When will we again have such a visit from great personages like him?

We should remember how our ancestors in the past attained perfection only by serving Sadhus and act according to their pure instructions. In the past we have no tourist came just for enjoying the beauty of Bali and Nusantara. They came for pilgrimage. This very country was sacred to them. We should remember how Mulavarman of Kutai in Barhinapura (Borneo) invited the Agnihotri-brahmins from Kalinga for accepting alms. Our previous Raja won’t take money from foreign tourists, but he gave them alms of thousand cows and gold. Of course, they weren’t ordinary tourists. They were Brahmin pilgrims, Sadhus, Vaishnava-bhagavatas. How great our Kings and how noble our guests were. Then again some went to Suvarnadvipa (Sumatera). That great Buddhist Acharya of India and Tibet, Dipamkara Srijnana, went to Suvarnadvipa to learn from Acharya Dharmakrithi of Srivijaya. We should remember how Bhumisambarabuddhara (Borobudur) of Java became pilgrimage center for whole Buddhist world. How thousand of devotees came to worship Bhagavati Tara in Kalasha. Pandita Lohgawe also came later to Java from India and guided Rangarajasa to build his kingdom of Singhasari. The historical facts for religious influence of great Javanese Kingdoms of Kadiri, Singhasari and Bilvatikta (Majapahit) were well known. Many people came to Nusantara and Bali with pure and spiritual intentions. Once we were of a country with great spiritual significance and of spiritual tourism. But now, where is this?

Mandala Vajradhatu of Bhumisambarabuddhara (Borobudur)

On the past, thousands of pilgrims from all over the world pay obeisance to the lotus feet of this Bhagavan Mahavairochana Buddhadeva. But today, the tourists come to visit Him just for fun...

By neglecting the importance to invite and serve Sadhus, we became slaves to give mundane person their gross enjoyment. By abandon our duty to offer alms and hospitality to the real spiritualists, we spend our money for dry ritualistic ceremonies, then go with other sinful persons to enjoy wine, meat, and sex. Then we try to get more money and wealth by selling more sensual enjoyment. Selling every inch of our sacred land, the abode of our ancestors and devatas, to find it changed miserably as a place for pleasing mundane senses. Yes, we still perform great, pompous, beautiful religious celebrations everywhere, but bereft of real spirit of dedication and love. We treat our religious function only as common activities. Come only out of dry responsibility without real eagerness. Thought ourselves as have pleased the devatas and then go again to serve others who didn’t live according to the Dharmic values of our ancestors. What is this hypocrisy? How could we stay and inherit this land of our ancestors, but discarding the heart of their deep spiritual values…?

My countrymen of same glorious ancestors, I beg you to not let your mind go and thought about how to please and serve mundane persons only to get their money. We maintain external ritual without spiritual significance just for show it to the tourists. We may perform any kind of celebration, but only for the sake of our ancestors, devatas, and beloved Supreme Lord. We have to follow our ancestors by also inviting spiritual pilgrims, and the most important, the Sadhus, Vaishnava-bhagavatas, and serve all of them. It is alright to accept any guest. That’s also our dharma to please them. But why we have to neglect and not invite the Bhagavatas?

My dear Sadhus and Vaishnava-bhagavatas, I beg you to please be merciful to us. Please come and bless us with your divine presences and association. Due of ignorance, some of us have abandoned you. But please overlook our faults, since we have no other well wisher than you. My dear dharma-brothers and sisters please come and see the beauty of our country. She has been blessed and consecrated by many Rishis from the past. Please come here not for enjoyment, but see how she will beautifully adorn your sadhana. This is the very land, where the chants of Vedic-mantras are still resounding with music and bells, and wonderful celebrations of Dharma is an everyday life. Though we have suffer some spiritual degradation, but if all of you would willingly help us, then our descendant of the future could still see The Abode of Gods on Earth, with their own eyes.

This beautiful, colorful, and unique offerings were expression of loving dedication

The Achyuta Gotra of Nusantara

Person, who takes initiation of Vaishnava mantras (by accepting Prapatthi-marga with Pancasamskara-diksha) or ordination in Vaishnavite orders and takes Supreme Lord Vishnu as his beloved Deity, entered a brotherhood or family linage (gotra) termed Achyuta Gotra, descendant of The Infallible One.

His Revered Holiness The 45th Alakkhiya Singhar (Throne-holder and Pontiff) of Ahobhila Math bestowed Vaishnavite initiation to these devotees

The noble family and fraternity of Surenderred Souls, The Prapannas.

After accepting the divine sacrament of five-fold Vaishnavite practices as recommended in The Vedas and Vaishnava-agamas, he was not belong to any caste or varna; Brahmins, Ksatriyas, Vaisyas, Sudras, or outcastes. He came to take ekanta dasyatva – exclusive servitor-ship and honored as saranagata or prapanna – a surrendered companion of The Lord’s own family. He wouldn’t identified himself with his blood-relationship based mundane family linage any more. He takes a broader, universal fraternity of all Lord Vishnu’s servants or the Bhagavatas and Vaishnavas. In Nusantara, this gotra also called Hari-vansha or Hariwangsa.

The Hariwangsas in the true sense were identified not according to their blood-tie-relationship, but based on their ability to continue the teachings and practices of their ancestor. Some family lineages who traced their origin in East Java Kadiri’s nobilities, commonly accepted as Hariwangsa. Their descendants were still living in Bali today, with very complicated historical backgrounds. We have no other source to determine their true relations than the Babads (Family Chronicles, but full of what we think as mythological stories) and some official inscriptions, issued by previous generations. (Some were written on chopper tablets but many more on just palm-leaf manuscript, easily damaged by weather, age, etc.)

You may still remember the Markandeya Rishi of Java who came to Bali as the founder of Vaishnavite Brahmin lineage of Bali and established the civilized society. The Chronicles of Markandeya Rishi’s lineage, the Bhujanga Vaishnava Brahminical order, was begun with invocation to The Lord.
Om namah devaya, panamaskaraning hulun i bhatara hyang mami. Sadnya paduka bhatara wishnu, sira anugrahaning bhukti mwang mukti, siddha saprayojana, nitya pratistheng urddha siwadwara sembahen. Iti tattwanira ida bhujangga waishnawa haneng bali pulina, nguni kamimitanira saking jawa dwipa mandala, tumurun mareng bali dwipa mandala.
”Om namah devaya, I’m offering my most respectful obeisance unto my Glorious Lord. No other than that most worshipable Lord Vishnu, who bestows all bhukti (sensual pleasures) and mukti (the liberation), attained as our highest ultimate goal, continuously worshiped and enthroned eternally on the crown of our head. This is the truth about how the revered Bhujanga Vaishnavas exist in the Island of Bali. On the past, their origin was from Java and then descended to Bali.”

Thus, the Bhujanga Vaishnava lineage of Bali was an Achyuta Gotra who practices Vedic brahminical duties and performed the Vaishnavite Tantric or Agamic sadhanas (spiritual disciplines) and simultaneously also protects the continuation the disciplic succession. Though today it is difficult to differentiate them from other Balinese priestly orders (or sects), but by observing and listening to their prayers we will find many Vaishnavite formulas. If today they might be became like the Smarta Brahmins of India, at least their Istha-deva is Lord Sriman Narayana. Such changes were not uncommon. As an example, some Vadama Smartas of South India, by influence of Sri Ramanuja’s preaching work, have become Vaishnavite Iyengar Brahmins, so did the Vaishnava Brahmins of Bali. Some have accepted other sect’s sadhanas by their long association with them. But many exclusive Vaishnavite mantras and sadhanas still exist in their community.

The statue of Gajamada's humble monument. Unfit for such a great person

Gajamada, the greatest personage, legendary prime minister, and may be the most powerful personality ever, who unified the whole Nusantara for the first time under one flag of Bilvatikta (Majapahit). Verily, he was the person who became the first founder of our Nation, which now called Indonesia. The Gajamada inscription told us that he was part of Acyuta Gotra. That means he took pancasamskara diksha or came from the family whose ancestors already take Vaishnava-pancasamskara-diksha (tusning Waisnawakula sira Dwirada Mada wangsa). Waisnawakula or Vaishnava-kula has the same meaning with Acyuta Gotra or Hariwangsa, and Dwirada was considered as Gajamada’s actual name (Gajamada means a mad elephant, indicating his powerful prowess, as strong as a mad elephant on the battle).

The classical poems of Sundayana, described the departure of Gajamada. “After the wall of his official abode as a prime minister was broken apart (accepted as the sign of his time to leaves mundane life and the end of his official duty to the kingdom), the revered one applied his special attire. Wearing a set of white cloth, embroidered with gringsing (golden leafs) motifs and the belt of atma-raksi (used by a high priest). His brahminical thread (yajnopavita, sign of an ordained brahmin) shined on his shoulder and chest. He entered deep meditation, hold a mala (rosary) and chanted The Lord’s Holy Names. His hands were showing the mudras (mystical gestures). The great Mada then absorbed his consciousness in the most ultimate teachings. He left his physical mundane body dissolved in its natural substances. His True Self then ascended to the most glorious abode of Lord Narayana. Thus our great leader has left this mundane world and never seen anymore.”


When the kingdom of Bali been subdued by Bilvatikta’s power under Gajamada’s command, a certain nobility called Sri Krishna was appointed by the Queen of Bilvatikta* to act as her representative in Bali. He was a descendant of Kadiri nobilities and Brahmin by caste. Sri Krishna ordained as a ruler of Bali in the name of Bilvatikta, and named Sri Krishna Kepakisan. Kepakisan means a nail, he was a “nailing force”, a pivot, to prevent Bali fall into chaotic condition after Bilvatikta’s invasion. But unfortunately, rebel movements were growing everywhere. In desperate heart Sri Krishna Kepakisan came back to Java and prepared to ask Queen’s permission to let him put his office. But Gajamada approached him and said, “Aywa cili atulaka… yan cili atulak dede i ngong Hariwangsa… Please don’t come back my son. You shouldn’t give up. Otherwise you were not a part of Hariwangsa. The Lord’s family has to done his duty and took his responsibilities.” Then it was said, the Gajamada gave him a kriss (bladelike traditional weapon), a replica of Lord Vishnu’s divine conch (it could be a rare Laksmi-sankha), and some Vaishnavite secret teachings to give him boldness, self confidence, and bring peace to Bali. (sing anaka ganja dungkul sungu si pancajanya bhusana aji kajanardanan, “I shall give you supplies my son, the divine pancajanya conch and ‘attire’ (bhusana) of the secret teaching of Lord Janardana, aji kajanardanan”).

(*At that time the lord of Bilvatikta was a queen, Sri Maharani Tribhuvana Vijayottungadevi, considered as an amsha (partial manifestation) of Mahalaksmi, the divine consort of Lord Vishnu. She was the Throne-holder after the death of her step brother king Jayanagara in one rebellion against the throne. Gajamada served both the Queen and also her son Sri Maharaja Rajasanagara or Hayam Wuruk or Bhre Hyang Wekasing Suksma. Gajamada began his political carrier as the captain of Bhayangkaras, exclusive troop of the Throne-holder and Royal Heir protectors. He was promoted after his success in guarding the Royal Heir from rebellion of Kuti, one of Dharmaputras, a troop supposed to guard the inner part of the palace, organized and controlled by rebellious minister Pati. But Kuti betrayed even his own master and want to take the throne for himself. Jayanagara the present king at that time and step brother of the next queen was murdered cleverly by the royal physician, Tancha, in so called medical operation of his tumor. Gajamada finally was again promoted as Prime Minister, the first highest office directly under the king, by the retired Prime Minister before him. This is because his great merit to the Kingdom by destroyed the powerful Sadeng rebellion. In case of Sri Maharani herself, she was the oldest daughter of Rajapatni Sri Gayatridevi. Sri Gayatridevi was not a prime queen of His Majesty the late king Kritarajasa Jayavardhana, the founder of Bilvatikta. The prime queen was Sri Tribhuvanadevi, the mother of Jayanagara. But Rajapatni Gayatridevi was famous as a very wise lady. She has spiritual competence in many sastric teachings and mystic practices (sadhanas). By the Javanese Buddhist at that time she was glorified as an emanation of Buddha Prajnaparamita and the Hindus honored her as an amsha of Bharatidevi or Sarasvati, the goddess of learning. Before Gajamada and his kings tried to spread Bilvatikta’s influence by politic and power, Rajapatni Gayatridevi was believed as the first lady who promoted the distribution of Bilvatikta’s knowledge and sacred wisdom, especially to Bali. That’s why the Balinese put her Puspa-samadhi in their mother temple of Besakih. Although Besakih actually was a symbol of Bali’s independency and this temple give the Balinese confidence, that they has no less position than Javanese nobility until this very day. But they take Rajapatni Gayatri in such a high regard, as the representative of the revered Hindu goddess of learning, Sri Sarasvatidevi herself. This could explain to us, verily knowledge is the true power in the world. (I shall describe how the protocol of worship in Besakih actually didn’t accept Javanese hegemony either politically or spiritually in other post).

When Lord Jagannathdeva worshiped as Lord Adi-Buddha, His Consorts...

Neela Sarasvati become Prajnaparamita

... and Sri Devi become Bhagavati Arya Tara

King Jayabhaya’s Role in Vaishnavism

The second important rise of Vaishnavism in Nusantara was under the patronage of the great king Jayabhaya (Maharaja Sri Varmesvara Jayabhaya Madhusudana-avatara-anindita Sri Singhaparakramottungadeva). Sri Jayabhaya unified the divided kingdom by subdued his own relatives of Jangala. This happened to shocked him greatly, similar with the Ashokavardhana after the war of Kalinga. Sri Jayabhaya devoted himself to the most advanced Vaishnavite practices, while also protecting his kingdom. Although a king involved mostly in mundane business, Sri Jayabhaya famous for his accomplishment in spiritual life and the Javanese believed he has trikalajna-shakti, the power to know the past, present, and future. The prophecies of Jayabhaya were very famous in legendary tales and oral tradition of Java. But we have no original version of the prophecies, may be because it was continued to next generation orally. Some Javanese still believed in them and called them Jangka Jayabhaya. Sri Jayabhaya was believed to say something such as, “Besuk yen wis ana kreta tanpa jaran. One day there will be a cart without a horse. Tanah Jawa kalungan wesi. The island of Java will wear a necklace of iron (railway). Prahu mlaku ing dhuwur awang-awang. There will be a boat flying in the sky.”

Historically, Sri Jayabhaya patronized sacred literary works and promoted Vaishnavism by glorified Lord Krishna. mPu Sedah (The Elder) and mPu Panuluh (The Illuminator) were two Brahmins who compiled the Javanese Bharatayuddha-carita, focused on the great war of Bharata in Kuruksetra. mPu Sedah called such, may be because he was the first translator and royal poet, but couldn’t finish his work on Bharatayuddha. The mPu Panuluh then continued his work and finally could illumine the people with the shining wisdom of Vyasadeva, contained in Javanese Bharatayuddha.

Among great armies of the two families and great world-war, battle till the end...

The Supreme Lord revealed the most confidential teachings of the Gita

This work ended with the divine departure of Lord Krishna and the beginning of Kaliyuga. mPu Panuluh further said that after The Lord returned to His Divine Abode, He send His shakti (energy) to Java and empowered Sri Jayabhaya to reformed chaotic kingdom and established peace in Java. Thus Sri Jayabhaya as a Vaishnava, as a noble king, and empowered representative of The Lord Himself, was considered as an amsha (partial descent) of Lord Vishnu. This sastra remind us with Sri Jayabhaya’s own dilemma, when he has to made war with his own relatives for unity of the country. Some scholars took this project as an effort of purification (prayascittam) to atone the king’s “sin” in the battle with his own relatives of Jangala.

But the battle has to go on till the end of the whole armies

The Glory of Vaishnavism in the Reign of Airlangga

Airlangga, as the legal heir of his father in law, persuaded by Narottama and other loyal nobilities as well as his people, then tried to occupy his throne and reclaimed the sovereign authority over all Javanese kingdoms. At the same time Srivijaya was attacked by the South Indian Chola king. Their main harbour in Malacca was fall under Chola’s power and even the centre of Srivijaya’s controlling royal order was subdued. Though after this attack Srivijaya never cease to exist, but she never got her full glory back. Srivijaya was no longer the sole sovereign power in South East Asia and her maritime forces dwindled. Thus Airlangga was attained all success to re-emerge the power of Javanese kingdoms.

The reign of Airlangga was a glorious time of Vaishnavism in Nusantara. For the first time after the great kings of Sanjayavansha, finally Java has another Maharaja or King of all kings. Airlangga unified the whole Java under his sovereign power and anointed by Barada Rishi, his own Acharya and other Brahmins of all sects as Sri Maharaja Raka i Halu Sri Lokesvara Dharmavansha Airlangga Anantavikramottungadevaraja. Airlangga himself was initiated into Vishnu-mantra and Vaishnava practices. The seal of his kingdom was Garuda, the throne and vehicle of Lord Vishnu. This Garuda-lanchana continued as the official seal of all kings after him, regardless their own personal beliefs. Until this very day, Garuda remain as the emblem of Republic of Indonesia.

Garuda, Official Emblem of The Republic of Indonesia

Airlangga didn’t have a crown-prince. The next legal Royal Heir, Sri Sangramavijayadevi, was a princess who declined to accept Queen-ship. She preferred a life of Vaishnavi ascetic. She went to one cave in the mountainous area of Kadiri (East Java, not the same named place in South India) called Selamanglen. There she lived as a Vaishnavi Vairagini, performed solitary bhajana (meditative worship) and attained the highest perfection. She was vanished with her divinized physical body at that very hermitage. Until now the Javanese called her Devi Kili Suci, “The Holy Princess who did penance”. Kili was a Javanese term for female hermit.

The cave or hermitage of the Crown-Princess. She was attaining perfection and disappeared at this place.

A temple now has been built by the local Hindus with government permission in the land nearby (considered as an archeologically important place), to honored the Holy Princess

Procession led by Javanese Hindu priests with the sound of their ghantas (ritual bells) in the consecration of the said temple

Without this crown-princess, Airlangga found himself in a dilemma. Now the next legal heirs were the two Yuvarajas, two princes. It was impossible to just give the throne to one of them. The two has the same right to be enthroned king. Once again, Barada was sent to Bali, for asked Airlangga’s younger brother Sri Marakata to come to Java and take the throne. But this proposal was refused both by Marakata himself and his revered Rajaguru, Rishi Kuturan, brother of Barada. Marakata has already considered himself as Lord Bharata, who took the throne of Bali only as his brother’s representative. As Bharata worship the sandals (padukas) of Lord Rama and put them on the throne, Marakata also did the same by worshiped a pairs of stone padukas as representation of his brother (now we can see this pairs of stone sandals in Durga’s shrine of Burwan Hill). If Marakata has to take the throne of Java, then Bali verily will be kingless. The only way for their youngest brother to occupy the Bali’s throne was only the death of his brother Marakata or if Marakata accept the ascetic life. Both solutions were impossible and if this proposal was accepted then will be a great chaos in Bali and the continuation of the Varmadevas’ rule will be put in endangered state.

After long deliberation, Airlangga then pain heartedly divided his Kingdom for the two crown-princes. Barada Rishi took the task by created a big river by his mystic power from the water sprouting from his pitcher as described by Prapancha. Thus the great kingdom became two, Jangala and Panjalu. After enthroned his two sons, Airlangga himself took the life of ascetic. He was ordained as a hermit by Barada and named Rishi Ghantayu. In the inscription he was designated as mPungku Pinaka Chatraning Bhuwana. mPungku was name for the highest priestly order in ancient Java. Chatra means parasol or umbrella, thus indicated his protection to the world (bhuwana). So he was named The Lord of Ascetics Patron Saint of The World. He also accomplished in his Vaishnava-sadhana and vanished with his divinized body.

Dhyana Vishnu Deity of Airlangga

His memorial Samadhi was located in Belahan, a holy tirtham (natural water spring). To respecting this great king, his descendant built a shrine of Lord Vishnu. Airlangga as a Dharmaraja (great king who ruled according to sacred universal law) was considered as Lord Vishnu’s own manifestation. It was said that the face of Lord Vishnu’s deity was depicted in similarity with Airlangga’s face. This Vishnu deity was indeed very rare. The Four Armed Lord depicted in dhyana-mudra, gesture of meditation, and His two upper hands hold sankha (conch) and chakra (disc) the common insignia of Lord Vishnu. He rides on “right facing” Garuda (same as the official symbol, emblem of Republic of Indonesia) with Sri and Bhu Devi in His sides. Fortunately, we still have this precious deity in not so bad condition, but the deities of Sri and Bhu were worse. Indeed, these Deities of The Lord's Consorts were very unique. The Sanctum itself was a pool or kundam and the sacred water sprouts from Bhu Devi's breast like a stream of milk. This water are also giving life to many villages and fields until this very day. The water was so pure, we could drink it directly from the Goddess' breast.

The sanctum of already damaged Vishnu Temple

Direct "breast-feeding" from the Goddess of Earth. (thanks for your pics)

The Sacred Cows

Taro, 30 minutes drive north Ubud, is one of the ancient village in Bali where by you can find sacred white cows sanctuary that are rare to the island; They used to live freely but now surrounded by wire fence.They were believed as sacred properties of The Devatas, and considered as honorable as human Brahmin nobilities. The people of Taro called them by venerable designations Ida Bagus (the handsome one) for the bulls and Ida Ayu for the cows (the beautiful one), the same honorable title to addressed Brahmin's descendants.Even they follewed the same samskara rites as human Brahmin, from birth rite till final rite of burial samadhi (not cremated as common Hindus). Curiously, there weren't any hereditary (human) Brahmin family available at this village of Taro. Another interesting fact I ever heard, that no Brahmin high priest ever dare to preside over any rites in the temple of these sacred cows sanctuary from high platform as usually done in other part of Bali. They choose to sat low, cross legged on the ground.


The people of Taro believes that the sacred cows were actually descendants of Nandishvara or Surabhi-mata, brought originally from India by the great Rishi Markandeya. The mission of Markandeya considered as the first wave of Vedic Brahminical spiritual masters ever came to Bali from Java. Before, he has his Ashram in Di Hyang at central Java, then went further to the eastern part of Java and organizing his new monastery in Ravanga-giri or known today as Gunung Raung.From Ravanga he feel divine urge to brought the Veda Dharma to the neighbor Island of Bali.


The first expedition involved 8000 followers and disciples, but half of them couldn't survived, mysteriously died or fallen ill, by the negative forces of Bali. The sage then decided to return to Java and in deep meditative stage he got instruction from Lord Pasupati to installed special yantra made from five kind of metal on the slope of the highest mountain of Bali called Tohlangkir (now Gunung Agung - Agung means great, the great mountain). In accordance with the divine instruction, the sage came to Bali once again, installed the powerful yantra, and established the first temple of Bali, The Basukihan Temple. Then gradually it grown as today's Besakih temple, The Mother Temple.


Then the sage decided to bring his followers to create a place for living and established new Ashrama or monastery as the base for his preaching work. They came to the considered perfect land, but still a forest of big trees, daru or taro. But the sage could foresee, that the land would give tremendous wealth and very fertile. This place could give us anything we want. So he named it sarvada. So thus came the name Sarvada Taro

Gate to the earthly divine abode of The Great Sage

The samadhi of Sage Markandeya at Taro

The Ashrama of the great Javanese sage Markandeya today became the Pura (temple) Kahyangan Gunung Raung, bring the same name as his previous Ashrama at East Java. The Samadhi and Deity of The sage in the form of Brahmin Hermit still worshiped reverently by the people of Taro, and by other Balinese Hindus as well. Markandeya supposed to belong to Vaishnavite Brahminical order and cow protection was one of the most important tenets in Vaishnavite-Vedic tradition. Markandeya considered as the original Brahmin of Bali. The descendants of this Markandeya Rishi still claimed themselves as Brahmana Vaishnava or Bhujanga, a name which has close relation with Lord Sriman Narayana or Vishnu, Sri Bhujanga-sayana, The Lord Who Lied on Bhujanga (Lord Adisesha, the divine serpent). But here in Taro today, there wasn't Brahmin descendant of the sage anymore, and the sacred white cows were became the actual Brahmins.


18 Maret 2009, The Deity of Markandeya Rishi from his samadhi at Taro was invoked to attend the Pancabali and Sarvadevata-avahana-aradhana (Bhatara Turun Kabeh in Balinese) in Besakih Temple. This rare phenomena of umbrella-like cloud appeared on the peak of Mount Agung. Did the Devatas want to welcome their revered sage, who built a wonderful abode for them at this magnificent temple? (from cellphone camera of one Pujari, Jro Mangku Bhagyartha)