The existence of bale pengaruman architecture in the context of hindu cosmology
A study of the bedawang nala ornament in sibang kaja, bali
Keywords:
Bedawang Nala, Existence, Bale Pengaruman, Axis mundi, CosmologyAbstract
This study investigates the symbolic significance and spatial embodiment of the Bedawang Nala ornament within the Bale Pengaruman structure at Pura Dalem Gede in Sibang Kaja, Bali, positioning it as a visual and spiritual manifestation of Hindu-Balinese cosmology within sacred architecture. Diverging from its conventional placement in Padmasana and Meru shrines, this research uncovers the ornament’s function as a metaphysical axis in Bale Pengaruman, a ritual space that mediates the interaction between the physical (sekala) and metaphysical (niskala) realms of Balinese religious life. Employing a philosophical hermeneutic approach, the study interprets the theriomorphic depiction of Bedawang Nala—resembling a bovine figure with a forward-facing head—as a localized cosmological reinterpretation symbolizing equilibrium and spiritual grounding. The presence of the entwining dragons Anantabhoga and Basuki further underscores the dualistic cosmology of earth and water, essential elements believed to uphold universal balance. These findings demonstrate that the Bale Pengaruman transcends its role as a mere ritual structure; it emerges as a liminal space facilitating the convergence between human experience and the divine. Traditional Balinese architectural forms, therefore, are not merely visual constructs but are deeply embedded with local wisdom, mythology, spatial philosophy, and ecological awareness.
Downloads
References
Adnyana, I. M. (2020). Representasi Kosmologi dalam Ornamen Arsitektur Bali: Studi Simbolik Bedawang Nala. Jurnal Kajian Bali, 10(1), 23–45.
Ardika, I. W. (2020). Makna Simbolik dalam Arsitektur Bali: Studi Relasional antara Arsitektur, Ritus, dan Ruang. Jurnal Arsitektur Nata Citta,, 22(2), 109–121.
Bakker, A. (1995). Kosmologi dan Ekologi: Filsafat Tentang Kosmos sebagai Rumah Tangga Manusia. Yogyakarta: Kanisius.
Bandem, I. Made, & deBoer, Frederick Eugene. (1995). Kaja and Kelod: Balinese Dance in Transition. Oxford University Press.
Bell, C. (1992). Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice. New York: Oxford University Press.
Belo, J. (2010). Traditional Balinese Culture: The Aesthetics of Orientation and Ritual Space. JSTOR: Asian Folklore Studies.
Bleicher, J. (2013). Contemporary Hermeneutics: Hermeneutics as Method, Philosophy and Critique. Routledge.
Coulter, C. R. (2012). Encyclopedia of ancient deities (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Covarrubias, M. (1937). Island of Bali. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Danesi, M. (2004). Messages, Signs, and Meanings: A Basic Textbook in Semiotics and Communication Theory. Toronto: Canadian Scholars’ Press.
Dwijendra, N. K. (2003). PERUMAHAN DAN PERMUKIMAN. URNAL PERMUKIMAN “NATAH” VOL. 1 NO. 1.
Eiseman Jr., F. B. (1990). Bali: Sekala and Niskala - Essays on Religion, Ritual, and Art. Periplus Editions.
Eliade, M. (1954). Sakral dan Profan (The Sacred and the Profane). Yogyakarta.
Eliade, M. (1959). The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion. . New York: Brace & World.
Gadamer, H.-G. (2004). Truth and Method (2nd rev. ed., trans. J. Weinsheimer & D. G. Marshall). London: Canadian Scholars’ Press.
Geertz, C. (1973). The Interpretation of Cultures: Selected Essays. New York: Basic Books.
Geriya, I. W. (1995). Sinergi Pendidikan Multikultural dalam Visi Pembngunan Bali Berawawasan Budaya (Perspektif Antropologi Pendidikan). Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pengajaran.
Goris, R. (1954). The Hindu Javanese Temple. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publishing Company.
Hartadijaya, M. A. (2022). Membaca Konsep Bedawang Nala. JURNAL MAHASISWA DEPARTEMEN ARSITEKTUR.
Heidegger, M. (1951). Building Dwelling Thinking. In Poetry, Language, Thought. Harper Perennial Modern Classics. .
Hopkins, E. W. ((1915). The Religions of India. Boston: Ginn & Company.
Hopkins, E. W. (1915). Epic Mythology. Strassburg: Verag Von Karl J. Trubner.
Idedhyana, I. B., & Rijasa, M. M. (2022). Interpretation of the Bedawang Nala ornament located on the base of Pura Pabean in Buleleng Regency Indonesia. ARTEKS Jurnal Teknik Arsitektur .
Jencks, C. (1969). Meaning in architecture. London: Barrie & Rockliff.
Jensen , M. (2015). Aristotle, autonomy, and design: Ancient wisdom and the modern home. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Philosophy, Art and Literature, 5(1), 47–60.
Lansing, J. S. (1983). The Three Worlds of Bali. Praeger Publishers.
Liana, F., & Albertus, H. (2023). BUILDING DAN DWELLING DALAM ARSITEKTUR KONTEMPORER:. JURNAL ILMIAH GLOBAL EDUCATION.
Library, W. (2022). Vadava-agni / Vadava-nala.
Lufti, M. (2023). Eksistensi Manusia dalam Pandangan Jean Paul Sartre dan Sayyed Hossein Narz. Jurnal Filsafat Indonesia.
Macdonell, A. A. (1987). Vedic Mythology. LLC: Kessinger Publishing.
Menderi, N. (2017). PURA SAMUAN TIGA SEBAGAI TEMPAT AKTIVITAS PENDIDIKAN AGAMA HINDU. DHARMASMRTI, 1-114.
Monier-Williams, E. ( 1999). Hermeneutik Sebuah Metode Filsafat. Yogyakarta: Kanisius.
Mudra, I. W. (2016). Simbol dan Spiritualitas dalam Arsitektur Bali. Denpasar: Pustaka Lasaran.
Norberg-Schulz, C. (1980)). Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture. New York: Rizzoli.
Norberg-Schulz, C. (1980). Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture. New York: Rizzoli.
O’Flaherty, W. D. (1980). The Origin of Evil in Hindu Mythology. Los Angeles: University of California Press.
Pallasma , J. (2005). The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses. Chichester: Wiley-Academy.
Paramadhyaksa, I. N. (2010). MAKNA FILOSOFIS KEBERADAAN ORNAMEN BEDAWANG NALA DI DASAR BANGUNAN MERU. Jurnal Filsafat.
Parimartha, I. G. (2001). Upacara Pitra Yadnya dan Kedudukan Leluhur dalam Masyarakat Bali. Denpasar.
Pranajaya, I. K., & Artayasa, I. N. (2022). Exploring the Philosophy and Forms of Traditional Balinese . Journal of Urban Society’s Arts Vol 9. No 2.
Pucci, D. A. (2004). Against All Odds: The Strange Destiny of a Balinese Prince. Denpasar: Sritaksu Design Communication.
Pucci, L. S. (2004). Cosmic Turtle: The Mythology of Bedawang Nala in Balinese Cosmology. Jakarta: Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia.
Ramseyer, U., & Tisna , I. R. (2001). Bali: Living in Two Worlds. Basel: Museum der Kulturen.
Rapoport, A. (1969). House form and culture. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.
Rapoport, A. (1990). The Meaning of the Built Environment: A Nonverbal Communication Approach (Rev. ed.). Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
Rasmussen, S. E. (1962). Experiencing architecture. Cambridge: MIT Press.
Ricoeur, P. (1976). Interpretation Theory: Discourse and the Surplus of Meaning. Fort Worth: Texas Christian University Press.
Salura, P., & Fauzy, B. (2012). The ever-rotating aspects of function-form-meaning in architecture. International Journal of Basic and Applied Scientific Research, 2(7), 7086–7090.
Schwarzer, M. (1997). Architecture and memory: The Renaissance studioli of Federico da Montefeltro. New York: Abrams.
Subroto, T. Y. (2019). Koeksistensi alam dan budaya dalam arsitektur. ARTEKS :Jurnal Teknik Arsitektur Volume. 3, Nomor 2, Juni 2019.
Sudarsana, I. M. (2013). Makna Simbolik Meru Dalam Arsitektur Suci Bali. Jurnal Kajian Bali, 3(2), 221–238.
Sulistyawati, d. (1985). Preservasi Lingkungan Perumahan Pedesaan dan RumahTradisional Bali di Desa Bantas,Kabupaten Tabanan. Denpasar: P3M Universitas Udayana.
Summerson, J. (1963). Summerson. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Sunaryo. (2009). Ornamen Nusantara. Semarang : Dahara Prize.
Sutaba, I. K. (2001). Arsitektur Tradisional Bali: Pola dan Bentuk. Denpasar: Bali Media Adhikarsa.
Thompson, R. L. (2000). Vedic Cosmography and Astronomy.
Titisari, E. Y. (2017). Tujuan Interdisipliner dalam Mengkaji Aspek Kosmologi dalam Arsitektur. Jurnal RUAS. Volume 15 No 1, 67-74.
Turner, V. (1967). The Forest of Symbols: Aspects of Ndembu Ritual. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Turner, V. (1969). The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure. Chicago: Aldine Publishing.
Wasudewa, B., & Edi , D. (2022). T Sumaryono. Sphatika : Jurnal Teologi.
Wiana, I. M. (2004). Membangun Teologi Hindu: Upaya Merumuskan Ajaran Hindu dalam Kehidupan Modern.
Wiana, I. W. (2004). Filsafat Upacara Yadnya Hindu. Surabaya: Paramita.
Widana, 1., Julianingsih, L., & Wirawan, I. (2023). The arrangement of spatial settlement for Balinese and Sasak community at historical perspective in Cakranegara. Research Journal in Advanced Humanities.
Wilkins, W. J. (1923). Hindu Mythology: Vedic and Puranic.
Windhu, I. B. (1984). Bangunan Tradisional Bali serta Fungsinya. Dept. Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Direktoral Jendral Kebudayaan.
Windia, W., & Sutrisna, M. (2010). Tri Hita Karana: Konsep Dasar, Implementasi dan Pengembangannya. Denpasar: Pustaka Bali Post.
Wirawan, I. M. (2019). Arsitektur Sakral dan Kosmologi Lokal: Telaah Filosofis terhadap Simbol Bedawang Nala. Jurnal Arsitektur NALAR, 18(2), 110–125.
Yuliana, N. M. (2018). Peran Ornamen Karang dalam Arsitektur Tradisional Bali. Jurnal Arsitektur Natah, 6(1), 55–67.
Zoetmulder, P. J. (2005). Kalangwan: Sastra Jawa Kuno Selayang Pandang. Jakarta: Gramedia Pustaka Utama.
Zumthor, P. (2006). Atmospheres: Architectural environments - Surrounding objects. Basel: Birkhäuser.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2025 Made Aries Hartadijaya, Anak Agung Ayu Oka Saraswati, Antonius Karel Mukti Wibowo, Eka Diana Mahira, Tri Anggraini Prajnawrdhi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
