Balinese Architecture by Davison Julian

Author:Davison Julian
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8048-4459-8
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

Meru

The meru symbolizes the legendary Mt Meru of Indian mythology, which is identified as the abode of the gods. Individual meru will either be dedicated to specific gods in the Balinese Hindu pantheon, or a deified ancestor, or else the deity of a particular location or geographical feature, such as a mountain or lake. Meru are constructed from wood and are raised on stilts, like miniature houses. They stand on a masonry base and are surmounted by a series of thatched roofs of diminishing size. The number of roofs is always odd and reflects the status of the deity to whom the shrine is dedicated, the most prestigious being accorded 11 tiers. Meru are regularly erected in honor of the deities associated with the island’s two highest peaks, Gunung Agung and Gunung Batur.

Construction Rites

During construction rites for a meru, miniature iron implements are buried beneath the shrine, together with small quantities of gold and silver, lotus flowers, crabs, prawns, and a roast chicken. Where the rafters of the uppermost roof meet, there is a vertical column with a cavity into which is placed a small bowl containing either nine precious stones or else nine pripih. The latter are thin plates of various metals which are inscribed with cabalistic words. Excavations in Java reveal similar ritual practices were employed in the construction of the great Hindu-Buddhist temples of Indonesia’s classical era.

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