Located :
Bali’s only Buddhist Monastery, BRAHMA ARAMA VIHARA, is about 1, 2 kilometers beyond the village of Banjar Tega, which is about 2 kilometers from the main coast road, get a lift on the back of a motorcycle. It well knows as Vihara Buddha Banjar, is the biggest Buddhist Monastery in Bali. It is located at a hilly area at Tegehe Village, Desa Banjar, Buleleng Regency about 22 km west of Singaraja City and 11 km from tourist spot Lovina. Due to its location in a hilly area, Brahmavihara Arama has a silent and peaceful atmosphere and it’s perfect as a spiritual area.
History :
Brahma Vihara Arama Budha Banjar is a Buddhist temple that was built in the late of 20th century Christian exactly in 1960 and after 1970; it was opened formally in 1973. Actually Buddhist temple had been built before located at Banjar Tegehe around the hot spring area of banjar village, but at that time only a few of people adherents Buddha. Then after Buddhist adherents were getting more increasing then Brahmavihara Arama was finally built on such area of land; the area has been expanded in order to be able to build Borobudur Miniature that is located on the Southern part of the Brahmavihara Arama that has been built and opened.
Principally there are 5 complexes of buildings :
1. Upasatha Gara : located on the top of the hill on the west, is a comfortable and a quite place. On the wall there is relief of Buddha’s birth, and in the center there is Buddhist statue in the condition reaching the heaven. In religious and ritual activities this space is functioned as stabilizing the candidate of Monk, a stating stage to follow the next training. It was in this space the Monk said their oath.
2. Dharmasala : is located on the east, Dharmasala room is a kind of a room for giving lecture. This room is also a place for giving preach and other spiritual activities.
3. Stupa : is a giant bell-like building located at the corner of North West, its walls are made of concrete, carved on relieves that are very interesting. In the Stupa there are many sacred Buddhist things kept such as bright and fire proof things.
4. Bodi tree : at the northwest corner there is a big Bodi tree that is decorated with relief. This place is a victory of Buddha when reaching eternal perfection. In this place visitors usually do meditation especially on Asuda and Waicak Holydays.
5. Kuti : at Vihara complex there are rooms called Kuti. These rooms are the home stay for Monks and students who are studying and a place for Monks exercise.
If we hang around all corners of the room and park we can find many Buddhist statues. Among there are two beautiful ones; Parinirwana and Buddha statues. Both are made from bronze coated with gold gifts from Thailand and Sri Langka in 1977. These statues are place in different rooms. Buddhist Parinirwana statue visualized Buddha reaching heaven or Hindus term Moksha (eternity). Other biggest Buddhist statues at the park in Brahmavihara Arama are about 31 statues. They are made from sandstone or concrete showing the symbol that there are 31 stages of nature outside heaven.
Other important holydays at Brahmavihara Arama are Waicak comes every Purnamasiddhi (Full moon). In may, once a year. It is to celebrate:
1. The birth of Buddha in Prnamasiddhi Waisaka Puja.
2. The reaching of Heaven by Buddha that is a perfect freedom, and
3. When Buddha reached Parinirwana (eternity).
How to get to Buddha Monastery :
1. 30 Minutes from Singaraja
2. 2 ½ hours from Denpasar
3. 2 ½ hours from Tabanan
What you can see around Buddha Monastery :
1. Banjar Hot Spring, The hot spring (air panas) are only a short distance west of the monastery. Eight carved sandstones Nagas spew water from a natural hot spring into the first bath, which then overflows (via the mouths of five more nagas), into a second larger pool. In a third pool, water pours from three-meter-high spouts to give us a pummeling massage. The water is slightly sulphur and pleasantly hot, so you might enjoy it more in the morning or the evening than in the heat of the day.
2. Lovina Beach (or often simply Lovina) is a coastal area on the northwestern side of the island of Bali, Indonesia. The coastal strip stretches from 5 Km west of the city of Singaraja to 15 Km west Singaraja is the seat of Buleleng regency. The Lovina area contains the small villages (from east to west) of Pemaron, Tukad Mungga, Anturan, Banyualit, Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem and Temukus. It is becoming more popular with tourists but remains far quieter than the tourist hotspots of the island’s south side.
3. Beji Temple , Some say this is the largest temple and Subak temple in North Bali. For local people this temple is known as Pura Subak; subak here refers to the organization for water supply or irrigation. Pura Subak is a holy place and here you can worship Dewi Sri the Goddess of rice and the symbol of prosperity.
