Megalithic Culture Influence on the Architecture of Segara Sanur Temple
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MEGALITHIC CULTURE INFLUENCE ON THE ARCHITECTURE OF SEGARA SANUR TEMPLE 1) Nyoman Ratih Prajnyani Salain 1), Faculty of Engineering, Udayana University 1) [email protected] Abstract Culture is something that will always exist along with human life. Because, culture is a whole system of ideas, actions, and human breakthrough in people lives, which become a part of human beings that come from learning (Koentjaraningrat, 2002: 148). In fact, culture even exists long before humans knew the term of civilization. So does the Megalithic culture or as known as Big Stone Culture that exist during Neolithicum era (New Stone Age), which then can be categorized as part of The Artifacts Culture form. This research uses qualitative method to specific object named Segara Sanur Temple. This object get choosen because of its physical form that quite different to most temples in Sanur. Its physical form is built from pile of corals which is one of Megalithic culture’s characteristics. This research will analyze the influence of Megalithic culture on Segara Sanur Temple’s architecture, based on mass order and orientation, space hierarchy, also sacred and aesthetic elements it contained. Keywords: Megalithic Culture, Temple Architecture, ‘Mass Order’, ‘Space Hierarchy’, Aesthetic/ Sacred element Introduction Culture definitions could be vary and different according to the experts. According to Koentjaraningrat (2002: 148) ,culture is a whole system of ideas, actions, and human breakthrough in people lives, which become a part of human beings that come from learning. Other mentions that culture is a result of creations, intentions, and tastes (Djojodigoeno in Koentjaraningrat, 2002: 181). From both definitions above, we could understand that culture is indeed a result of human breakthrough, whether it ideas, actions, or things. Which is why, culture will always exist as long as human existence. Megalithic culture is one of Artifacts Culture form, for it is a form of human attainments whether in things or even buildings in Neolithic era (New Stone Age). Megalithic culture is not a developing age or era, but is a form of culture that arises and develops during Neolithic era to Bronze Age. In Indonesia, Megalithic culture influences are often found in each region in various forms and functions, as menhir, dolmen, sarcophagus, punden berundak, candi, etc. Megalithic culture forms are generally used to respect and worship ancestor’s spirit, or anything related to life after death, or offering sake. Megalithic culture has been developed long before the Hindu-Budha religion entry in Indonesia. Therefore, its existence gave a huge effect for Hindu-Buddha culture development in Indonesia. If we take Candi as example, is a common used form of Megalithic building that even used and built way more after Hindu-Buddha era. There is significant difference in function that the Candi which built during Megalithic culture are built to worship ancestors, but the Candi that built during Hindu-Buddha era are built to worship Gods and Buddha. For examples, Prambanan Candi and Borobudur Candi. The 1st International Conference on Cultural Communication and Space (ICCCS) and ISVS the 9th International Seminar on Vernacular Settlements (ISVS), 28-29 November 2018 This research is using Segara Temple in Sanur as research object, because of Megalithic culture’s effect on its architectural form. That point is shown in the pelinggihs part that used to worship Gods, which are built from coral piles. This physical condition, the materials, is the thing that differentiates Segara Temple from the other temples in Sanur Village. To specify the effect of Megalithic culture in the temple’s architecture, Segara Temple will be analyzed based on mass order and orientation, space hierarchy, also sacred and aesthetic elements it contained. Research Objectives and Benefits This research is aiming to know the clear effect of Megalithic culture in the mass order and orientation, space hierarchy, also sacred and aesthetic elements contained in Segara Temple, Sanur. This research result is expected to become further information of Megalithic culture effect to holy buildings architecture, especially in Temples. So it can be reference to help the academics to understand more about Megalithic culture effect to Temples, especially at Segara Temple in Sanur. Research Method This reasearch is using qualitative descriptive method, which is using qualitative datas to describe the form and architecture of Segara Sanur Temple. The qualitative datas are consist of theories and literature reviews about Megalithic culture, comprehension about Temples and its architectures, comprehension about Balinese Traditional Architecture (especially Temples), and physical data of Segara Sanur Temple as the research object. ANALYSIS Megalithic Culture Megalithic comes from Greek language, which consists of the words 'mega' which means big and 'lithos' which means stone (Soejono in Pradipta, Martin, 2017:37). Therefore Megaliths means large stones that are used to build structures or monuments. Megalithic culture is not a developing age or era, but is a form of culture that arises and develops during Neolithic era. Table 1. The Meanings of Space in the Past No. Products of Megalithic Characteristics Function Culture 1. Menhir Stone Pole that stands single or in groups Place of Worship 2. Punden Berundak Composition of stone pile Place of Worship 3. Dolmen Stone table Place of offerings 4. Pandhusa Stone table with closed legs tomb 5. Sarkofagus Whole stone is made into mortar which has a lid a place to lay dead bodies 6. Grave Chest Composed of stone slab a place to lay dead bodies 7. Stone Statue Human and animal sculptures Respect for figures / likes Source: R Von Heine Geldern in Noor, Yusliani& Mansyur, 2015: 63 1.30 Reframing the Vernacular: Politics, Semiotics and Representation Nyoman Ratih Prajnyani Salain The 1st International Conference on Cultural Communication and Space (ICCCS) and ISVS the 9th International Seminar on Vernacular Settlements (ISVS), 28-29 November 2018 Candi or punden berundak-undak is one of Megalithic culture outcomes that have a lot of architectural aspects in their form. The mass order in Candi in general is forming steps, with rectangular bases, which get narrowed up on the way to the top parts. Mostly consist of three steps or more, with their own philosophy which effects the form they used. At those ancient times, people were strongly believed that mountains are personification of sacred and holy places, therefore the mountain shape become the basic form of Candi and Punden Berundak, which is rectangular form base that get narrowed up to the top. Candi and Punden Berundak are often found in hill or mountain areas, because people were intended togive their ancestors a higher place to show their respect. Candi and Punden Berundak’s building orientation is still based on mountains as holy places personification, so in general the buildings are facing the mountains. In term of space hierarchy, Candi and Punden Berundak were designed based on simple considerations of ancient people, that the stepped form mass order will create a higher place for their ancestors, furthermore, the higher level courtyard will be and will give the sign that their ancestors were residing there. From the aesthetic and sacred elements, the ancient people in that era werealready able to create menhir and symbolic statues and scluptures.Menhir is an obelisk or stone pillar that used to respect the ancestors, while symbolic statues and sculptures are the representation of either ancestors or animals with simplified form (undetailed form). So that, the Megalithic culture characteristic in architectural aspect are shown in the stepped form (that well known as Candi form), the space hierarchy where the worship areas are places at the highest level and facing the mountain, the building are built on high areas (such as hills and mountains), using rough and simplified form statues that represent the ancestors figures or animals. Figure 1. Tri Mandala division in Temple Source: https://hindualukta.blogspot.com/2015/12/struktur-pura-yang-benar.html The Temple’s Mandala is divided into three areas, such as Nista Mandala (teben area; dirty area, lowly area), Madya Mandala (middle area), and Utama Mandala (hulu area; holy, sacred). Each areas are divided by ‘candi bentar’ as boundaries.Tri Mandala in a Temple buildings is oriented to natural axis Kaja-Kelod (Mountain-Sea) and ritual axis Kangin-Kauh (sunrise- sunset). In general, the main holy temples will be built in Utama Mandala area; while in Madya Mandala they will build supporting facilities such as Bale Gong, Perantenan (sacred kitchen), Bale Kulkul, Bale Pesandekan (a place to set offerings / tetandingan banten), Bale Pesamuan (a 1.31 The 1st International Conference on Cultural Communication and Space (ICCCS) and ISVS the 9th International Seminar on Vernacular Settlements (ISVS), 28-29 November 2018 place for meetings); and Nista Mandala area is functioned as parking area, yard / garden, toilets, etc. Space hierarchy in Temple architecture is an embodiment from Tri Loka cosmology, such as Bhur, Bwah, Swah Loka. Outside area which is called as jaba pura is a symbol of the underworld (bhur loka). In Hindus belief, this kind of world is where the bhuta kala live, so then this area is functioned to held ceremonies that related to the bhuta kala, such as mecaru ceremony,tabuh rah, etc. Middle area (jaba tengah) is a symbol of the middle world (bwah loka) which mean a place where human beings live. This area in functioned for any kind of activities to prepare ceremonies offerings for the Temple. While the core / inside area (jeroan) is a symbol of upper / holy and sacred area (swah loka) as a place for God and Gods (God in manifestations). Statues in Temples are part of aesthetic decoration because they are not united to the building itself. Not united here means that the statues are just ‘patches’ that are not included into the building architecture, and purely functioned just as aesthetic elements in it.