Pura Sada, Bali

Pura Sada is an ancient temple in the village of Kapal in Bali. It is the royal temple of the former Kingdom of Mengwi and dates back to the Majapahit period, making it even older than Pura Taman Ayun.

The structures of Pura Sada that you see today dates back to the 1950-60's. The original temple was destroyed by the earthquake of 1917. It was rebuilt by a team of archaeologists based on the original 17th century design.

The most interesting structure at Pura Sada is its 11-tier meru shrine. This one was built in the Javanese candi style, and is very rare in Bali. Within the inner courtyard are 54 mini-shrines that act as seats to the servants of the King of Majapahit. The servants were said to have perished in the sea on their journey to Bali. They had brought the king's ashes from Java, and the meru shrine symbolizes his cremation tower.

On the sides of the meru shrine are images of the eight lords of the cardinal directions. On the lower base of the shrine are the seven seers of the Hindu-Balinese cosmos.

As with most Balinese temples, Pura Sada has a candi bentar, or split gate, with the ferocious face of Boma, the gate guardian, watching above the gateway.

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