Type Chinese temple Completed 2012 Opened 2012 Inaugurated 15 August 2012 | Architectural style Chinese style Cost 3-4 Billions Rupiah Construction started 2006 | |
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Other dimensions Building 800 mArea 8200 m Address Jalan Pelabuhan, Pedungan, Denpasar Selatan, Kota Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia Similar Pak Kik Bio Temple, Hoo Tong Bio, Hok Swie Bio, Kim Tek Ie Temple, Vihara Dharmayana Kuta | ||
Satya dharma temple
Vihara Satya Dharma is a modern Chinese temple at Benoa Port, Bali. It is a temple of "Satya Dharma" or "Shenism", Southeast Asian names for the Chinese folk religion. Like other Chinese temples and in Bali, this temple also has an altar in its outdoor yard dedicated to gods of Balinese Hinduism.
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The main deity of this temple is Mazu. As a temple which is built in the international port area, this temple worships the deities of travel safety, sailing, and business. This is the first Chinese temple in Benoa Port thus is expected to be a worship place for the sailors from various countries and also as a tourist attraction.
Naming
"Satya Dharma" (Sanskrit) means "True Law". "Vihara" is a Sanskrit term traditionally used for Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia, but it is also used occasionally for Chinese temples, otherwise called klenteng, since the New Order dispositions. Even though Confucianism has recently been accepted as a legal religion in Indonesia, many new Chinese temples in Bali still use the term "vihara" in their names.
"Vihara Satya Dharma" is translated in Chinese characters as 宮安保, from the right to the left readable as bǎo ān gōng. 保 (bǎo) means "to protect" while 安 (ān) means "content, quiet, peace", thus 安保 (ānbǎo) means "to maintain security". The 宮 (gōng) character means "temple, palace". Literally, Bao An Gong means the "Temple to Maintain Security". It is a common term for any Chinese temples in Indonesia which intends the safety of its followers, especially in the spiritual meaning.
History
Vihara Satya Dharma is located at the north end of Benoa Port Highway. The temple foundation got the construction fund from the donation of the worshipers from Indonesia especially Bali, even from Japanese, Taiwanese, and Thais sailors. The construction lasted for 6 years until it was inaugurated in 2012. The inauguration celebration was held on 22 August 2012 and was attended by the Deputy Governor of Bali, i.e. AA Ngurah Puspayoga.