Wednesday, March 25, 2015

DEVI Durga Statue guarded by a Tiger at Taman Safari Cisarua Bogor, West Java ,Indonesia

A trip to Taman Safari Cisarua , Bogor , West Java , Indonesia  is amazing. My adventure started as soon our car entered the Animal Forest Park. We were amid the animals which we used to see on Discovery Channels only. This Park serves as the Natural Habitat for the animals from around the World . I liked its unique Thematic Planning which makes this place more interesting and natural. Themes merged with the animals gives a real feel of animal abode. Our car went through the streets of Park up and down enjoying waterfalls , river and mountain forest. It was a dream coming true when a Ostrich came near our car to say HELLOooo. So many Zebras peeping through our windows asking carrots. Deer were too surrounded our car as if asking something to eat. On one side of  road   Hippos were welcoming us with their open mouth were . The real Adventure started when we entered in the Lion - Tiger area ... The Big CATS were walking along with our car .. One was crossing the road and we had to stop. Others 2-3 were sleeping on the left side at the edge of road. A real Adventure ....
One sight which caught my attention was a BIG REAL TIGER , roaming without a cage . .. when I went closer I was amazed to see the Spirit of Indonesians. There was an Old Goddess DEVI Durga Statue (found in some excavation) and this Tiger was roaming continuously left and right and roaring in front of  Goddess Durga as a GUARD. There was a Inscription on the right side of this complex , which reads in both languages Bahasa Indonesia and English as follows - what A Tribute to the CULTURE .
QUOTE -
A Symbol of Protection and Strength

Bahasa Indonesia -
Harimau - Simbol perlendungan & kekuatan Di India satwa ini selalu dikaitkan dengan Dewa & Dewi masyarakatnya. 

Masyarakat di Lembah Hindustani mempercayai Dewi Durga datang memberi kedamaian dengan menuggangi Harimau.

Tempat berfoto ini dirancang dengan gaya Budaya India yang dapat membuat anda merasakan nuansa dunia India bersama Harimau hasil pengembangbiakkan Taman Safari Indoesia.

English -
Tigers are found in Siberia , India and South East Asia. Across much of Asia , the Tiger symbolizes Protection , Strength and the Power of Kings. 

In India the Tigers often relate to God and Goddesses of India people. For instance the people of Indus Valley believed in the Goddess of Durga as a Force for Peace.

Goddess Durga rode on the back of a Tiger which was seen as the King of the forest - A Power on Earth beyond the reach of any immortal.

This area was built in India Style to make YOU feel the Atmosphere and Culture of the Tiger Homeland.

UNQUOTE
As India is celebrating 9 days (Navratras)  Worshiping of Goddess Durga , this is the right time to share with you all .

Best wishes for Navratras (9 days of Worshiping Goddess Durga).

Address - 
Taman Safari Cisarua Bogor
Jalan Raya Puncak 601 
Cisarua Bogor 16750 
West Java , Indonesia 
Tel: (+62251) 8250000  ,  Fax: (+62251) 8250555
info@tamansafari.com
Opening Hours: 9.00am to 17.00pm daily 

Link to Taman safari Bogor -  http://bogor.tamansafari.com/

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

"Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa"(God Almighty) एकेश्वरवाद in Indonesian Hinduism

Empty Chair (Asana) of "Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa"(God Almighty) at the corner of the Road

"Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa" (God Almighty) एकेश्वरवाद
 

In Balinese Hindu perspective, God is known as a term of  "Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa ", which means Almighty God symbolizes एकेश्वरवाद also  termed as Acintya, in Saskrit it means: "The Unthinkable", "The Inconceivable", "He who cannot be Imagined", is the Supreme God of Indonesian Hinduism. Apart from His various names , God is only ONE. Among various names of God, there are Three which are well known by the Hindu adherers in Bali, namely  - 

Brahma ब्रह्मा, Visnu विष्णु , Siva शिव which are called as Tri Murti त्रिमूर्ति  . 

Brahma ब्रह्मा is the Dimension of Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa as the Creator (Utpatti) उत्पत्ति

Visnu विष्णु is the Manifestation of Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa as the Preserver (Sthiti Srishti)  सृष्टि

Siwa Shivशिव is the Manifestation of Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa as the Destroyer (Praline Pralay) प्रलय 

Balinese believe that all  Creation of "Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa" will go through the cycle of Birth, Life and Death.

The Essence of Power of "Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa" is expressed by every family of Hindu in Bali whether it is in Pemrajan – Temple / Shrine , Sangah - Cummunity Woshipping , Worshipping place in every house, Dadya Temple - A set of Shrines , Village as well as Jagad Jagat (world) जगत Bali. 

Photographs below are enough to speak this Essence of Power of "Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa" which I clicked during my visit to Bali , a Paradise.

Stairs takes you to the Asana of "Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa" (God Almighty). Temple at the Terrace of  The Hotel Si Doi , Denpasar , Bali
Stairs leaves you at the Terrace of the Si Doi Hotel amidst  magnificient view of the Shrine which adores the Throne (Empty Chair) of "Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa" (God Almighty). Almost all roofs of Hotels and Houses have this kind of amazing view of  Shrine or group of Shrines.
This is another view of Group of Shrines "Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa" (God Almighty) for Community worshipping , I clicked while roaming on the streets of Denpasar. A beautiful sight which is marked everywhere in Bali. I was awestruck to see and feel Hinduism of Bali.   




Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Kala Makara (मकर) as a Symbol of University of Indonesia

Universitas Indonesia (UI) is a State University in Depok, West Java and Salemba, Jakarta, Indonesia. Universitas Indonesia is the oldest Tertiary-level Educational Institution in Indonesia (known as the Dutch East Indies when UI was established). 


I am fascinated by its Logo which features Kala - Makara (मकर) .
The logo is the Kala-Makara  (मकर)a symbol of the two sources of energy in Nature. Kala is the energy from above (the power of the sun), while makara represents the energy from below (the pUniversity of Indonesia as the source of knowledge is symbolized by the water flowing from the head of Kala Makara.ower of the Earth). The two powers are combined and stylized into a symbol that represents the function of Universitas Indonesia as a source of knowledge.
The logo of Universitas Indonesia Makara carries  following interpretation:
The Logo symbolizes a Beringin Tree (Banyan Tree) (बरगद का पेड़) with water fountain and the Head of Kala Makara  (Mythological Creature in Indonesia) surrounded by a Pentagon.The symbol has the following meanings :
University of Indonesia as the center of the Nation's culture is symbolized by the shell of wisdom which accept the flowing water from the head of Kala Makara Logo.
University of Indonesia with its knowledge and culture is dedicated for the happiness and prosperity of Indonesia and for all mankind. This meaning is symbolized by a Beringin Tree with Eight Branch and seventeen leaves (17-8, Indonesia's Independence Day). Beringin Tree (Banayan Tree) is chosen, because it is known to have long lifetime and it can give protection for those who might need it. 
The earliest form of the Logo of Universitas Indonesia was created in 1952 by Sumaxtono (born as Sumartono), a student from 1951 Art Department , Faculty of Engineering which was at the time known as Fakulteit Teknik Universiteit Indonesia , located in Bandung.
Universitas Indonesia is generally considered as the Most Prestigious Public University in Indonesia, along with Bandung Institute of Technology and Gadjah Mada University.