— Blossoming Trees at Dang Hyang Nirartha’s Residence —

Meaning: ”Taman Pule” means “pule garden”, derived from the presence of legendary pulai (pule) trees in the temple grounds.

Temple type: Dang Kahyangan (‘founded by a great priest’)

Location: In Mas village, southeast of Ubud

Map: Mas, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia

Dates back to: 16ᵗʰ century

Region: Around Ubud

Requirements for visit: Bring your own sarong. While entry is generally free, it is recommended to seek the priest’s approval.

Accessibility: Mostly easily accessible, with level ground throughout. The parking area is right at the entrance.

Dang Hyang Nirartha’s place

The village’s most important temple stands behind a playing field near the main road in the center of Mas. It is believed to occupy the site of Dang Hyang Nirartha’s original griya—his residence and hermitage. According to local tradition, some of the sage’s relics are still kept within its shrines, well hidden.

The main entrance of Pura Taman Pule from the west

Most Brahmana families in Bali trace their ancestry to Dang Hyang Nirartha—also known as Dang Hyang Dwijendra or Pedanda Shakti Wawu Rauh (‘newly arrived high priest’)—the single most influential Hindu priest of the 16ᵗʰ century in Bali. A Shaivite priest arriving from Majapahit Java, Nirartha, played a central role in reshaping Balinese Hinduism into the form practiced today, including formalizing the priesthood and the establishment of the caste system on the island. He is also credited with introducing the padmasana, the empty throne shrine now found in nearly all Balinese temples.

Nirartha served as royal priest to the Gelgel Kingdom under King Waturenggong. He was also a celebrated poet whose works—including the kakawin (long narrative poem) “Hyang Nirartha”—remain highly respected. He is associated with the founding of major temples such as Pura Tanah Lot, Pura Petitenget, and Pura Luhur Uluwatu, where he is believed to have attained moksa.

Ceremonies

Pura Taman Pule holds its five-day odalan every 210 days, usually coinciding with Kuningan, one of Bali’s major sacred days. During the festival, the temple becomes a vibrant pilgrimage site, especially for members of the Pasek Bendesa Mas clan and Brahmanas from across the island. Traditional performances—such as wayang kulit (shadow puppet theatre), wayang wong (masked dance performance), and gamelan music alongside both—animate the temple grounds. Along the village streets, women move in long lines, balancing offerings on their heads, as descendants of the sage come from across Bali to honor their lineage and the enduring legacy of this revered spiritual figure.

The delicate, leaf-shaped inner gate resembles a kayonan — the shadow-puppet (*wayang kulit*) symbol of the tree of life and the cosmos, as well as the gateway to the world beyond. Carved on its middle is the disembodied head of Bhoma, the protective guardian spirit, who wards off evil and safeguards the temple and its sacred precincts.

Legend

Another form of the legend of origin says that Dang Hyang Nirartha once planted a wooden stick in the ground and a miracle happened: the stick grew into a living tree with golden flowers, from which the village of Mas got its name, as it was founded by this act. He also predicted that all his descendants will live from wood – the village of Mas has been famous for woodcarving until today.

The temple’s woodcarvings have been continuously refined and elaborated over the centuries

Masks are prepared in the temple for the upcoming *wayang wong* performance.

The masked dances take place during the temple’s anniversary (*odalan*).

The *odalan* festival with the performances lasts five days and coincides with Kuningan

Visiting

You may enter the temple freely if it is open and you are dressed respectfully, with a sarong and covered shoulders. Seek permission from the pemangku (local priest), dressed in white, either before or after entering. Avoid stepping up on pavilions, making loud noises, or talking loudly, and always show respect to those who come to pray.

The temple features several *padmasana* shrines, which were introduced to Balinese temples by Dang Hyang Nirartha.

Bibliography

Davison, Julian, et al. Introduction to Balinese Architecture. Singapore: Periplus, 2003.

Haer, Debbie Guthrie; Morillot, Julliet and Toh, Irene Bali, a Traveller’s Companion. Singapore: Didier Millet, 2007

Pringle, Robert A Short History of Bali: Indonesia’s Hindu Realm. Crows Nest NSW: Allen & Unwin, 2004.

Wei, Lin Che Mas Ubud – The Art of Balinese Woodcarving, 2008. https://masubud.blogspot.com/2008/02/desa-mas-how-village-get-its-name.html

Nearby temples

In the area southeast of Ubud, there are enough historical temples to explore for at least a week, each with its own stories, legends, and cultural significance, contributing pieces to the larger mosaic of Balinese culture.

Especially close are Jukut Paku to the northwest, Goa Gajah, Pura Samuan Tiga, Yeh Pulu, and the temples of Pejeng to the northeast of the village Mas. Pura Hyang Tiba and theCanggi Gate are two smaller, rarely visited sites of historical interest, located within a ten-minute drive to the south.

Previous temple:

Jukut Paku

Next temple:

Pura Hyang Tiba