The mysticism behind the interesting layout of a typical Balinese Hindu Village explained: Every Balinese village consists at least of 3 Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (ब्रह्मा-विष्णु-महेश). Following Balinese Vastu (such as Asta Kosala-Kosali), all traditional villages in Bali are oriented on a mountain-sea axis. The “head” or beginning of the village lies always towards Mount Agung, the holy mountain of Bali which is considered an earthly replica of the mythological Mountain Sumeru (सुमेरु). At the head lies Pura Puseh (temple of origins) which is dedicated to Lord Brahma, the creating principle of the Universe, and the founding father's of the village or hamlet. In the center of the villages lies Pura Desa, which is primarily dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserving principle of the Universe, and the village-gods (ग्राम-देवताs). What is also very interesting that at the center of the village always lies a huge Banyan tree (वट/न्यग्रोध वृक्ष), which is considered very sacred in Hinduism because it is symbolical of universal existence (as explained in various passages of the Vedic Aranyaka texts, Upanishads and the Gita 15.1-2). At the “tail” or end of the village, which is always towards the ocean, lies Pura Dalem (the temple of the dead) which is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the destructing principle of the Universe, and lies always near the cremation grounds, known as “setra” in Bali (which is most probably a perversion of Sanskrit “Kshetra”, short for the Sanskrit “shmashana-kshetra” = cremation grounds). It must be noted that in Balinese Hindu philosophy higher grounds are considered abodes of the Devas (positive forces), while the lower ones are abodes of the Bhutas (negative forces). Finding a balance between both is what a Balinese Hindu strives for...
