Balinese home temple architecture fascinates me, especially in the way it weaves through religious and cultural life.
I was chatting with a local about the temples — specifically, why we can’t just enter them willy-nilly — and the conversation flowed into the two kinds of temples found in most homes here. He explained that when you build a house in Bali (how does he already know our plans?), you’re expected to build two temples or at least buy them, with prices starting around $40.
One temple, which has no visible roof, is dedicated to God — as in, the God of the universe, the divine. The other, the one with a roof, is for the home-protecting spirit deity. Daily offerings must be made to both.
What’s funny is, after he explained it, I started noticing these temples everywhere.
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