Pura Panataran Sasih

Pura Panataran Sasih

The principal sight in the temple of Pura Panataran Sasih, which stands on the road from Bedulu to Pejeng, is what is claimed to be the largest kettledrum in the world, the famous "Moon of Pejeng". In fact it is not so much a drum as a gong, 1.25 m (4 ft) in diameter and richly decorated with spiral bands of ornament, stylized faces and Hindu symbols. Little can be seen of this, however, since the gong is hung high up in a bale and partly concealed.

While the date of the gong is well established (Dongsong culture, c. 300 bc), it has not been possible, in spite of intensive research, to determine its place of origin or the meaning of the decoration. The local people are firmly of the opinion that the Moon