Here stands Wihara Dharmacattra. This unique temple serves as a place of worship for three religions. These are Buddhism Taoism and Confucianism. The temple’s full name is Vihara Satya Dharma.
Vihara Satya Dharma sits in Benoa Port in Bali. It is a Tridharma place of worship. Its inauguration inscription confirms it serves three religions. You will find a fusion with Balinese Hinduism here. Look for the Padmasana shrine. Also see the Karang Statue in the front corner of the courtyard.
Nezha is the primary deity at Vihara Satya Dharma. Altars honor Singbing deities. These deities relate to travel safety navigation and trade. The temple caters to sailors from many nations. They often dock at Benoa Port. This fills a void since no temple existed here before. Vihara Satya Dharma also attracts local and international tourists.
Above the entrance the Chinese characters read “bǎo ān gōng”. This translates to “Temple of Security”. Temples use this term to instill a sense of spiritual security.
Though called a “vihara” many temples in Bali use this term. This is because of Indonesian political history. This was before Confucianism became the sixth recognized religion.
Vihara Satya Dharma sits at the north end of the Benoa Port toll road. Funds came from the Indonesian people especially those in Bali. Sailors from Japan Taiwan and Thailand also donated. Construction took six years. The inauguration occurred in 2012. Bali’s Deputy Governor AA Ngurah Puspayoga attended the ceremony.
Vihara Satya Dharma covers 8200 square meters. The building itself occupies 800 square meters. Its construction cost 3 to 4 billion Rupiah. The temple has one floor.
The main deity Tian Shang Sheng Mu calms the sea. She ensures safety for sea travelers. Therefore the temple worships deities of travel safety sailing and business. It is the first Chinese temple in Benoa Port. Sailors from various countries worship here. It also serves as a tourist attraction.
“Satya Dharma” means “True Law” in Sanskrit. “Vihara” traditionally refers to Buddhist temples. But it is sometimes used for Chinese temples too. These are otherwise called klenteng.
Inside Wihara Satya Dharma find many altars. Thian Kong is on the terrace. Chie Ong Ya Na Cha and Siong Ti Kong are in the main front room. Kwan Kong is to the left. Ma Cho is on the right. Many more deities have altars here. You will find them in different rooms and wings.
Wihara Satya Dharma stands as a symbol of faith and cultural exchange. Its story reflects Bali’s diverse religious landscape. It is a place where sailors travelers and locals find solace and blessings.