International Journal of Indonesian Studies Volume 1, Issue 3 | страница 9

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDONESIAN STUDIES
SPRING 2016
After becoming king, Sira Arya Ngurah devised a state structure which consisted of
king/raja, spiritual adviser/purohito or brahmana, prime ministry/werdha mentri, head of
defence/mahapatih, generals/patih, treasury officer/manca, and head of village/prebekel.
The persons, who held these positions, commonly had family relationships with the
king/raja, except the village head (Arnita et.al, 1997, 15-6; Geertz, 1980:57-9). From
historical investigations, it is clear that the titles conferred on each member also constituted
key elements of the political system (Table 1). But, in time, there was a modification of the
state structure, when two kings ruled the dynasty of Tabanan (the first and second king/raja
pemade); the southern territory was under the first king/Puri Gde, whilst the northern part
was under the second king/Puri Kaleran, located only about 100 metres from the northern
side of Puri Gde.6
Figure 1: The Initial State Structure: Name of Position and Household
No

Name of position

Name of living

1

King/Raja

Puri Gde

2

Spiritual Advisor/ Purohito

Grya/Dalem

3

Prime Ministry/Werdha Menteri Puri

4

Head of Defence/Mahapatih

Jro Gde

5

Generals/Patih

Jro

6

Treasury Officer/Manca

Jro

7

Head of Village/Perbekel/Mekel

Umah

State structure
1

2

3

4

6

5

5

5

7

7

7

As mentioned above, the site selection of Tabanan palace and royal households was
foretold by a lightning strike, believing that the lightning originated from a deep well located
in a small temple called Pusar Tasik. This temple was eventually incorporated into the
Tabanan royal household complex. The selection of this site by supernatural means
reiterates Joseph Rykwert’s argument about the role of founders of settlements in antiquity,
in which the selection of a suitable site was determined first and foremost by mythical signs
rather than by considerations of economic benefit, fertility of land or defence purposes
(Rykwert, 1976: 33). Nevertheless, in the case of the Tabanan royal palace, the location had
several practical advantages (relating to defence and fertile terrain), since it is bounded by
two rivers to the east and west, and is located at the highest point. Though this region has
high levels of humidity, with the dominant east-west winds, outdoor thermal comfort can
be ensured since vegetation along the rivers is able to mitigate the high levels of humidity.
These factors remind one of Aristotle’s four recommendations when choosing a suitable site
for settlement; sloping terrain, healthy ambiance, east facing, and good for supporting civil
6

Deep interview with I Gusti Ngurah Agung is one of Tabanan nobles on17th July 2013

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