kahyangan

Kahyangan is a term used in Javanese and Balinese Hinduism to denote the heavenly realms or the abode of the gods. It is tied to the broader Hindu cosmology of multiple worlds or lokas and is often used to describe sacred, divine spaces beyond the earthly plane.

In Balinese practice, kahyangan frequently appears in the plural as Kahyangan Jagat, meaning the world’s heavens. This concept describes a network of sacred sites or temples that mediate between humans and the divine, and that underpin ritual life, temple architecture, and communal ceremonies. The idea emphasizes harmony between the physical environment and cosmic order, with temples and offerings oriented to access different aspects of the divine realm.

The significance of kahyangan varies by region but generally underpins the spiritual geography of Bali and Java. Temples associated with Kahyangan Jagat are regarded as guardians of the island and as loci where gods and humans meet, especially during ceremonies for fertility, protection, and balance within the community.

Beyond its ritual use, kahyangan is also employed in modern and literary Indonesian to refer more broadly to heaven or paradise in a religious or poetic sense. As a foundational concept in traditional Balinese Hinduism and Javanese religious culture, kahyangan reflects a worldview in which the divine and human realms are interconnected through sacred spaces, rituals, and cosmological symbolism.