The eschatological traces in the cult of maharsi markandeya an interpretation of samādhi at Pura Pucak Payogan, Bali
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61511/lad.v3i1.2025.2120Keywords:
Balinese hinduism, eschatology, maharsi markandeya, sacred space, samādhiAbstract
Background: This study explores the eschatological dimensions embedded in the veneration of Maharsi Markandeya at Pura Pucak Payogan Bali, particularly through the interpretation of his samādhi (spiritual absorption) as a culmination of sacred life and transcendence. The aim is to analyze how the notion of moksha (liberation) is ritualized, spatialized, and narrated through cultic practices and collective memory within Balinese Hindu communities. Previous studies on Balinese religiosity have primarily focused on ritual systems, ancestral worship, and temple networks, but little attention has been paid to eschatological interpretations of samādhi shrines as sites of spiritual transcendence. Methods: This article adopts a qualitative approach using ethnographic fieldwork, textual interpretation of Hindu philosophical sources (particularly Vedānta and Yoga Sūtra), and spatial-symbolic analysis of the temple architecture and rituals associated with Pura Pucak Payogan. Findings: The findings reveal that Maharsi Markandeya’s samādhi is perceived not merely as a memorial site but as an eschatological axis where the duality between life and death dissolves. This perception is enacted through pilgrimage practices, offerings, and narratives that position the site as a symbolic gateway to liberation. The integration of eschatological doctrine into living religious practices reflects a dynamic fusion of textual philosophy and local ontology. Conclusions: The study concludes that Pura Pucak Payogan functions as a liminal sacred space encoding the ideal of divine union, and that the cult of Maharsi Markandeya offers a living model of eschatological embodiment in the Hindu-Balinese tradition. Novelty/Originality of this article: The novelty of this study lies in its interdisciplinary interpretation of samādhi as an eschatological site and in highlighting the fusion of theological vision with ritual practice in contemporary Balinese spirituality.
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