Jagatnatha Temple is one of the buildings which have been existing up to now in Jembrana Bali. An artistic sacred building with the perception of nature is reflected in the decorative art of Jagatnatha Temple which is assimilated in religious value, value of balance, value of solidarity, dharma and aesthetics in finding a style.
Drs. I Ketut Sunarya, M.Sn., a member of faculty of Arts Education Department, Yogyakarta State University said that the decorative art of Jagatnatha Temple was built on the concept of Tri Mandala in the formulation of Balinese cosmology, namely nyegara-gunung (sea-mount) or kelod-kaja (sea towards mountain). Kelod is nistha alam butha, which is less holy while kaja is the holiest area, uttama mandala. Meanwhile, madtya area is the central plain which is the domain of human life. "Based on this Tri Mandala concept, the presence of decorative art is not separated from the concept of uttama, madhya and nistha," Ketut Sunarya said, Monday (10/10), conducting an open examination of his doctoral program at UGM Graduate School.
In his dissertation entitled "The Symbolic Meaning and Aesthetic Value of Decorative Art and Layout of Jagatnatha Temple in Jembrana in the Life of Balinese Hindu Religious Society," Ketut Sunarya said that uttama mandala area especially kaja/mountain side presents decorative art in the concept of sunya (silent), sacred, solemn and quiet. Decorative art depicting god’s realm which is the holiest realm by presenting Padmasana Lingga in the form of lengisan (smooth) which is varied with the flat sculpture of ancient character. On the kelod side (south), uttama mandala area, the magnificent grand kori is present in the concept of wilderness as a source of life.
Furthermore, in Madhya mandala pura area, the concept of harmony in classical, flexible, ngrawit and balanced space is present that encloses bentar temple, bale kulkul, bale peninjauan, bale gong and bale pesadekan. Present in nistha mandala area with ardhacandra order are laras kampid cangak temple, winged dragons and minimalist geometric arrangement on the parapet of the temple decorated with contemporary art. "Pura (temple) describes three glorious tops of Balinese decorative arts, namely the period of ancient Bali up to the finding of Balinese character, the golden age of Gelgel empire with its classical character and contemporary characters with Western influences," the man born in Banjar, Perkutat, Bali, year 1958 said.
Ketut Sunarya added that the decorative art found in Jagatnatha temple adheres to the principle of aesthetics. First, is the function of personal concern namely beauty that is used to support the ceremony as well as personal satisfaction. Secondly, is concerning the social function of art as communication tool and form of art preservation. Finally is physical function which reflects that art is not only beautiful but also functional as tadah taugeh, canggahwang and langki.
Meanwhile, the art style in it deals with formal arrangement which is the intellectual structure, biomorphic structure style and aesthetic composition style. Furthermore, fantasy style deals with mythology, folklore, and Butha’s domain stories. "The decorative art at Jagatnatha Temple Bali, apart from its beauty, the symbolic meaning becomes the essence in the temple. In addition, the decorative art also makes this temple ritual, symbolic surge which unifies people towards happiness physically and spiritually," the 1461st UGM doctor who graduated with honors concluded.