In traditional Hindu societies in India and Nepal, the Brahmins are but a member of one of the four varnas (castes). There are Brahmins in Bali and to the Balinese Brahmins, pumpkin is a taboo. Nirartha, the 15th-century priest who built Pura Tanah Lot, the sea temple atop a big rock in Tanah Lot, Bali,originally hailed from Blambangan, Java.After leaving the royal courts there, legend has it that he had set sailed to Bali on a pumpkin, thus giving rise to the taboo. There are other fascinating stories about the priest. After arriving in plague-ridden Bali for instance, he purportedly presented a hair from his head to King Dalem Baturenggong to help avert the sufferings. His scarf had also been said to have turned into a giant snake which guard the Pura Lot Temple. Of course, if you were to visit the temple today, you'd not get to see the giant snake. There is however, a smaller white snake in a cave but you'd have to pay US $1 to get a glimpse of it....
You can get to have a peep at a white snake here!
Beautiful Bali is coming to an end!
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