In English literature, this horse's head is often referred to as the Submarine Mare's Head Fire (O'Flaherty, 1980: 27). This mare is also believed to be able to drink and vomit large amounts of sea water in an instant. In the real world, this Vadavamukha conception is often associated with the existence of volcanoes on the seabed whose volcanic activity can cause earthquakes on land and large tsunami waves at sea (cf. Paramadhyaksa, 2009: 92, Santos, 2005: 189). The concept of a fiery mare's head on the seabed, in Bali, was adapted into the local Balinese concept of Bedawang nala which is depicted in the form of a giant fiery turtle on the seabed which has a similar character. The reason for adapting the shape of the mare's head into the shape of a turtle, according to Hooykaas (1964: 108), is because turtles or turtles are animals that are well known and naturally do have their original habitat in the waters of the island of Bali. The word Bedawang Nala is said to have come from the Sanskrit term Vadavanala, which has been adapted to the Balinese tongue. In his book, ? gama Tirtha: Five Studies in HinduBalinese Religion, Hooykaas quotes Dr. Van der Tuuk who mentions that Benawang is geni, cf. Bedawanala, has a mane that is the embodiment of fire . It is easy to understand that in Balinese there is a change in the structure of the word “vadava” to “badawa”, then to “bandawa”, to “benawa”, and finally to “benawa?” (Hooykaas, 1964: 109). The word "anala" means fire or fiery. The word "anala" is then combined behind the word "benawa?" which later gradually became known as the term "bedawang nala". I Nyoman Widya Paramadhyaksa, Philosophical Meaning … 53 2. Bedawang Nala Ornament and its Relation to the Conception of Mount Meru In Hindu mythology, it is stated that Mount Meru has two peaks with contradictory characteristics. The two poles are named Sumeru and Kumeru. The prefix su- in the word "Su-meru" means "smooth". This is related to the conception of Sumeru as a blissful paradise, the abode of the gods and holy spirits. The prefix ku- in the word "Ku-meru" means "rough". Kumeru is the location of hell, the abode of giants and asuras, as well as the fire of torment for sinful souls (Blacker and Loewe, 1975: 119, cf. O'Flaherty, 1987: 206). In the meru building, this conception of the existence of heaven (Sumeru) and hell (Kumeru) is embodied as a murdha ornament at the top of the building and a Bedawang nala ornament at the bottom. Murdha, which is in the form of a small gem carved on the top of the roof of a high building, is a manifestation of the sacred nature of heaven and is difficult for ordinary people to achieve.

As for the Bedawang Nala in the form of a giant fiery tortoise at the base of the building, which symbolizes the concept of hell, something which is usually described as a place full of tormented fire and is very easily accessible to the human soul who is entangled in worldly ties in his life. In some literatures, it is also mentioned that in Indian Hindu cosmology, Vadavamukha, Vadavanala, Vadavagni or Submarine Mare's Head Fire is the location of a hell full of tormenting fire which is the abode of giants and enemies of the gods (asuras). 3. Balinese Belief in the Process of Earthquake Occurrence This conception of a giant tortoise named Bedawang also has a strong connection with Balinese beliefs about the process of earthquakes. In Balinese folk mythology, it is described that a giant turtle supports the island of Bali on its back. If the giant tortoise moves, an earthquake will occur on the island of Bali which it supports (cf. Pucci et al., 2004: 186). To prevent the giant tortoise from moving freely, Naga Basuki and Naga Anantabhoga were assigned to tightly entangle the Journal of Philosophy Vol. 20, Number 1, April 2010 54 turtles.

These two cosmic dragons are assigned to always monitor and prevent every movement of the island-supporting tortoise. In Hindu cosmology, Naga Basuki and Naga Anantabhoga are the two main dragons depicted living in the underworld at the level of Sapta Patala. These two dragons have a residence adjacent to where Vadavamukha is (cf. Hopkins, 1915: 61, Vogel, 1926: 284). In the real world, the Bedawang Nala tortoise is stated as a symbol of magma in the bowels of the earth whose volcanic activity can trigger earthquakes and tsunamis. This magma is covered by the elements of earth and water on the earth's surface. This natural picture is then symbolized as an ornament of the Bedawang Nala Tortoise (symbol of the magma element) which is tightly wrapped around Naga Anantabhoga (symbol of the earth element) and Naga Basuki (symbol of the water element) (cf. Parbasana, 2005: 21-22, cf. Paramadhyaksa , 2009: 236). The conception of the Bedawang Nala ornament as a symbol of magma that causes earthquakes is very relevant to the condition of the island of Bali as an island in the Indonesian archipelago which is quite prone to earthquakes and other volcanic events. E. Closing Based on all the descriptions above, it can be concluded several things regarding the content of philosophical meaning in the Bedawang Nala ornament found at the base of the Meru building in Bali. 1. The local Balinese ornament Bedawang nala is an adaptation of the Indian Hindu mythological conception known as Vadavamukha, Vadavanala, or Submarine Mare's Head Fire which depicts the presence of the head of a flaming mare on the seabed, as the cause of earthquakes on land and large tsunami waves in the sea. 2. Bedawang nala can also be interpreted as a symbol of hell where the giants and asuras live. Bedawang nala or Vadavanala is located at the peak of Kumeru which is the peak of the south pole of Mount Meru. This peak is the opposite of heaven on another peak of Mount Meru called Sumeru. In the Meru building, the existence of the two peaks of Mount Meru which are contradictory in nature is manifested as I Nyoman Widya Paramadhyaksa, Philosophical Meaning … 55 Bedawang nala ornaments at the base of the building and murdha ornaments at the top of the roof. 3. The Bedawang nala ornament in the form of a large turtle wrapped around a dragon or two has a close connection with the Balinese myth about efforts to avoid earthquakes. 4. In the real world, the Bedawang Nala tortoise is a symbol of magma in the bowels of the earth whose volcanic activity can trigger earthquakes and tsunamis.