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techniques secret and saw to it that marriage would take place only within their own professional group
new Ksatriya rulers aware of dependence of their govn. on weapons made by pandes; made their work an adjunct of the govn. and gave the smiths a place in the puri, the palace of the king’s family – during period these changes were taking place, sometime between 15th and 16th centuries, Pande clan inscribed its own his in a lontar, a formal religious document, called the Prasasti Sira Pande Empu
many other clan groups wrote lontars during this time as a way to codify and amplify their right to a status greater than that of mere Sudra
these lontars, which are still read today, offer histories that are vivid, exaggerated and full of hubris; the Pandes’ is no exception
“The Prasasti Sira Pande Empu outlines a mythology that seems to predate Hinduism. It describes the creation by Brahma, but the Brahma here appears less like that of the Hindu triad, and more like the Vedic god of fire, Agni. Emphasizing fire, of course, makes sense for the Pande, who have always considered fire as their special instrument, from which much of their power was derived. And yet the Pande adopted the color red, which is always associated with the trimurthi god Brahma. The Pande temple at Pura Besakih is decorated in red. And Pande men often wear red articles of clothing, such as udeng (head band), and saput (waist cloth), when participating in ceremonies.
In the early Hindu myths, asceticism and meditation commonly result in the creation of life, and in the Pande lontar these actions by Brahma created a man called Empu Pradah. Empu here is an epithet of high distinction, meaning 'sage'. But, the Indonesian word empu also refers to a master craftsman - especially to one who is skilled at forging kris. ((What does Pradah mean? Today it is appliqued gold powder or paint used on dance cloths.)) In the lontar, Empu Pradah is proclaimed the first head of the Pande clan. The document also includes a declaration of independence of sorts. It clearly states that the Brahmanas obtained their knowledge and power from the Pande, and established the Pandes as older than the Brahmanas and of greater power and prestige. It also stipulates that the Pandes are not permitted to obtain holy water from pedandas because, in effect, the Brahmana priests are the younger brothers of the Pandes, and, for that reason should be subservient to them. The lontar also includes various warnings to other caste-less people that they should not follow the teachings of the Brahmanas and Ksatriyas, but rather emulate the Pandes. The documents is anti-Brahmana, anti-establishment, and loaded with pro-Pande propaganda.
the lontar says that the Pande came to Bali with the Majapahit exodus, landing at Gunung Beratan in northwest Bali between Gilimanuk and Pulaki; then migrated to Lake Beratan ((in north central part of the island; town of Bedugul is on its shore)); built the Pura Beratan on the lake shore, according to their history, or at least an important shrine there; from here the clan is said to have spread throughout Bali
one very imp. and very conservative group moved to what is now Banjar Beratan in the south part of Singaraja ((Singaraja on the


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