The Jantra: Wheel of Time

a Jantra—a spinning wheel of time—invites visitors to engage with the rhythm of existence. Representing Dewi Ratih, the Moon Goddess, the Jantra embodies the eternal flow of life, seasons, and cosmic cycles. As visitors turn the wheel, they trace the patterns of the universe, mirroring the continuous motion of time itself.

Integrated within this piece is Palelindon, an ancient lunar phase-timekeeping system mapping natural phenomena—earthquakes, eclipses, meteors, shifting tides—each interpreted as an omen, a sign, or a shift in cosmic balance. Inspired by a painting by the late Nyoman Mandra, this celestial chart has been reimagined by his daughter, Ni Wayan Sri Wedari, carrying forward a lineage of artistic and astronomical wisdom.

According to Palelindon, earthquakes in certain months signal either fortune or disruption, depending on which deity is in mayoga—a state of meditation. As visitors spin the Jantra, they step into the rhythm of this knowledge, glimpsing the cycles of the world through Balinese cosmic time.

Just as Dewi Ratih governs the moon’s cycles, Balinese women have long shaped the island’s artistic and spiritual traditions, ensuring that cultural wisdom endures. Their artistry, like the Jantra, keeps Balinese heritage in motion—an unbroken cycle of preservation and renewal.