thumb|The Mother Temple of Besakih, one of Bali's most significant Hindu temples. The general beliefs and practices of Agama Hindu Dharma mix ancient traditions and contemporary pressures placed by Indonesian laws that permit only monotheist belief under the national ideology of Pancasila.Shinji Yamashita (2002), Bali and Beyond: Explorations in the Anthropology of Tourism, Berghahn, , pp. 57-65 Traditionally, Hinduism in Indonesia had a pantheon of deities and that tradition of belief continues in practice; further, Hinduism in Indonesia granted freedom and flexibility to Hindus as to when, how and where to pray. However, officially, the Indonesian government considers and advertises Indonesian Hinduism as a monotheistic religion with certain officially recognised beliefs that comply with its national ideology.Michel Picard (2003), in Hinduism in Modern Indonesia (Editor: Martin Ramstedt), Routledge, , pp. 56–72 Indonesian school textbooks describe Hinduism as having one supreme being, Hindus offering three daily mandatory prayers, and Hinduism as having certain common beliefs that in part parallel those of Islam. Some scholarsAnthony Forge (1980), Balinese Religion and Indonesian Identity, in Indonesia: The Making of a Culture (Editor: James Fox), Australian National University, Putu Setia (1992), Cendekiawan Hindu Bicara, Denpasar: Yayasan Dharma Naradha, , pp. 217–229 contest whether these Indonesian government recognised and assigned beliefs to reflect the traditional beliefs and practices of Hindus in Indonesia before Indonesia gained independence from Dutch colonial rule.
thumb|the mother temple of besakih one of bali's most significant hindu temples the general beliefs and practices of agama hindu dharma mix ancient traditions and contemporary pressures placed by indonesian laws that permit only monotheist belief under the national ideology of pancasilashinji yamashita (2002) bali and beyond explorations in the anthropology of tourism berghahn  pp 57-65 traditionally hinduism in indonesia had a pantheon of deities and that tradition of belief continues in practice; further hinduism in indonesia granted freedom and flexibility to hindus as to when how and where to pray however officially the indonesian government considers and advertises indonesian hinduism as a monotheistic religion with certain officially recognised beliefs that comply with its national ideologymichel picard (2003) in hinduism in modern indonesia (editor martin ramstedt) routledge  pp 56–72 indonesian school textbooks describe hinduism as having one supreme being hindus offering three daily mandatory prayers and hinduism as having certain common beliefs that in part parallel those of islam some scholarsanthony forge (1980) balinese religion and indonesian identity in indonesia the making of a culture (editor james fox) australian national university putu setia (1992) cendekiawan hindu bicara denpasar yayasan dharma naradha  pp 217–229 contest whether these indonesian government recognised and assigned beliefs to reflect the traditional beliefs and practices of hindus in indonesia before indonesia gained independence from dutch colonial rule