All You Need To Know About Gunung Kawi Temple
Gunung Kawi Temple Bali is one of Bali’s Interest Places to visit. Gunung Kawi is one of the Balinese Hindu Temple Complex located at Tampak Siring Village, Gianyar Regency. Gunung Kawi Temple is the ancient omission complex located at Pekerisan River called Katyangan Amarawati.
Gunung Kawi is a name of place located in the Tampak Siring District famous for its ancient relics including an old temple that looks like a tombstone (grave), a Hindu Temple, and an ancient miniature of old Balinese living concept made from the stones. The complex of ancient relics from the primordial era is located beside of small river with a rice terrace surrounding it. The green panoramic views of rice fields with the breeze of the tropical atmosphere are additional to this tourist destination.
This place has been opened to the public and appointed as a tourist destination by the local government it is many visited by tourists every day despite its location far enough from the parking area passing through the stairs surrounded by the beautiful rice terrace.
In the inscription of Tengkulak year, 945 Saka had been issued by Marakata King that the ancient heritage complex located at Pakerisan River was named Katyagan Amarawati. Pakerisan River is also called Jalu based on the inscription carved on the greatest temple door saying Haji Lumahing Jalu. Later on, the name Gunung Kawi is given by indicating that these ancient relics are the temple complex because the temple is symbolizing the mount.
It should be aware that there are at least 3 temples with the same name as Gunung Kawi existing on Bali Island those are Gunung Kawi at Sebatu Village, Gunung Kawi at Keliki Village, and Gunung Kawi at Babitra Village.
The Existence of Temple Complex
The relic ancient complex of Gunung Kawi began to be established in the 10th century AD. The establishment began in the era of Udayana around 989 AD. In the reign of Marakata around 1023 AD, these ancient relics were called Katyagan Amarawati and then the process of development continued in the reign of Anak Wungsu allegedly reigned between 1049 – 1077 AD. Gunung Kawi is an ancient relic complex consisting of 2 parts:
1. Temple Complex
The Temple complex has consisted of one row. The row located east of the Pakerisan River consists of 5 temples and west of the river consisted of 5 temples scattered on the north with 4 temples and another one located far away in the south of other temples. In the row located in the east of the river, there is a temple set in the north with the Kediri type script on the top of the temple says Haji Lumahing Jalu. Haji means king, Lumah means made a temple, or Sidha Dewata means back to heaven. Meanwhile, the word Ing Jalu means Pakerisan.
The whole means of those words are the king had been made a temple at Pakerisan. Based on that reason, it has been predicted that the temple for Udayana King. In the south of this temple right on the top of the second temple exists an inscription says Rwa Nakira which that means the second children.
Based on those scripts the temple is for both children of Udayana King those are Marakata and Anak Wungsu. Meanwhile, the other temples are devoted to the king’s wife. There 4 other temples located in the south part of this complex that is alleged for prime minister or king assistants because on these temple written the scripts says Rakyat (people) those are for the high official of the kingdom.
2. Vihara Complex (Vihara = Buddhist Temple)
Vihara Complex is used as a residence and a place for meditation. It consists of several niches, centrally located east of Pakerisan River precisely in the south part of the temple complex. The other niches are dispersed and located close to the temple complex. One of the niches is a cave located in the northern corner separately from the other niches complex, it seems that serves a special niche. In the cave where in the middle of the floor, there is a hole. Maybe the hole had been used as a place to put the ceremony material in form of Api Homa.
Based on those reasons, the function of the cave is predicted as a meditation place. In front of the cave, there are several pieces of Pripih, a square stone with 9 holes that were formerly placed in the temple. The existence of 9 holes on Pripih is used as a premise that the Pripih is a cosmos symbol that is usually associated with Dewata Nawa Sanga (nine gods).
Candi Tebing Gunung Kawi Temple Locations on Maps
The Bali Full Day Tour Packages To Visit Gunung Kawi Temple
Gunung Kawi Temple Bali is one option to spend your day during your holiday on Bali Island.
