At Dawan

Pura Goalawah

Location 

Pura Goa Lawah located in the village of Pesinggahan, Dawan district, Klungkung regency, about 1 hours drive from the city of Denpasar or 4 kilometres from the city of Semarapura. The word Goa means cave and Lawah mean bat. The cave inhabited by thousands of bats. Pura Goalawah serves as a center of Pura Segara in Bali to worship the God of the Sea or Betara Tengahing Segara.

This temple includes in Pura Kahyangan Jagat Bali based on the conception of sadwinayaka, consisting of Pura Besakih, Pura Lempuyang Luhur, Pura Goa Lawah, Pura Uluwatu, Pura Batukaru, and Pura Pusering Jagat. These temples that belonging to the group of six is called Pura Kahyangan Jagat Bali, the World Temple of Bali.

In outer level of Pura, precisely at the mouth of the cave there is a Sanggar Agung as worship to Sang Hyang Tunggal. The Three Overlapping Meru is 'pesimpangan' Betara Andakasa, Lord of Brahma. The Gedong Pelinggih Limasari is a shrine of Dewi Sri and Gedong Limascatu as shrine of Lord Vishnu. The said last two shrines here as manifestations of God in worship as Sang Hyang Basuki and Lord Tengahing Segara.

A bit of History

It is beleived that Lord Shiva has sent Sang Hyang Tri Murti to save the earth. Lord Brahma dropped to the earth transformed into a Dragon Ananta Bhoga. Lord Vishnu incarnated as Naga Basuki,  while Lord Iswara become Dragon Taksaka. Naga Basuki the incarnation of Lord Vishnu moving his head to the sea for it to evaporate into clouds. His tail turns to the mountain and the tail scales into the dense trees in the forests. Naga Basuki's head is symbolized by Pura Goa Lawah and his tail towering high as the peak of Mount Agung. At centre of His tail located Pura Goa Raja, one of the temples in the complex of Pura Besakih. The cave at Pura Goa Raja is said to penetrate up to Pura Goa Lawah. Because of an earthquake in 1917, the cave was being closed. Pura Goa Lawah was built at the initiative of Empu Kuturan at XI century AD and experiencing expansion and restoration to the XV century AD.

Hindus in Bali generally perform as the closing ceremony of Nyegara Gunung to the sea and mountain after Atma Wedana or Nyekah ceremony. This ceremony serves as a proclamation of the sacred ritual that the said atman of families who consecrated has reached Dewa Pitara. Nyegara Gunung generally done in Goa Lawah and Pura Goa Raja at Pura Besakih.

Atman is Brahman’s little spark that makes every human life. Atman which gave every human life is called Jiwatman. Brahman as the source of Atman is called Paramatman. If the Atman leaves the body it is said someone dies. Atman will return to its originator, Brahman, while his soul will go to a place in accordance with its karma. Good karma will take the soul to the heaven, a place that full of joy and fun. Bad karma will take a person to the hell, a place of torture. Heaven and hell are places a person receives the fruit of action based on his/her action (swadharma) in the world. When it was the time, the said soul will fall back to the earth with new body to 'enjoy' fruits of actions and to improve the quality of dharma.

Piodalan

Piodalan at Pura Goa Lawah falls at every Anggara Kasih wuku Medangsia according to Balinese calendar. People from all corners of Bali also perform nyegara-gunung ceremony almost every day here.

Again According to Ghanta Yoga Site piodalan in this temple is held twice a year on Senin Pon wuku Shinta according to balinese calendar. In addition to the piodalan who have routinely done every six months, 'panyabran' ceremonies also always held in this temple like at 'purnama' full moon, 'tilem' dead moon, and kliwon. The cost is fully implemented a by Pemangku Goa Gong temple assisted by his family. Until now it has never held a large ceremony due to limited funding and the absence of a clear supporters or 'pengempon' of the temple.