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If you are a spiritualist or a lover of antiquities, try making a visit to Gaduh Temple. The temple has something to do with Kebo Iwa, a vice regent that had time to make the Vice Regent Gajah Mada from Majapahit Kingdom dizzy because he had different supernatural power. This ancient temple was established in 928 BC.

Gaduh Temple is located in the east of the market belonging to Blahbatuh customary village or about 7 km west of Gianyar town or approximately 30 minutes drive from Denpasar. The temple area is quite spacious and has a very ancient and distinctive carved ornamentation. People who worship here are from various clans such as Brahmin, Kshatriya, Wesya and Sudra.

Priest of the Gaduh Temple, I Made Sutardja, said the temple was venerated by Hindu community all over Bali. Some even came from different regions across the archipelago such as Batam, Lamongan, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Hindu devotees from the other islands. The temple neighborhood belonged to ancient relic, so that many foreigners were interested in visiting the holy place.

In daily life, the number of tourist visit was only a few, but the tourists who came intentionally to visit the temple from their country were in quite large amount. Some of them were from Holland, the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia, Japan, Egypt and India. “They come while bringing a book. Their arrival only confirms the existence of the temple along with the sanctified effigies and the Kebo Iwa statue,” said Jero Mangku.

According to Jero Mangku Sutardja, uniqueness of the temple was that the temple served as a swagina temple or temple of profession to invoke herbal medicine and art inspiration. By all means, many dancers came here to ask for a divine art inspiration.

Regarding the healing matters, many common people and traditional healers also came here. “Previously, there was a paranormal group from Yogyakarta coming to ask for a taksu or divine inspiration whereas they are of different faith. Uniquely, they were also in trance while praying in the temple. Besides, there were also cruise tourists specifically coming to Gaduh Temple,” said Jero Mangku.

According to the former employee of Garuda who had paid devotional works for over 25 years, the other uniqueness was that the Gaduh Temple had seven statues such as the four-faced statue, phallus and yoni as well as a statue putting on Janger head ornament. Similarly, there was a statue of Kebo Iwa located in the Puseh Temple (adjacent to the temple). Ritual anniversary of the temple fell on Anggarakasih Medangsia. “The temple anniversary here is not officiated over by a brahmin priest although many devotees worshipping here belong to Brahmins,” said Jero Mangku who had already visited more than 80 countries.

Jero Mangku told that in the past of the Karangbuncing Kingdom did not have a single son so that the king invoked it in the Gaduh Temple. After that, it was born a handsome man named Kebo Iwa. Having grown up, Kebo Iwa was famous for its supernatural power, so that he got a title as unbeatable vice regent. Many experts said the golden period of kingdom administration in Bali was even achieved during Kebo Iwa was still in power. Kebo Iwa was the vice regent to the King Gajahwaktra at Bedahulu (now Bedahulu) approximately in 1324-1343 AD. (BTN/015)

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Saturday, May 25, 2013

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