bali local guide: Goa Gajah, Heritage of Hindu and Buddhist Heritage

Goa Gajah, Heritage of Hindu and Buddhist Heritage

Goa Gajah is a tourist place with historical and spiritual value located in Bedulu Village Village, Blahbatu District, Gianyar Regency. This ancient cave area is about 27 km from downtown Denpasar. The word "Goa Gajah" is believed to be derived from a word that appears in Negarakertagama, "Lwa Gajah." This cave was built around the 11th century when King Sri Astasura Ratna Bumi Banten was on the throne. This place used to be used by him to meditate. In addition there are also seven sacred pool with seven angel statues that radiate water around the cave. These statues are symbols of the seven sacred rivers where the birth of Hinduism and Buddhism exist in India. Indeed many historical heritage objects can be found in this sacred shrine complex.

The area of the shrine is divided into three parts. First, a Hindu sacred building complex built around the 10th century AD. Furthermore, the sacred Hindu shrine is shaped small or also called "pelinggih" built afterwards. Then the last part is a Buddhist heritage building that is roughly built around abada to 8 or along with the time of the construction of Borobudur Temple in Central Java.

Inside the eastern cave, there are three Lingga Besar standing in the niche. While in the west there are statues of Ganesha. Then in the middle of the end or "terbwan" from the cave there are three Lingga again as a symbol of Shiva, or Sang Hyang Tri Purusa. Meanwhile in the front of the cave or "teben" there is a statue of Ganesha which is the son of Shiva. Ganesha is a god with a human body and an elephant's head that is the son of Shiva and Parvati. The existence of this statue is estimated the origin of the name "Goa Gajah."

Ganesha in Hindu belief is the god "Wighna-ghna" and "Winayaka." "Wighna" means obstacles or obstacles. By worshiping God God in the manifestation of Ganesha, man hopes to always be given spiritual guidance and protection from all kinds of obstacles and obstacles to life. While worshiping Ganesha as "Winayaka" means expecting life guidance in the form of wisdom from God. The ability to overcome obstacles and develop wisdom is the beginning of a peaceful and prosperous life.

In front of this elephant cave, there is an ancient shower located above the sacred pool. At first this statue is not visible because it covered the ground. But in 1954 the statue was discovered after the previous excavation. The result, found six statues "Widyadhari" or an angel that three of them are in the north and three others in the south. These Widyadhari statues stand on a "Padma" or lotus pad. The lotus flower in Hinduism is the symbol of the universe. In addition, in the middle of this pond there is a statue of "Widyadhara" or bidadara, so this statue is like being surrounded by six nymphs. The sixth that emit water into the pond is believed to be a symbol of fertility.

Besides Goa Gajah Temple, there is also a Hindu shrine that is a relic of the Hindu era of Shiva Pasupata. It is believed that this sacred building then functioned as a temple in the Hindu era of Shiva Siddhanta. Therefore, in the southeastern part of Goa Gajah, can be found some temples like Limas Catu and Limas Mujung which is a temple for the junction for the God of Mount Agung and Mount Batur. There is also Pura Gedong which is destined for the ancestors of the Kings Bedahulu and Pura Ratu Park to worship the god Vishnu as the God of water.

In addition to the above-mentioned Hindu buildings, in this complex there are also Buddhist relics that are even older than those Hindu buildings. On the outside of the cave, precisely to the west, there is a Buddha statue named Dewi Hariti or in Bali known as the "Men Brayut" Statue. This goddess statue looks unique because it takes a lot of children. In Buddhist mythology, Hariti used to be a cannibal who preyed on the flesh of children or infants. However, after gaining enlightenment from the Buddha, the formerly frightening figure was later transformed into a devout believer and loved the children. Passing the moat in the southern part of Goa Gajah, there is also a Buddha statue with Dhitani Buddha Amitaba's attitude. In the Mahayana Buddhist pantheon system, this Buddhist attitude can be interpreted as a Buddhist guardian of the western part of the universe.