The temple is known as Bat cave temple and one of tourist's stop for sightseeing to East Bali. The location is on the stop of a hill on the beach. The view of Nusa Penida island across the sea is a beautiful panorama. The name of Gowa Lawah means cave of bats. Where hundreds of hanging bats are never leave the cave, only flying around the area and back again. Beside bats there are snakes which some times sleeping among the cliff on the mouthf the cave. Many said that some times white dog and chicken also appear on the area.
No formal edicts or inscription mention the temple. The only source about this is manuscript called Usana Bali and Pasek Chronicle, which mention the temple was built on the order of Mpu Kuturan, once he was the minister of the king ruled Bali in 11th century.
Myth says that the cave is going through Besakih temple and the base of Mt. Agung. According to the manuscript of Mengwi it is mentioned that one of the prince walk through the cave and arrive at Besakih temple. During the walk in the cave he meet many snakes, but when he arrive on the surface at Besakih he became deft. No one has ever prove this story.
The temple is dedicated to the god of the sea and also the god abode on mountain. One shrine is dedicated to the fairy tale Naga Basuki ( Basuki Serpent ). From the name Naga Basuki it suggests a close relation with Besakih temple. It is very probable that Gowa is the sea temple of Klungkung kingdom.
Total shrines and pavilions are 25 unit showing mixed worship between ancestor's worship and Hindu gods. Ritual is a ceremony performed every 6 month based on Hindu-Java calendar. Fixed date of the ceremony can be read in Balinese calendar which is already printedon November for the next year.
Bibliography
| Goris, Dr. R. |
Sejarah Bali Kuno, Singaraja, Bali, not date |
| |
Sekte-Sekte di Bali, translated by Soejono, Bhrattara, Jakarta, 1974 |
| |
Bali Atlas Kebudayaan, Pemerintah Republic Indonesia, no date |
| |
Arti Pura Besakih Menurut Sejarah dan Ibadat, Majalah Bhakti, Th. II, No. 17 |
| I.H.D. |
Kumpulan Penelitian Tentang Pura di Bali, diperbanyak untuk Lingkungan Institute Hindu Dharma Denpasar, Bali, no. date. |
| Kempers, Dr. A.J |
Monumental Bali, Introduction to Balinese Archaeology & Guide to the Monuments, Periplus Addition, 1989 |
| Linus, Drs. I .Kt. |
Sedikit Tentang Hubungan Konsepsional antara Candi dan Pura di Bali, Fakultas Sastra, Universita Udayana, Denpasar, 1974 |
| Rata, Drs. I.B. |
Konsepsi Dasar dan Pengembangan Pura di Bali, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Udayana,j Denpasar, Bali, 1979 |
| Pemda Propinsi Bali |
Sejarah Bali, 1980 |
Denpasar, 23 February 2001
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