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 mouth 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 printed on November
for the next year.
Bibliography
Goris, Dr. R.
Sejarah Bali Kuno, Singaraja, Bali, without date
Sekte-Sekte di Bali, translated by Soejono, Bhrattara, Jakarta, 1974
Bali Atlas Kebudayaan, Pemerintah Republic Indonesia, without 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, without 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
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