Luhur Natar Sari Temple: The Gathering Place of Tapakan Ida Bhatara Sesuhunan From 5 Regencies in Bali

Luhur Natar Sari Temple is located in Apuan Village, Baturiti District, Tabanan Regency, Bali Province. Natar Sari Ancestral Temple has the status of Khayangan Jagat, which means a place of worship for all Hindus in worshiping the greatness of Ida Sang Hyang Widhi in his manifestation as Sang Hyang Ciwa Pasupati. Therefore, since 2004, the name of Natar Sari Ancestral Temple has been determined to be Khayangan Jagat Luhur Natar Sari.

The history of Luhur Natar Sari Temple itself began with a tirtha yatra or sacred jouney performed by the ruler of Nusa Penida in ancient times named I Gusti Ngurah Wayan Sakti and his General Si Arya Sentong. I Gusti Ngurah Wayan Sakti's tirtha yatra started at Batu Bolong beach, and then he went through Gianyar, Munduk Guling, which is now called Taman Ayun in Mengwi, Puser Tasik in Marga, Alas Kunyit, which is now called Perean, and arrived at Apuan. While in Apuan, I Gusti Ngurah Wayan Sakti and Si Arya Sentong did yogha samadi or sacred meditation where they received a holy message saying that their current place is called Natar Sari, and the one who gave them the message is Sang Hyang Ciwa Pasupati. Sang Hyang Ciwa Pasupati ordered them to make a place of worship to himself where they were at the moment, and humans must worship him there. Thus is the history of the origin of  Luhur Natar Sari Temple. Until now, ceremonies are still routinely carried out, both on a small scale and on a large scale every Tumpek Krulut, which comes once every 6 months. During the large-scale ceremony, commonly called Piodalan Ageng, the Tapakan Ratu Gede will be brought from five regencies in Bali, namely from the Tabanan, Badung, Gianyar, Bangli, and Jembrana regions.

Tapakan Ida Bhatara (Photo Source: Personal Collection)

The picture above is one of the Tapakan Ida Bhatara that usually comes to Luhur Natar Sari Temple. Tapakan Ida Bhatara itself is a form of physical manifestation of Ida Bhatara Sesuhunan or in english term holy spirit that is believed to reside in a particular temple. Hindus in Bali believe that in every temple there is an Ida Bhatara who resides in the temple, so to facilitate worship, a physical embodiment is made in the form of Tapakan (Barong Ket, Barong Landung, Rangda, and others).

Tapakan Ida Bhatara Sakti Nawa Sanga (Photo Source: Personal Collection)

Ida Bhatara Sakti Nawa Sanga is the Tapakan Ida Bhatara who resides in Luhur Natar Sari Temple. Tapakan Ida Bhatara Sakti Nawa Sanga is the physical embodiment of Sang Hyang Ciwa Pasupati who is worshiped in  Luhur Natar Sari Temple. The origin of Tapakan Ida Bhatara Sakti Nawa Sanga is made from pieces of selagui wood used to make kulkul in Puri Ageng Mengwi, this wood comes from Blambangan, Banyuwangi, East Java. Initially only 3 Tapakans were made in the form of masks of Rahwana (Ratu Ngurah Sakti Ngawa Rat), Delem (Ratu Ngurah Made), and Sangut (Ratu Ngurah Ketut). Before being spirituallised, these masks disappeared, but were eventually found and stored in Puseh Tua Temple, Marga. One day there was a strong wind disaster that resulted in Tapakan Rahwana being damaged by a palm tree. Finally, this Tapakan was moved to the Puseh Adat Apuan Temple which is located in the same area as the Luhur Natar Sari Temple. After being moved, the damaged Tapakan Rahwana was replaced and a new one was made as well as 6 new Tapakans made with pole wood from Dalem Apuan Jelantik Temple. Therefore, now there are 9 Tapakan Ida Bhatara  in Natar Sari Ancestral Temple in the form of Barong Blas-Blasan or Barong Kedingkling, and in the local language is called Ida Bhatara Sakti Nawa Sanga.

Bale Paruman (Photo Souce: Personal Collection)

Bale Paruman which is the place to put the Tapakan Ida Bhatara Sesuhunan who came to Luhur Natar Sari Temple. When carrying out large ceremony and piodalan, Tapakan Ratu Gede or Ida Bhatara Sesuhunan from 5 regencies in Bali, will be jointly offered pujawali at Luhur Natar Sari Temple. All Sesuhunan who come to Luhur Natar Sari Temple all have a historical relationship with Ida Bhatara Sakti Nawa Sanga. There are 65 Sesuhunan Tapakan Ratu Gede or Ida Bhatara who are related to Pura Luhur Natar Sari, but there are only about 50 Sesuhunan who can attend every ceremony or piodalan. Bale Paruman it self means the meeting palace where supposedly all the tapakan that arrive at Luhur Natar Sari Temple band together to do a meeting.

Bhatara Tedun Kabeh Ceremony (Photo Souce: Personal Collection)

The picture above is a prayer in the Bhatara Tedun Kabeh ceremony at Luhur Natar Sari Temple. Bhatara Tedun Kabeh means a ceremoy when all the god that is manifested in the form of Tapakan decend down (tedun) to the Luhur Natar Sari tempele. This ceremony is held every Saturday Kliwon (Tumpek) wuku Krulut. The peak of Bhatara Tedun Kabeh is held at midnight, starting at 22.30 Wita until 01.30 Wita Sunday morning. The event begins with a notice ceremony (mapekeling) to Ida Bhatara Sakti Nawa Sanga and all Ida Bhatara Tapakan who have been present at Pura Luhur Natar Sari with the intention that they are willing to go down to earth or in Balinese term called tedun napak pertiwi. Then all Tapakan Ida Bhatara descended to the temple courtyard starting with Ida Bhatara Sakti Nawa Sanga and followed by other Tapakan Ida Bhatara by forming a circular standing formation around the upakara Panyegjeg Bhuwana. After that, the  offering ceremony was held and ended with a joint prayer. The Bhatara Tedun Kabeh ceremony is a pasupati ceremony to invoke the power of taksu (spiritual aura of certain entity),  because it is held to coincide with Tumpek Krulut which is the piodalan of Taksu of Arts, Taksu of Topeng, Taksu of Barong/Rangda, and others. In general, this ceremony is also held to ask for world safety (Panyegjeng Bhuwana).