Luhur Pucak Bukit Gede Temple: Statue of Deity Shiva and Lingga Yoni as Evidence of the 11th Century in Luwus
Luhur Pucak Bukit Gede Temple is one of the significant temples in Bali, located in Banjar Poyan, Luwus Village, Baturiti District, Tabanan Regency. As a Kahyangan Jagat Temple, Luhur Pucak Bukit Gede serves not only as a religious center but also houses various purana stories that depict the origins of the universe and the roles of gods in preserving human life.
The story of the establishment of Luhur Pucak Bukit Gede Temple begins with Bhatara Guru’s journey to reunite his long-separated sons. On this spiritual journey, Bhatara Guru entered deep meditation (Yogha Samadhi), eventually gaining immense power that enabled him to lift a part of Mount Mahameru from India, or Jambhu Dwipa. This mountain peak, rich in gems, became known as Mount Mapucak Manik.
During his journey carrying the Mahameru Mountain fragments over Bali, Bhatara Guru grew weary, causing pieces of the mountain he carried to fall and scatter across various regions of Bali. One of these pieces became Bukit Gede in Banjar Poyan, the location of Luhur Pucak Bukit Gede Temple. Since then, the temple has been a sacred place dedicated to Deity Shiva, enshrined here with the title of Bhatara Pucak Bukit Gede, as evidenced by the presence of a statue of Deity Shiva and the Lingga Yoni within the Gedong Meru shrine.
Main Shrine Gedong Meru (Photo Source: Personal Collection)
As a religious center, Luhur Pucak Bukit Gede Temple is surrounded by four other temples that form the Catur Lawa concept: Pucak Sari Temple to the north, Pucak Hyang Api Temple to the east, Pucak Buung Temple to the south, and Pucak Melangki Temple to the west. These four temples further affirm Luhur Pucak Bukit Gede’s position as a primary place of worship in the Baturiti area. The temple attracts Balinese Hindus seeking blessings for safety, prosperity, and agricultural fertility. Bhatara Guru also gave a command to nearby residents to plant various crops such as rice, fruit, and tubers, while restricting the planting of onions and garlic to protect the crops from pests.
Luhur Pucak Bukit Gede Temple consists of three mandalas: nista mandala, madya mandala, and utama mandala. In the nista mandala, there are structures like Bale Pelik, Bale Wantilan, and Bale Panjang, used for general activities. The madya mandala houses shrines dedicated to various deities, such as Bale Pangaruman Omkara, Bale Gong for Sanghyang Aji Gurnita, Bale Pangubengan for Sanghyang Catur Loka, and Bale Pasandekan and Padma Capah.
The temple’s most sacred area, the utama mandala, is uniquely divided into three sections: utamaning utama, madyaning utama, and nistaning utama. Utamaning utama is where the main shrine, Gedong Meru, is located as the abode of Sanghyang Shiva Pasupati. Madyaning utama includes shrines like Gedong Limas Watukaru, Gedong Limas Beratan, and Gedong Tarib Majapahit. In the nistaning utama, there are additional shrines, such as Bale Pasandekan, Bale Gong, and Bale Panggungan.
Main Mandala (Photo Source: Personal Collection)
In addition, Luhur Pucak Bukit Gede Temple upholds specific traditions, including the prohibition of using pork as an offering in the utama mandala or Gedong Meru. Only certain priests or individuals, such as Jero Mangku Gede and Panyarikan, are permitted to enter Gedong Meru. If this rule is violated, a purification ritual called pacaruan, which involves offering a white-crested duck, must be performed to cleanse the sacred space. This ritual serves as a sign of respect to the ancestors and maintains the temple’s sanctity.
Luhur Pucak Bukit Gede Temple is managed by Hindu communities from ten banjars (hamlets) across three villages: Banjar Poyan, Banjar Belah, and Banjar Luwus in Luwus Village; Banjar Temacun, Banjar Tundak, Banjar Kerobokan, Banjar Sekargula, Banjar Peneng, and Banjar Mojan in Mekar Sari Village; as well as Banjar Anyar in Perean Kangin Village. The local community preserves the temple with great reverence, adhering to the rules and values passed down by their ancestors. The temple's sacredness is preserved thanks to the sense of responsibility and adherence to the holy messages in the purana.
Luhur Pucak Bukit Gede Temple serves not only as a place of worship but also as a reflection of Bali’s cultural heritage, history, and community unity in preserving ancestral traditions. The presence of purana and mythological stories at this temple strengthens Balinese society’s commitment to upholding the noble values taught by their ancestors, establishing Luhur Pucak Bukit Gede Temple as a spiritually meaningful center for current and future generations.
