Uncovering the Origin of Sembiran Village, as One of the Oldest Villages in Bali

Sembiran Village is a village located in Tejakula District, Buleleng Regency, Bali Province with an altitude of 800 meters above sea level. Sembiran Village is known as one of the oldest villages in Bali, because it has a history and culture that has existed since the time of the ancestors of Sembiran Village. According to existing literature and sayings that Sembiran Village comes from the word Sembir which means part or fragment. In ancient times, where at that time there was still no population, there was no life at all and it was still rare to find residents, where the village still only contained dense forests, there was an ascetic called Ida Betara Guru where until now Ida Betara Guru is still a mystery, he meditated under a wooden tree called the Kastuban Wood Tree.

The wooden tree contains 4 cocoons, it is said that the 4 cocoons were made into babies by Ida Betara Guru to start life or start civilization in the village. The 4 cocoons were made into 2 baby boys and 2 baby girls. Then Ida Betara Guru performed a meditation and called an old daha (unmarried woman) who was assigned by Ida Betara Guru to take care of the four babies until they became adults. As time went by the four babies became adults, then Ida Betara Guru asked for grace to give strength to the four children as provisions in living life at that time. Long story short, as they grew up, each of the siblings became romantically involved and they became husband and wife.

Sembiran Village(Source : Personal Collection)

It is said that the first couple went to Julah Village while the second couple stayed in Sembiran Village and they started their own lives. For your information, Julah Village is a neighbor of Sembiran Village which is located in the eastern part of Sembiran Village. The two couples made an agreement that Julah Village and Sembiran Village are brothers and therefore the two villages should not or are strictly prohibited from having romantic relationships or looking for partners from each village. Because they mentioned that Sembiran Village and Julah Village are nyama or menyama which means brothers. 

Sembiran Village and Julah Village are separated by a tukad or river called Tukad Kayehan Kangin which is now called Pura Kayehan Kangin. In 1961, research and excavation in the northern part of Sembiran Village found ancient stone tools in the form of irons, cutting tools, hammers, small stone tools for slicing. These stone tools are tools that existed in the old stone age (Paleolithic). In addition, there are still many historical stones found in Sembiran Village. Then in Sembiran Village also found awig-awig or rules written on Balinese lontar with Balinese-Kawi language or also called Balinese middle. Here are the contents of the awig-awig.

1.     History of Pakraman Village Leader

2.     Beliefs and Yadnya Ceremony

3.     Order and Security

4.     Marriage

5.     Community and Pakraman Obligations

6.     Rule of Law

7.     Prohibitions

8.     Debt and Credit Matters

9.     Division of Inheritance

10.   Witnesses, and

11.   Fines

From the awig-awig, Sembiran Village has many uniqueness where Sembiran Village has a different language from other villages in Bali, Sembiran Village has its own language, its own calendar, unique customs and other uniqueness and awig-awig is the basis of the law that regulates the lives of Sembiran Village residents. Until now Sembiran Village is known as an old village in Bali. Just info Sembiran Village has three kahyangan temples namely Pura Puseh or Village Temple, Dulu Temple and Dalem Temple. The temples are a place for Sembiran villagers to perform yadnya. Sembiran Village is also surrounded by kuta or kuta kurung where it is said that Kuta Kurung is a protective fence that is the guardian of Sembiran Village.