Klungkung, Ancient Kingdoms

Jagatnatha Temple

Klungkung’s Jagatnatha Temple is located in the heart of Semarapura Town. This temple is built in a special place at the kaja kangin (northeast) area of Klungkung’s regent office. Its location is on the north side of Kertha Gosa tourist destination and it is built upon the initiative of Klungkung’s regent, Ir. Tjok Gde Ngurah. The establishment of this temple is based on the Tri Hita Karana concept consisting of three causal factors of harmonization, namely Parhyangan, Palemahan, and Pawongan.

Etymologically, the Jagatnatha word consists of two words, namely the word Jagat and Natha. Jagat means world or universe and Natha means king or the ruler. Therefore jagatnatha means the ruler or the king of the universe.
The Hindu literature states that the development of a village, town, or an office must be persistently based on this concept. Therefore, a temple is built in the area of Klungkung’s regent office, which is then named Jagatnatha Temple. The temple is in the shape of Padmasana, which is used for general worship to pray to God for peace, prosperity, and the harmonization of the world.
The holy buildings that can be found in this temple area are Padmasana, Ngerurah, Taksu, and Pengayatan Ratu Gde Penataran Ped. Padmasana is the principal holy building for praying Hyang Widhi (Hindu God) who has a title “Sang Hyang Jagatnatha”. Ngerurah is a holy monument as the place for the lurah (the name of God in its manifestation as a god for controlling the irrigatation) and the guards of the God. The shape of Taksu building is the same as Ngerurah’s, which functions as the place of Sang Kala Raja symbolising the source of taksu (energy). This holy building is used for praying to get spiritual energy. The shape of Pengayatan Ratu Gde Penataran Ped building is the same as the taksu’s, which functions to pray to the Ratu Gde Penataran Ped in Nusa Penida Island.
This temple was first established on April 7, 2001 and its odalan (anniversary) is celebrated every Purnamaning Sasih Kapat (the fourth full moon which usually falls in October) which is conducted by Klungkung’s local government.
Many people will visit the temple for praying in the holidays such as Galungan and Kuningan and they generally come from around Klungkung town. The temple will also be crowded by many people worshipping at Purnama (full moon) and Tilem (new moon).
Although this temple is built in the regent office area, it does not mean that the people around the Klungkung’s local government own it. This temple especially belongs to the Hindu community in Klungkung Regency, and generally belongs to Balinese and Indonesian community. (Wawan)