Klungkung, Ancient Kingdoms

Tumpa Temple :
The Shrine for the God of Cattle

Tumpa Temple is located in Tangkas Village, Klungkung Regency, about 5 km from Semarapura to the east or about 45 km from Denpasar.

According to I Ketut Marta, an important figure from this village, Tumpa Temple has existed since the time of the Gelgel Kingdom. As for local myth, the establishment of this temple is closely related to the herdsmen who tended cattle such as calves and goats. They tended them from morning to afternoon in a meadow that was full of stones from the eruption of Mount Agung. Based on the Tangkas tradition, and also the Balinese in general, a shrine to give offerings to God should be built in every work place. Therefore, the herdsmen built one by piling up big stones and planting frangipani trees around it.
Every morning the herdsmen put offerings on the stack of the stones while releasing the cattle around it. When the day had come and the sun was extremely hot, the herdsmen took shelter under the frangipani trees while having lunch. Before eating they usually offered a bit of their food on the stack of stones. This activity continued daily until the day the cattle of one of the herdsmen was attacked by diseases and some died. The afflicted herdsman gave offerings on the stack of stones and prayed for the recovery of his cattle. As his prayers were answered, it was then believed that god existed in the purified stack of stones. They unanimously decided to build a pelinggih (shrine) to worship the god of cattle called Siwa god. The name of Tumpa is originally derived from the word “tumpukan-tumpukan” meaning stacks, which is then shortened into “tumpa”.
Tangkas villagers commonly visit the temple for worshipping and requesting holy water on Tumpek kandang Day that happens to fall on February 8, 2003. The odalan (the anniversary festival of the temple) is held every Sunday on Umanis Kuningan in the Balinese Calendar. However, many people will visit this temple for worship on Kuningan Day. They commonly come from around Klungkung, Karangasem, and Gianyar to pray for their sarwa wewalungan (cattle) welfare.
This temple has a special characteristic in which the people give the offerings of live chickens or piglets. This offering symbolises their thanks to God for their cattle growing healthy and free from diseases. There are also some people who offer them for certain reasons. They offer the animals because they have made sesangi (promise) when their cattle were sick. According to local belief, this promise has a purpose to pray for cattle recovery. And as a consequence, they will offer one of their cattle when the anniversary festival of this temple comes.
The offerings of live cattle are ceremonially offered to God by pemangku (lay priest or custodian of the temple). The cattle are sprinkled with holy water before being offered to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa (God). After worshipping, the people will be given holy water that is used to sprinkle their respective cattle. They usually wash the cattle first and hold a ceremony for them before being sprinkled by holy water.
People commonly hold Tumpek Kandang ceremony for cattle such as cows, pigs, and chicken. According to I Wayan Karsa, one of the villagers praying at this temple, he believes that the god of this temple will bestow good welfare to the entire herd and bring prosperity to humans. (Wawan)