Unique Story within Goa Lawah Temple

Goa Lawah Temple is a part of sad kahyangan temple, which is one of the six biggest temples in Bali, adhered to by all Hindu members in Bali, contains some unique stories. It is located at the border of Klungkung – Karangasem road, at Pesinggahan village, Dawan Sub district, Klungkung Regency, or about 55 km from Denpasar to the east.

According to historical records, goa lawah comes from the word giha lawah. Giha mean goa (cave) and lawah meaning bat. So, goa lawah mean the bat cave and appropriately reflects the temple condition where a huge cave occupied by hundreds of bats exists inside the temple. Goa Lawah Temple was built by Empu Kuturan in about 1006 Icaka (Balinese’s year). Empu Kuturan came from Java and visited Bali to give enlightenment about the truth and reality of Hinduism. As his holy duty in Bali, he built many shrines and holy places including temples.
It becomes a tradition that the cave bat flew away outside the temple area, and gathered again into the cave when morning comes. The crowded noise bonded with splashing sounds of the ocean wave spread in front of the temple.
According to pemangku (holy person) of that temple, it said that the bat in goa lawah is physically different to the outsider bat. He said that the cave bat has a tail, whereas the outside bat does not. It’s reminded that these bats cannot be harmed or caught, because it believed that the bats are the realization of Dewa Iswara. It is explicitly reflected with a special shrine to adore Dewa Iswara at the cave mouth. If the rule is disobeyed, the one who breaks the rule will find disaster.
According to the story that is believed by most Balinese, the guardians of that cave are not only bats, but giant snakes as well. “Usually the snakes come out at night,” the pemangku said, but nobody has been bitten yet. Another guardian of the cave is in the form of a white dog. The dog will come out when piodalan (ritual ceremony) is performed at Goa Lawah Temple, and it appears in the middle of the night.
According to the pemangku’s story, if some one could able to raise the white dog’s puppies, they could be used as guardian dogs and to expel a black magic power to harm a member of the house. However, it is very difficult for the dog to have the puppies, as a special ritual is required.
According to a story in Bali, purportedly the cave of the temple directly comes to Besakih Temple. In ancient times, a tajen (cock fighting) was held related to the piodalan of Goa Lawah Temple as a complement ceremony named tabuh rah. When two of the cocks fight, suddenly both of the cocks run outside the arena. The men try to chase but it’s useless, because they run to the cave. None of people dare to chase further. They are sure that both cocks died eaten by the guardian giant snakes. However, few days after, several people see both cocks safe and sound at Besakih Temple on the far aside of Goa Lawah Temple.
The Balinese Hindu will stop their vehicles if they pass in front of Goa Lawah Temple, offering a canang and pray for salvation along the journey. (Retold by Gung Man)

Balinese Life
Surviving as a Plaited Maker

Even if in this modern day, plenty of Balinese women still work as plaited makers. This handmade skill takes much time as a knotty job and economically less beneficial.
Although less indeed, the request order for this pandanus handicraft is relatively stable, especially within the Balinese society realm for ritual purposes. Tradition and custom factors caused this handiwork to keep on surviving.
Ni Wayan Suati (40) from Susut village, Bangli, is one Balinese woman who is skilled in plaited making. “My whole family can survive by earning money with this handiwork,” Suati said when interviewed by Bali Travel News in her village recently.
According to Suati, one pandanus mat plaited measures of 2 x 1,5 meters sold for Rp 5.000 – 6.000. Suati also said this plaited making is her part time job beside raising pigs and helping her husband on the rice field. “In one day, I’m able to produce 2-3 plaited mats,” Suati said.
Seemly globalization nowadays make less Balinese women working as plaited maker. Possibly, it was forced out by production from other area, which is producing large amounts of plastic handiwork at economical prices. (BTN/Beryas)