Denpasar, In the City

Temple of Candi Narmada Luhur Tanah Kilap
Visited Mostly by Local and Overseas Entrepreneurs

Few people recognize the Temple of Candi Narmada Luhur Tanah Kilap located at Suwung Kauh Beach, Pemogan Village, Denpasar, is visited at the most by local and abroad entrepreneurs or businessmen. This well maintained and comfortable temple is sited at the by pass road of Denpasar - Nusa Dua (eastward Dewa Ruci Statue, Simpang Siur, Kuta) or about 8 Km southward with the border line Denpasar – Badung, where green mangrove forests exist on the east and west side, and the ocean on the south side.

According to Ida Bagus Mangku Sudana, the Temple of Candi Narmada Luhur Tanah Kilap originally comes from the word Candi which means a small mountain and Narmada which means the ocean. So, the Temple of Candi Narmada Luhur Tanah Kilap contains the meaning of a tiny mountain temple in the middle of the sea sited on Tanah Kilap territory of Pemogan Village. Another holy shrine is also in this temple; the Temple of Pesimpangan Ratu Dalem Ped and Konco (shrines for the Chinese). “These three sacred sites are linked one to another. Before the Konco managed by the Chinese, we always supplied offerings at that Konco,” he enhanced.
Truly, the Temple of Candi Narmada Luhur Tanah Kilap is never lacks visitors a minimum of 20 devotees in one day. However, Jero Mangku said, crowded days are on Purnama (full moon day) or Tilem (dead moon day), and other sacred days such as Kajeng Kliwon, Saraswati, and Çiwaratri. When these days come around, devotees will stand in queues for praying.
As well the piodalan (temple’s feast day) falls on each Purnamaning Kasa that is usually done for seven days and seven nights. When this day comes, merchants will offer an offering called banten pejati (devoting offering), or canang (simple offering consisting of flowers). People do not just come to pray but they also supply a donation for the temple’s development. “We collect all contributions, and then distribute the money for the temple’s maintenance,” said Jero Mangku.
The temple is not an ordinary temple. Its visited at most by businessmen and people who have an health or stress problem. According to Jero Mangku, the Gods of the Temple of Candi Narmada Luhur Tanah Kilap are Ida Bhatari Niyang Sakti, Dewa Baruna, Danghyang Dwijendra and Bhatari Sri.
Jero Mangku also said, foreigners often pray or meditate in the temple come from Thailand, America, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Australia, India, etc. Once, a Taiwanese who several times prayed in this temple wrote two books, which tells about a praying execution in the Temple of Candi Narmada Luhur Tanah Kilap and Journey Story in Bali. “In 1997, the temple was renovated immensely. The renovation costs came from the donators and collected donations,” he explained. (BTN/015)