Klungkung, Ancient Kingdoms

Great Temples in Klungkung

Each village in Bali has the Pura Kahyangan Tiga (the three temples), which are Pura Desa, Pura Puseh and Pura Dalem. In Klungkung Regency, there are a few great temples: Watu Klotok Temple, Goa Lawah Temple, Dasar Bhuwana Temple, Penataran Ped (Nusa Penida) Temple and Kentel Gumi Temple.
Watu Klotok Temple is sited in Celepik sub village, Tojan Village, Klungkung, about 5 Km from Semarapura Town or 40 Km from Denpasar. This temple exists on the beach border of Watu Klotok. The word Watu Klotok literally consists of two words; ‘watu’ meaning stone and “klotok” meaning krotok (kind of a sound). So, Watu Klotok means a stone that has a sound.
Watu Klotok Temple as the Sthana (sacred place) of Ida Batara Baruna or Pesanggrahan Ida Bhatara Besakih, as written in Lontar Raja Purana Besakih, whilst Lontar Dewa Purana Bangsul wrote that this temple built by King Kertha is aimed to plead for fertility and safety on the rice field. That is why on each Purnamaning Kelima (16 November 2005), a Pengusaban Ritual will be held there.
According to Lontar Raja Purana Besakih, Watu Klotok Beach was designated as Genah Pesucian Ida Bhatara Besakih, as this temple was built in the 8th Century. Next, this temple is worshipped by most devotees to plead for safety and fertility on the rice fields, so that their farms will be released from pests. For that reason, the Subak (traditional irrigation in Bali) members routinely carry out a Pekuluh ritual, if their farmland has been attacked by pests. This ceremony is called Neduh.
Goa Lawah Temple is located in Pesinggahan Village, 9 Km from Semarapura Town. This temple is sited on the roadside of Semarapura - Amlapura. Goa Lawah’s characteristic are the bats that hang on the wall of the caves. The temple feast day is celebrated once in six months on Anggarkasih Medangsia (29 March 2005). The adoring God in this temple is Dewa Maheswara.
Dasar Bhuana Temple is located in Gelgel sub village, 4 Km fro Semarapura Town. Ceremonies will be carried out each Soma (Monday) Kliwon Wuku Kuningan (14 March 2005). This temple is of an ancient construction which is as the witness of Klungkung’s King supremacy, before he was lost in battle fight against the Dutch.
Penataran Dalem Ped Temple is located in Ped Village, Nusa Penida. Nusa Penida is an island that can be reached by boat from Padang Bai (Karangasem), Kusamba (Klungkung) and Sanur (Denpasar). It will take you about 45 minutes from Padang Bai, or about 15-20 minutes from Kusamba, or about 1.5 – 2 hours from Sanur. Temple’s ceremonies are once in six months; Buda Cemeng Klawu, 6 July 2005.
The Great Temple of Kentel Gumi is located in Tusan Kawan sub village, Tusan village, which is about 6 Km westward of Semarapura. Literally, Kentel means solid, which also means sociable, whilst Gumi means the earth, land or the world. So, Kentel Gumi means a sociable nuance within the world or peacefulness on earth. The name Kentel Gumi contains a symbolic meaning which is truth strengthening in Bali that was ruined by the supremacy of King Maya Denawa (962 – 975 C). This temple feast day is carried once in six months next is on Wrespati Wuku Dungulan, 10 March 2005). (BTN/033)

Nyoman Gunarsa, Master In Both Oil and Water Colours

In the regency of Klungkung lies a museum of art named Nyoman Gunarsa Museum officially opened in January 1994, eleven years ago. The museum has two kinds painting collections : classical paintings of Kamasan – Klungkung and paintings by Nyoman Gunarsa, the academic Balinese artist from Klungkung regency. Who is Nyoman Gunarsa ? The artist was born in Klungkung on April 15, 1944. In 1960, he went outside Bali, Yogyakarta to study visual art at the visual art academy (ASRI) in the city. Six years later, Nyoman Gunarsa was asked by the president of the Republic of Indonesia, Soekarno to create mural at the Bali Beach Hotel at Sanur, the first state company – international chain hotel (Inter-Continental) on the island following the official opening of the international airport of Ngurah Rai Tuban. In 1967, Nyoman Gunarsa held his first solo exhibition at National Museum in Jakarta. Graduated from ASRI art institute in Yogyakarta in 1976, after retired from his career as lecturer and lives and works in Klungkung at the village of Banda where he built his museum.

Nyoman Gunarsa is the founder of Sanggar Dewata Indonesia, the members are the academic artists of Bali who learnt art in Yogyakarta, the Sanggar Dewata Indonesia now still exists with its high reputation. The artist is also the chair person of the Bali Museum Association (Himusba). During his career in art, Nyoman Gunarsa has come to the International stage of paintings by Indonesian artists, having numerous certificates and awards for his activities in participating in both solo and group exhibitions both in the country and abroad.
In choosing the medium, Nyoman Gunarsa has been known as a master of oil painting since 1974, when he first started to commit himself fully to his career as a painter. His presence is felt strongly in the attractive oil paintings he has produced in his personal energetic manner since that time. In fact, this particular element of Gunarsa’s oil paintings has been felt worldwide since he first “went international” and exposed his oil works to the eyes of people of other nations. And it is interesting that when Gunasa’s name is mentioned, most art lovers abroad would probably think of his oil paintings. This image of Gunarsa as an oil painter has been enhanced by his involvement in advertising for a financial services firm. On the other hand, since early 1970s, Gunarsa also painted in watercolors. In 1980s, there was a little interest in watercolor among the Indonesian art public but 25 years later Nyoman Gunarsa is now known as the artist mastering both oil and watercolors.
(BTN/Lanus Sumatra)