Several sacred caves in Bali are used as worshipping places and religious ritual. In Nusa Penida, the one that famous as a place of tirta yatra is Goa Giri Putri Temple, just like its name, it is located inside Giri Putri Cave. The view of beach and blue ocean from the high ground is very beautiful and astonishing.
Reaching Goa Giri Putri Temple
To reach Goa Giri Putri Temple, we must step up 110 stairs to the cave mouth, after praying in the cave courtyard, we will enter the cave through a very narrow entrance, about 80 cm in diameter and grooves full of rocky bulges, so we must be very careful when stepping down the hole. When we reach the bottom of the cave, we have to bend and squat along the 3 meters when entering it. But, do not worry, once we are inside, the capacity of the cave can load up to 5000 visitors.
The Location of Goa Giri PutriTemple
Goa Giri Putri Temple is located in Suana Village, Nusa Penida District, Klungkung Resident. It takes 20 minutes to eastern direction from Sampalan Port of Nusa Penida. The location of Goa Giri Putri Temple is adjacent to coastline with 150 meters above the sea level and 310 meters’ length.
The Faith of Hindu People and the Function of Goa Giri Putri Temple
Goa Giri Putri Temple is usually used for meditation and religious rituals. The words “Giri Putri”were given for the biggest cave in Nusa Penida. “Giri” means hill and “Putri” means woman.These words were given related to this sacred caveas the worshipping means for Shiva with the goddess manifestation that has characters of protecting, taking care of, and loving human-being.
The Hindu people committing worshipping believe that palinggihof Gangga and palinggihof Kwan Inare capable of curing them from diseases, by asking the blessings from the goddess for cure (Usadha), therefore this place is sacred and is always kept its holiness.
Goa Giri Putri Temple is believed by Hindu People as a place to increase their spirituality by carrying outasceticism, yogaand meditation therefore many people coming to this place obtain gifts like magical power and they are able to brings out magical powers.
Besides for worshipping, Hindu People also ask for tirta pangelukatan and is brought home as the cure means for the sick family member by melukat.The society believes that the water coming out from the springs of Goa Giri Putri Temple is able to cure natural and supranatural diseases.
The charm of spiritual tourism owned by this Goa Giri Putri Temple drives the tourists visiting Nusa Penida interested to come to this Goa Giri Putri Temple. But for the women tourists having menstrual cycle should not enter the cave area, they should wear sarongs and scarves, and also maintaintheir attitude of speech and behavior.
The Steps of Worshipping in Giri Putri Tep
The place for the first worshipping is by stepping up tens of stairs to enter Goa Giri Putri i.e. Pelinggih Ida Hyang Tri Purusa Lan Ganapati. The worshipping steps in Goa Giri Putri Temple is Linggih Ida Hyang Tri Purusan and Ganapati, Linggih Ida Hyang Wisnu and Wasuki, Linggih Ida Hyang Dewi Gangga (place formelukat), Linggih Ida Hyang Giri Pati, Linggih Ida Hyang Giri Putri, and the last is Linggih Ida Hyang Shiva Amerta, Rambut Sedana, Ratu Mas Manik Melanting, Ratu Syahbandar, Dewi Kwan Im, Dewa Langit(God of Sky) andDewa Bumi (God of Earth).
After committing the worshipping in Goa Giri Putri Temple, our mind will feel calm and peaceful, we will also increasingly admire the greatness and the grace of the Almighty.
