Nusa Penida Island is surrounded by many temples so it is visited to do a spiritual tourism Tirta Yatra such as Batu Medawu Temple in Nusa Penida. Batu Medawu Temple or Medau Temple is the biggest temple in Nusa Penida. This Sad Kahyangan Temple is one of Tri Purusa Temples in Nusa Penida. Tri Purusa Temples are three main temples in Nusa Penida, which are Dalem Ped Temple, Puncak Mundi Temple and Batu Medawu Temple. These three temples are believed as the origin of temples and society culture civilization of Nusa Penida.
The History of Batu Medawu Temple
The name “Batu Medawu” comes from the words“perahu medah batu”or the boat that splits the rock. It is believed that the name comes from the story of Renggan, one of the grandsons of Dukuh Jumpungan who wanted to conquer Bali with his magic boat. He was sure he could turn the land into the sea when he passed it. However, Bhataea Toh Langkir, who discovered his desire,did something that caused I Renggan could not control the boat and had a tightsleep. The boat was then stranded in Manggis, Karangasem,and crashed the islands there, causing them to split into small islands around Padang Bai. Because of his failure, I Renggan returned to east part of Nusa Penida Island. When he was about to tether his boat, it got out of control and even passed to the beach and splitted the mound of rock. This was perhaps as ordered by Hyang Widhi, the spot once it splitted a rock was then built into a worshipping place which is now called Batu Medawu Temple. The thing that reinforces this story is symbolization in the form of boat tail describing a boat that split the mound of rock in Batu Medawu Temple, right in the Segara Temple.
The Concept and Function of Batu Medawu Temple
Batu Medawu Temple has a concept of “nyegara gunung”which is the combination of land and sea in one beauty as the harmonization symbol of the universe. Pemedek who visites this place will perform three times of praying, first to Segara Temple, then to Taman Temple, and last to Penataran Temple. Piodalan is carried out at buda kliwon wuku pahang according to pawukon in every six months. Batu Medawu Temple is taken care by half of custom village, starting from Kutampi Atas Custom Village, to the south and the east.
Batu Medawu Temple was built to have a function as a sacred place for Hindus People to do praying/worshipping in order to get close to Hyang Widhi to obtain His wisdoms and His blessings. In Nusa Penida, Batu Medawu Temple generally becomes a worshipping place to ask for wisdoms.
The Location of Batu Medawu Temple
Batu Medawu Temple is located inthe eastern peninsula of Nusa Penida Island, to be precisely in Suana Village, Nusa Penida District, Klungkung Regency, Bali, west of Semaya Village.