Goa Gajah Temple

 Goa Gajah Temple

is historical evidence from the 10th and 11th centuries, this place was a place for solemn meditation by Buddhists and Hindus because this place was a perfect union with nature where all the opportunities at that time were available. 

The word Goa Gajah consists of goa which means cave and Gajah which means elephant. This place is called Goa Gajah because it is located in a river called Iwa Gajah and the carvings from the mouth of the cave itself resemble an elephant. This cave has a T shape 3 meters deep, 3 meters to the right and left

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The name Lwa Gajah, along with Badalam, was first mentioned in the literary work Kakawin Nagarakretagama which was compiled by Mpu Prapanca (1365 AD). This name is listed in pupuh  which describes the regions to the east of Java, which recognized Majapahit rule. 

Lwa or Lwah/Loh means river, so Lwa Gajah means Elephant River; It is possible that the river located in front of the temple is now known as the Petanu River.

The name Gua Gajah probably comes from the carving of a giant face above the mouth of the cave, which is thought to resemble the face of an elephant. Another source states that the name is due to the presence of a statue of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, in one of the niches in the cave.

History

Trilingga, three lingas in a row, which is at the end of the eastern aisle

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The discovery of the Gajah Cave began with a report from a Dutch East Indies official, LC. Heyting in 1923 who discovered the Ganesha, Trilingga and Hariti statues for the Dutch East Indies government. 

This was followed up by Dr. WF. Stutterheim to conduct further research in 1925. In 1950 the Indonesian Antiquities Service, through the sections of ancient buildings in Bali led by J.L Krijgman, conducted research and excavations from 1954 to 1979 and an ancient shrine was found with 6 statues of women (nymphs). ) with a water fountain on the chest and until now its existence can be believed to provide a vibrating aura of purification for visitors.

In 1931 Mr. Conrat Spies also discovered quite important remains in the Tukad Pangkung complex in the form of a three-pronged stupa carved into a collapsed stone wall lying at the base of Tukad Pangkung.

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Since 1950, after the Indonesian Antiquities Agency opened the Bali branch of the building section located in Gianyar under the leadership of J.C. Krijgsman, research on ancient remains in Gajah Cave received special attention. This was proven in 1951/1952 by excavations in the front yard of the cave mouth. From the excavation, an ancient rectangular foundation was discovered, with the front wall of the cave being one of the long sides.

In that year, cracks were also found in the cave ceiling as a result of the roots of a frangipani tree growing on the cliff to the right of the cave mouth. When cleaning the soil and roots in the western part of the cave, two stone fragments were found, the first fragment was the top of a giant's head above the cave opening, the second fragment was a carved part of the eastern wall. Apart from that, a sword made of solid stone was also found which is part of a giant statue in front of the cave.

Form and archaeology

Baths, during the 1954 reconstruction

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Baths, after 1971 reconstruction

Three nymphs and a nymph at the edge of a bathing pool, 2014

Ganesha statue

Giant statue in front of Goa Gajah

The Gajah Cave complex consists of 2 main parts, namely the northern complex which is a legacy of Shiva's teachings, with evidence of the Trilingga and Ganesha statues in the cave, which is where Hindus pray. The complex to the south of Gua Gajah, namely the Tukad Pangkung area, consists of the ruins of a Buddhist stupa in the shape of a 13-tiered umbrella and a 3-branched stupa carved into a large rock.

Northern part

The northern complex is centered on a cave-temple known as Gua Gajah. This cave is carved into hard rock that juts out 5.75 meters from the rock wall, measuring 6.75 meters high and 8.6 meters wide. The surface of the cave faces south, decorated with motifs of leaves, coral, giants, monkeys and pigs.

 In the middle of the relief there is a cave opening measuring 1 meter wide and 2 meters high. On the verge of the mouth of the cave there is a carving of a giant, scary face with big round eyes glancing to the right; his hair and eyebrows looked rough, his nose was big, his upper lip with a row of teeth was right above the cave opening. 

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On the eastern wall of the cave there are two lines of writing that read kumon and the bottom line sahy(w)angsa; Judging from the shape of the letters, it is thought to originate from the 11th century.

The passage in the cave is shaped like the letter T. After entering a few meters to the north, there is a passage that runs in a west-east direction. The corridor that stretches from east-west measures 13.5 meters long, 2.75 meters wide and 2 meters high.

 On the north wall of the transverse passage there are 7 niches, one of the niches is facing the cave entrance and is the largest niche with a height of 1.26 meters, a depth of 1.35 meters, located 0.7 meters from the ground surface.

 Inside there are fragments of giant statues and fragments of Shiva statues. At both ends of the transverse hallway there are also alcoves. The niche at the east end contains a trilingga and the niche at the west end contains a Ganesha statue.

In front of the Gajah Cave there are several ancient statues depicting Hariti, Ganesha and giants. The character Hariti (Avesta language Harauhuti) in Buddhist fairy tales is known as a character who has an evil character and likes to prey on children; However, after studying Buddhism, he became a lover of children.

 The statue depicts Hariti with three children each on her right and left and one child on her lap. In Balinese fairy tales, Hariti is better known as Men Brayut (or Nini Brayut in Javanese tradition).

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A bathing complex or petitaan is located in front of the Gajah Cave, slightly to the bottom. This bathhouse is composed of three sacred bathing pools lined up north-south, with six (supposedly seven) statues showering on the edges. 

Each pair of statues consists of one angel statue flanked by two angel statues, standing facing a large pond. The statue on the edge of the middle pool has been lost or has not been found, possibly a statue of Ganesha with a shower which was found decorating the edge of the cave mouth. 

Originally found in disarray and buried by soil, even new buildings, this bathhouse was then successfully excavated and reconstructed in 1954 with the services of J.L. Krijgman,:43-5 at that time Head of the Archaeological Office in Bali.

These statues of angels and angels stand on lotus or padma mats. Padma is the symbol of the universe of Hyang Widhi's palace. Meanwhile, in the middle is the Widyadara statue. This is based on the concept of Sapta Nadi, namely the seven holy rivers Ganga, Sindhu, Saraswati, Yamuna, Godawari, Serayu and Narmada.

Southern part

A little far from the northern complex, there is the southern complex which is located in a ravine or valley known as Tukad Pangkung. This area is in the form of the Patapan temple valley, and here a Buddha statue is kept.In this valley there are ancient remains in the form of a large relief that has collapsed to the bottom of the valley, which may once have been part of a cliff-temple.

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The large relief carved into the rock consists of several parts. The first is in the form of a fragment of a three-branched stupa, with the tops in the form of tiered umbrellas. Next to it there is another stupa fragment, with a single tiered umbrella peak. And above the two reliefs you can see the lower part of a Buddha statue.

Meanwhile, not far away, there are also crumbling fragments of a relief in the shape of a 13-tiered umbrella, which may have once been the top of a stupa like the other reliefs. Looking at their shape, these reliefs are estimated to be much older than the Elephant Cave in the north; probably dating to the early 10th century.

Function

From the data available in the field, it can be stated that the Gajah Cave site was a sacred place as a center for Hindu and Buddhist religious activities during the reign of the Warmadewa Dynasty from the X-XIV century AD (400 years). The status of the Gajah Cave site is now a living monument that functions as a place for religious activities (Pura) and the community calls it the Gua Temple.

Based on the findings of archaeological data at the Gajah Cave site, several things can be stated as follows: - Of the several inscriptions that have been presented in Bali, none of them directly mentions the name of Gua Gajah, but the Additional Songan Inscription issued by King Marakata is dated 1022 AD. 

and the Cempaga Inscription issued by King Sri Mahaguru dated 1324 AD both mention the name Er Gajah. Then the Dawan Inscription of 1053 AD and the Pandak Badung Inscription of 1071 AD mention the holy place of Antakunjarapadda (Kunjara = elephant). Meanwhile, in the book Negarakertagama of 1365 AD, the names Baulu and Lwa Gajah are listed, namely two places in Bali which were included in the list of areas controlled by the Majapahit Kingdom.

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