Ponjok Batu Temple is a stone temple where all temple buildings are made from stone. It is located Banjar Alasari, Pacung countryside, Tejakula sub district & Singaraja regency about 24 km eastside of Singaraja town or north part of Bali. This temple area own the wide area about 35 acre in type of black stones bank. The position of this temple is protruding to the sea as a foreland or Ponjok. Base on the position & condition then this place is named by Ponjok Batu so that the temple is standing above foreland petrify & it is referred as Ponjok Batu
Ponjok Batu Temple in history
In papyrus of Dwijendra Tattwa elaborate that Danghyang Nirartha (who spread out the Hinduism in Bali) besides executing Tirtha Yatra (visit the holy places) in Bali area, they also do at Lombok & Sumbawa Island . When they does the tirta yatra in Lombok & Sumbawa Island , they leave in Bali passing the north area of Bali & then it is named by Denbukit. Hereinafter narrated that Danghyang Nirartha found the lodging that is located in coastal periphery with its stone bank & steep sordid to sea in the type of a foreland which is called Ponjok. After omitting a few moments in the lodging then they go to Lombok & Sumbawa Island to conduct the Tirtha Yatra. At the finish, the Pesraman/lodging of Danghyang Nirartha is built an altar named with Ponjok Batu Temple which has been existing since 16 century. It is founded together with the execution of Danghyang Nirartha journey in north part of Bali .
Function of Ponjok Batu Temple as follows:
- According to the archaeology omission at Ponjok Batu Temple , there is an Arca (statue) with hands as a essential of Ponjok Batu Temple building. The attribute (icon) of this Arca have timeworn, so that any kind of object brought is ignorable & the God Arca it self can not be identified. Besides of the God Statue (Arca), in Ponjok Batu Temple is also found a Lembu Nandi Arca (a cow statue) is meaning from Siwa God. If the both Arcas are interacting hence the God Arca with four hands in this temple is Arca of Siwa God.
- According to Papyrus of Dwijendra Tattwa, the history elaboration can be said that the function of Ponjok Batu Temple is for worship the supremacy of Danghyang Nirartha as a Teacher in settling Hinduism teaching, Siwaism. The function strengthened with the existence of special temple building in Ponjok Batu Temple is called Danghyang Nirartha Temple.
Image source: lintangbuanatours, baliskyworld