PURA WAWOBENDE BATUR SARI DI DESA ASINGI KECAMATAN TINANGGEA KABUPATEN KONAWE SELATAN SULAWESI TENGGARA

Abstract

Wawobende Batur Sari Temple is located in the middle of the forest in Asingi Village, surrounded by a two-colored river and managed by the local community. Unlike most temples, this temple does not have a shrine, but rather a mountain-shaped rock on a high hill with three hemispherical stones inscribed with ancient script. This temple is believed to be a legacy of the Tolaki people, an indigenous tribe of Sulawesi. Structurally, the temple is divided into three parts. The Main Mandala has a natural fortress and buildings such as the Palinggih Padma, Gedong, and Macan Putih. The Madya Mandala has a resting place with a sacred frog stone. The Nista Mandala has a palinggih as an entrance. Before entering the mandala area, visitors must cross a river of different colors. This temple has multiple functions: (a) religious for prayer, (b) social for Hindus, (c) preservation of culture as an asset, (d) maintenance of balance, (e) purification with river water for lukat, and (f) protection through the fortress. The signs and meanings in the temple are rich in symbols. The large rock is considered the palace of the Tuanku Raja and Putri, the rulers of the Sulawesi universe. Batu Lempeh is the palace of Queen Nyoman Pengider Buana and other deities. The frog stone symbolizes the prayer for fertility, while the confluence of the two-colored rivers symbolizes the two dragons that bring fertility and purity for spiritual cleansing. Five large stones are the center of worship for the gods, influenced by Majapahit culture. This temple also embodies the meaning of tolerance between ethnic groups (Tolaki and Balinese) and religions (Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity), and emphasizes the sacredness of the sacred site atop the hill. Overall, Pura Wawobende Batur Sari is a site that combines religious, cultural, and social values with profound symbolism.