Pura Maospahit Tonja is geographically located on Jl. Ratna, directly in front of Banjar Tatasan Kelod, Tonja Village, North Denpasar District, Denpasar City. Astronomically, it is situated at coordinates 50 L 0304919, 9044056, with an elevation of 47 meters above sea level.
In accordance with the temple construction pattern in Bali, Pura Maospahit Tonja also features three courtyards. Here, there is a small variation where the jaba sisi (outer courtyard) is not surrounded by a wall, but instead is an open courtyard facing east. Only the jeroan (the most sacred courtyard) and jaba tengah (middle courtyard) are enclosed by walls made of brick. A wall separates the jaba tengah from the jeroan, which includes a kori agung (great gate). Additionally, the jaba tengah is also separated from the jaba sisi by a surrounding wall and connected by a candi bentar (split gate).
Upon further examination of the temple structure and the functions of each of its shrines, it is evident that Pura Maospahit Tonja Denpasar still adheres to local culture (local genius) with concepts of worshiping the sacred spirits of ancestors. This is reflected in the names of the sacred buildings, which carry local names such as Pelinggih Ratu Dalem Ketut, Pelinggih Ratu Biang Susunan, Gedong Dewa Hyang, and Pelinggih Ratu Dalem Maospahit.
In the main courtyard or jeroan of Pura Maospahit Tonja, there are two Prasada buildings located on the northern side facing south, and on the eastern side facing west. The architectural character of the Prasada is similar to that found in the Prasada building at the Pura Rambut Siwi Tonja site.
A Candi Prasada is a sacred building serving as a shrine for the spirit of the deceased king who has been purified and returned to Brahmaloka. Prasada is a sacred structure in Bali that closely resembles a temple, akin to the temples found in East Java. The Prasada is entirely made of brick, although some are constructed from coral, as seen in the Prasada located on Serangan Island. Additionally, within its structure, there are chambers for placing pratima (sacred images), further confirming its resemblance to a temple.
Prasada means a high seat that rises above the top terrace of a building on a tall foundation, such as a palace, temple, candi (temple), pura (Hindu temple), or place of worship. In Bali, Prasada is the result of a fusion between typical temples or Prasada and terraced burial mounds from prehistoric times (Kempers, 1979: 13).
1. Candi Prasada Tumpang Lima (Linggih Ratu Dalem Ketut)
The entire structure is made of bricks, including the base, body, and roof. The form of the prasada is slender, similar to the temples found in East Java, which become smaller as they rise, and the roof has a tiered design. At the base of the temple, there are coral goak decorations at each corner, and there are also holes from the decorative Chinese bowls that have not been installed anymore due to being broken as a result of natural disasters, specifically earthquakes that have occurred in Bali. On the body of the temple, there is an entrance made of wood for placing statues and offerings. In this section, several small white bowl decorations can still be found attached to the body of the temple. There is also a decoration of a winged lion at the top of the entrance to the temple. On the roof of the temple, there is a decorative motif of coral eyes located in the center, and at each corner of the temple's roof, there are corner tower decorations filled with vine motifs. The roof of this temple consists of five tiers that get taller as they rise.
2. Candi Prasada Tumpang Sia (Linggih Ratu Muter)
Overall, the base, body, and roof are made of brick, with a tiered roof that becomes smaller and slimmer as it rises. This prasada is an archaeological relic that closely resembles the temples found in East Java. The prasada faces west, allowing worshippers to perform their prayers towards the east, facing the temple. The base and body of the temple are adorned with Chinese bowls; however, these are no longer installed since the restoration carried out in 1986 by the Cultural Heritage Preservation Office. The Chinese bowl decorations could not be reused because many were broken due to earthquakes in Bali. We can identify the existence of these decorations because there are holes in the base and body of the temple where the bowls were placed, as well as vine motifs on the body of the temple. On the right and left of the entrance to the temple, there are bentulu coral decorations, and above the entrance, there is a decorative motif of the sun. Candi Tumpang 9 measures 3.05 m in length and 2.65 m in width. This prasada is used to worship the goddess Ratu Maospahit, who serves as the center for seeking safety.
3. Gedong Bata Ratu Gde Maospahit
This building is made of brick, with the right and left sides adorned with decorative carvings. The roof is also constructed from brick and is decorated at each of its four corners with simbar featuring coral motifs. The body of the gedong is embellished with simbar at every corner. The entrance is made of teak wood and is adorned with carvings of patra punggel motifs. A new statue made of stone padas is placed at the front left of the gedong. The function of this building is to worship Ratu Gede Maospahit for seeking safety. The building is oriented eastward, facing west, with dimensions of 3.20 m in length, 3.20 m in width, and 5.45 m in height.
4. Kolam Petirtaan
The structure of this pond is located in the main courtyard (jeroan) of Pura Maospahit Tonja, forming an L-shape with a corner in the northeastern part of the main courtyard. The dimensions of this pond are 16.15 meters in length from west to east, and 17.12 meters from north to south, with a consistent width of 1.12 meters, made of stone padas. According to interviews with the temple caretaker, this pond structure was discovered during excavations around the prasada building that was to be renovated, indicating that the pond has existed since ancient times alongside the prasada at Pura Maospahit Tonja. At the southern end of the pond, there is a purification pond (penglukatan) known as Naga Sesa. This pond has a depth of 82 cm and is used for purification or cleaning, measuring 16 cm in width and 79 cm in length. The pond features three steps leading down to it. From the interviews, the function of this pond is for the bathing of widyadara-widyadari (celestial beings). There is a kind of drainage that penetrates and channels the pond water to the jaba tengah (madya mandala), where this water is used for purification or cleaning before entering the main area of the temple.
5. Meja Batu (dolmen)
The Dolmen / Stone Table is a relic from the megalithic era made of stone, featuring a circular top supported by four legs, also made of stone. This dolmen is placed on a square stone base with dimensions of 110 cm in length, 112 cm in width, and 72 cm in height. The function of this dolmen remains the same as in the megalithic period, serving as a place to place offerings for worship to God (Ida Sang Hyang Widhi), the gods, and ancestral spirits. This dolmen is situated directly in front of Prasada Tumpang Sia (9).
6. Lumpang Batu
This stone mortar is placed on a square stone base with dimensions of 90 cm in length, 75 cm in width, and 26 cm in height. Surrounding this mortar are statues that are in a very deteriorated condition. This stone mortar originates from the megalithic period, where it was once used as a place for grinding grains for ceremonial purposes. However, in the present day, this stone mortar is no longer used for grinding grains but rather serves as a container for water used in purification or cleansing rituals. The community also believes that the water in this stone mortar can heal illnesses.
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