Pura Puseh Peguyangan is located at coordinates 50 L 0303451 UTM 9048721 (85 meters above sea level), adjacent to Pura Desa Peguyangan. It is a sacred place owned by the local community of Peguyangan Customary Village and is administratively located in North Denpasar District. The historical background of the existence of Peguyangan Customary Village can be understood through the contents of Dresta Ilikita Desa Pakraman Peguyangan, which reveals several elements referring to the history of the village. For instance, the name Peguyangan comes from the story of the elephant Kyai Panji Sakti, which rolled over (berguling-guling) in the place where it is said to have rolled is called peguyangan. The term peguyangan is also associated with the contents of a copper inscription at Pura Dalem Batan Celagi, which mentions that the holder of the inscription was granted freedom from paying taxes, as they were given the responsibility to take care of and ngaci sam sat kahyangan, meaning “to maintain the place of hyang.” Maintaining this sacred place must be pageh (steadfast/consistent), which then led to the formation of the name peguyangan from the words pageh and hyang (Anonim, 2011: 1).
Regarding the inscription found at Pura Dalem Batan Celagi (Prasasti Peguyangan), only one plate was discovered, which is the 8th sheet on sides A and B, written in ancient Balinese script (Kawi – Bali) and Old Javanese. This Prasasti Peguyangan belongs to the group of inscriptions issued by King Sri Haji Jayapangus around the years Śaka 1099 – 1103 (1177 -1181 AD), which briefly mentions the name of the village Er Saling and about the exemption from several types of taxes (drwi haji) because the village was formerly a jataka (an area managing a sacred building exempt from certain taxes and other obligations) for Bhaṭāra in Burwan, which has been turned into rice fields by the villagers. They were not required to pay certain contributions related to ceremonies, including newlyweds who were not obligated to offer pamapas to Sanghyang Candi in Burwan. Other contents include provisions or permits for duck farming, keeping tugel dogs, pirung, and freedom to travel to other villages (Wiguna et al., 2015: 19).
There is an assumption that around the 13th-14th century AD, an ancient temple building similar to the miniature temple found at Pura Desa Peguyangan once stood around the area of Peguyangan Customary Village. This assumption is strengthened by the numerous fragments of temple structures found at Pura Desa, Puseh, Manik Tahun, and Penyarikan Peguyangan, which are similar in form to the peak/tower corners of the miniature temple.
Pura Puseh Peguyangan has a dwi mandala structure, with jaba sisi (nista mandala) located and facing east, while jeroan (utama mandala) is located and facing west, forming one complex with Pura Desa, Pura Bale Agung, Pura Penyarikan, and Pura Manik Tahun Peguyangan. The utama mandala (jeroan/the most sacred courtyard) and nista mandala (outer courtyard) are separated by a gapura/paduraksa facing east, surrounded by a wall made of red bricks. Characteristically, Pura Puseh Peguyangan is categorized as a territorial temple (kahyangan tiga), a place of worship for Ida Sang Hyang Widhi in His manifestation as Dewa Wisnu along with His sakti, with the community of Peguyangan Customary Village as the caretakers and supporters. The piodalan ceremony is held every Redite Wuku Sinta (Banyu Pinaruh).
1. Gapura/paduraksa
The gapura/paduraksa, also known as Kori Agung, serves as the boundary and entrance from the outer courtyard (nista mandala) to the inner courtyard (utama mandala). This gapura/paduraksa is divided into three parts: the base, the body, and the roof. The structure is made of bricks combined with stone padas, adorned with reliefs of leaf tendrils and statues, such as lion statues at each corner of the gapura's base and dwarapala statues serving as door guardians facing east. In the center of the gapura's body, there are brown wooden doors, and above the doorframe is decorated with a kala head featuring bulging eyes and protruding fangs, embellished with leaf tendrils. On each side of the gapura's body, the left side facing east is adorned with a relief of Rahwana, characterized by a cecandian kurung crown, two protruding upper tusks, holding a sword, and carrying Dewi Sita. On the right side facing east, the gapura is decorated with a relief of Wilmana (Rahwana's vehicle), depicted as a winged giant wielding weapons with two tazaman. On the right side of the west body of the gapura, there is also a relief of Wilmana and a relief of Garuda on the left side of the gapura, characterized by a bird's head gripping a snake with its feet. This gapura is further beautified with 279 porcelain plates and bowls of various sizes. The roof of the gapura consists of five tiers, each decreasing in size as it rises, with each corner adorned with simbar duduk, complete with a round-shaped sudat tower, hanging simbar reliefs, and at the peak of the roof, it is decorated with menur/murdha.
2. Gedong Ratu Puseh
This building serves as the central structure in Pura Puseh Peguyangan, made from a combination of red bricks and stone padas, consisting of three parts: the base, the body, and the roof. It features a candi bentar constructed from stone padas, adorned with hanging simbar, sitting simbar, and antefik that embellish the courtyard, complete with dragons on both sides of the stairs. The upper body of the gedong is made of red bricks, decorated with flower pot reliefs featuring tendrils carved on the right and left sides of the gedong body. In the center of the gedong body, there is a garbha graha, flanked by two statues: the balagana statue, also known as gajawaktra, and a character whose identity is unknown, as it lacks clear attributes. Above the doorframe, a kala head is carved, characterized by bulging eyes, without hands or leaf tendril carvings beside it. The roof of the building is pyramid-shaped, becoming smaller towards the top, supported by 10 wooden pillars and upheld by wanara statues. The front side of Gedong Ratu Puseh, from the base to the body, is adorned with 106 plates and 162 bowls made of porcelain (ceramics) in white, yellow, and green colors.
3. Kemuncak Sudut Atap Candi I
This pinnacle is placed in front (on the eastern side) to the right of the gapura/paduraksa and is likely a remnant of the decorative elements of the temple roof from the past, made of stone padas. Its shape is similar to the corner pinnacles of the temple at Pura Desa Peguyangan. This corner pinnacle/tower is shaped like a six-tiered structure that becomes smaller towards the top, culminating in a cylindrical shape. In terms of mythology, the people of Desa Adat Peguyangan believe this object represents the fist of Ki Kebo Iwa.
4. Kemuncak Sudut Atap Candi II
This pinnacle is placed in front (on the eastern side) to the left of the gapura/paduraksa and is likely a remnant of the decorative elements of the temple roof from the past, made of stone padas. Its shape is similar to the corner pinnacles of the temple at Pura Desa Peguyangan. This corner pinnacle/tower is shaped like a six-tiered structure that becomes smaller towards the top, culminating in a cylindrical shape. In terms of mythology, the people of Desa Adat Peguyangan believe this object represents the fist of Ki Kebo Iwa.
5. Kemuncak Sudut Atap Candi III
This pinnacle is placed in front (on the eastern side) to the left of the gapura/paduraksa and is in very damaged condition. The people of Desa Adat Peguyangan also believe that this object represents the fist of Ki Kebo Iwa.
6. Kemuncak Sudut Atap Candi IV
This pinnacle is placed in the inner courtyard (main mandala) in front of Gedong Ratu Puseh and is likely part of the decorative elements of the temple roof from the past, made of stone padas. Its shape is similar to the corner pinnacles of the miniature temple at Pura Desa Peguyangan. This pinnacle is shaped like a five-tiered structure that becomes smaller towards the top, culminating in a rounded shape.
7. Kemuncak Sudut Atap Candi V
This pinnacle is placed in the inner courtyard (utama mandala) in front of Gedong Ratu Puseh and is likely a remnant of the decorative elements of the temple roof from the past, made of stone padas. Its shape is similar to the corner pinnacle of the miniature temple at Pura Desa Peguyangan. This pinnacle is shaped like a five-tiered structure that becomes smaller towards the top, culminating in a rounded shape.
8. Ambang Pintu Candi
This block of stone padas is likely a remnant of a rectangular door lintel from a temple, featuring notches on several parts. This door lintel may have a connection to the discovered pinnacles as components supporting the entrance of the garbha graha in a temple from the past.
9. Arca Balagana
The statue is placed on the terrace to the right of the garbha graha of Gedong Ratu Puseh, standing in an abhanga posture on a plain base with the number 1933 carved on its front side. The statue is sculpted with an elephant head (not Ganesha), but as a manifestation of balagana/gajawaktra, wearing a complete cecandian crown adorned with petitis and ron-ronan behind the ears. The right hand supports the trunk at the side of the belly, while the left hand is placed in front of the belly, grasping a sampur cloth. The cloth extends above the knees, featuring a striped pattern and is complemented by a wiron fold that touches the base.
10. Arca Tokoh I
The statue is placed on the left side of the garbha graha of Gedong Ratu Puseh, standing in an abhanga posture on a plain pedestal. The statue is sculpted with a complete cecandian crown featuring petitis and ron-ronan behind the ears. The right hand is bent beside the abdomen in an abhaya mudra posture, while the left hand is positioned in front of the abdomen, holding a sampur cloth. The cloth extends above the knees and has a striped pattern, complemented with wiron folds whose ends touch the pedestal.
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