History of Sumerta

Regarding the historical background of Sumerta Village, there is no definitive or written record available to date, but the writer has tried to compile the history of Sumerta Village based on interviews and literature studies. According to stories from elders mentioned in Eka Suwarnita Desa Adat Sumerta (2014: 2-3), it is said that Sumerta Village was formerly called Wongaya and eventually became Sumerta Wongaya. The name Sumerta is believed to have been derived from one of the local rulers at that time, as found in the Babad Ki Bandesa Krobokan Badung. The excerpt from the chronicle is as follows:

“…walian ikang kata, ceritanen mangke tmajanira Ki Gusti Pasek Gelgel Aan, pada sahing Hyang Widi, apasanakan rahning nalikang rat, tembenia Gde Pasek Sumerta tmajanira Ki Gusti Pasek Aan, angalih lungguh mareng jagat bandana, sira kawuwus Pasek Sumerta, muang lungguh hira raju ingaranan Sumerta, apan sira Ki Pasek Gegel winuwus widagda wicaksana, sida pwa sira anampa sajnira Sang Natheng Bandana…” (Anonim, 2014: 3)

Ki Pasek Sumerta’s departure to the jagat bandana (Badung) according to the story above is believed to have occurred at the end of the reign of Dalem Waturenggong. The term Sumerta appears several times in the excerpt, referring to a notable figure. Based on interviews with the caretaker of Puseh Sumerta Temple (I Made Rai Suta Maskaya, 2018), it was also explained that Sumerta Village was once led by a figure named I Gusti Ngurah Sumerta. This gives rise to the assumption that the area formerly known as Wongaya changed its name to Sumerta due to the legacy of a prominent leader in the region. According to the Babad Ki Bandesa Krobokan Badung, this figure was Gde Pasek Sumerta, while according to the caretaker of Puseh Sumerta Temple, it was I Gusti Ngurah Sumerta. 

Regarding the existence of Puseh Sumerta Temple and Kebon Sumerta Temple, which are the objects of inventory, their construction background can be traced back to a 15th-century Śaka charter still held by the family of the caretaker of Puseh Sumerta Temple in Banjar Sima. The charter roughly details an order from I Gusti Ngurah Sumerta to Ki Bendesa Bekung in Sumerta Wongaya to promptly build Puseh Temple and Kebon Temple within a year, with the reward being land complete with seeds/plants (Anonim, 2014: 3).