Bedali Temple

Perch at the foot of Mount Bismo, Wonosobo, Central Java which is covered in fog. Located hidden gems ancient and mystery architecture, people call it Bedali Temple. Surrounded by the rolling hills of Wonosobo and abundant springs, the structure of andesite rocks whisper stories from the passing era, where Hindu-Buddhist culture developed in the midst of Indonesia's natural splendor.

Originally around the 7th century, Bedali Temple was established as one of the oldest Hindu temple sites in Indonesia, offering a glimpse of cultural heritage and rich religious practices in the region. Located in the landscape of the beauty of the Wonosobo Mountains, this temple not only exhibits the typical carving of Wonosobo Temple and architectural skills but also functions as a media research and learning media and students around.

Uncover the Mystery of Bedali Temple

This Bedali temple consists of a series of small pieces, namely from the peak, walls, floors and small statues. The temple roof has a rectangular pyramid shape that is tapered upward. Bedali Temple is not yet known from the relics of the kingdom because the inscription has not been discovered, but has been examined by the expert teams from the Tim Ahli Cagar Budaya (TACB) Wonosobo, Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya (BPCB) Prambanan, Wonosobo Tourism Office and Gadjah Mada University. The expert teams stated that the Bedali Temple was made of andesite rocks around the seventh century older than the Arjuna Temple complex which was about 20 kilo meters away. Reliefs from Bedali Temple have typical reliefs like those found in other regions in Wonosobo but are different from those in the Arjuna Temple complex.

The Journey to Rediscover

In July 2013, two middle -aged people hoeing the land belonging to Mr. Ngatijan who was next to SMAN 1 Watumalang. One of the two people named Mr. Pandi who also worked as a night guard at SMAN 1 Watumalang. In the heat of the dry season in the month of Ramadan, Mr. Pandi complained because he found a lot of broken glass while hoeing the land he was working on.

"Ya Allah... It's almost Eid, ike this, my life is miserable. my child is still small, but I found a lot of broken glass like this. treasure or something like that". Complained accompanied by a joke Mr. Pandi.

At night after Mr. Pandi complained, he felt pain that was not due to injuries or fatigue. However, because of chasing a deadline and so he could get a wage before Eid, he still had to go to work the next day.

Rediscovering the Buried Property

On Saturday 27 July 2013, Mr. Pandi departed hoeing like the usual days. He began to hoe with the hot sun of the dry season. Which usually he gets glass flakes which if collected up to two bamboo baskets, but on that day he found a lot of rocks. Cahyo, the son of Mr. Pandi who was waiting for the time to break the fast chose to accompany his father who was hoeing. Cahyo who initially only sat next to his father who was working, he watched the increasingly more found rocks. Cahyo was curious because it was not normal. He began to take some stones which were then scraped with bamboo. After he scraped the rock, he did not think that what was found at that time was the temple. Cahyo tried to explain to his father that the rocks found were temple rocks.

"Dad... Dad... this is a temple, this is a relief. If there is a stone, the relief is the temple, dad". Cahyo explained to his father.

"How could there be a temple here". Answered Mr. Pandi.

"This is the Temple, dad, in the IPS textbook, the characteristics of the temple are relief". Cahyo convinced his father.

The sun had begun to set, so Mr. Pandi ended his work and Mr. Pandi who was confused trying to trust his son.

Surprise from the Ground

On a sunny Sunday, Mr. Pandi went hoe as usual. He began to hoe the land and remembered his son's words the previous day. He hoeing the ground carefully, then the sound of the hoe hit the stone. Then he pulled the stone from the ground, and it was true that it was a part of the temple. The stone is bigger than the stone he found the previous day. Mr. Pandi at that time had begun to be sure that it was a temple.

The next day, Mr. Pandi carefully swung his hoe again. He found other small rocks that were allegedly part of the statue that was cut, the walls and floors of the temple. He became more optimistic then continued his work which then found a larger temple in the form of a prism.

Report the Findings of Mr. Pandi

After Mr. Pandi found many sections of the temple, he reported the incident to Mr. Triantoro, Wonosobo Regional Secretary as well as a former Watumalang District Head. After being contacted, the team from the Regional Secretary, the Tourism Office and the reporters came to the place where the temple was found. At that time, people who were curious in droves to see the temples found by Mr. Pandi. Because to maintain the integrity of the temple, then given a police line around the temple.

Preservation Effort

The temples that Pak Pandi had found were then collected into one and stored in the SMAN 1 Watumalang classroom. Then Mr. Pandi cooperated with the SMAN 1 Watumalang 1 to build a place to put the temple in the school area. After the place was finished, the rocks of the temple were then arranged soaring upwards. The temple was named Bedali Temple or Kahuripan Temple because it was found in Bedali Hamlet, Kuripan Village. This Bedali temple hopes as a learning tool for the surrounding community.

Return of Hidden Treasures

At the end of October 2019, a team from the Department of Archeology of Gadjah Mada University came to conduct research and excavation of Bedali Temple. Assisted by the Bedali community, students and teachers of SMAN 1 Watumalang, they did an excavation which then found other temple stones. The temple was found, then put together with other temples that had been found before.

Bedali Temple was not only found in the land area of ​​Pak Ngatijan, but there was a Bedali resident found a relief rock similar to the Bedali Temple in the river. Even though the distance between the river and Pak Ngatijan's land is quite far. This mystery has not been revealed, is it true that this Kuripan Village has a large relic of ancient Javanese civilization? Let's wait for the follow -up of the Cultural Heritage Expert Team.

Displacement of Bedali Temple Location

Bedali Temple was originally located in the SMAN 1 Watumalang area. However, because in 2023 there will be a new building construction at SMAN 1 Watumalang, so the temple must be moved. With the approval of the Wonosobo Tourism Office and the Head of Kuripan Village, Bedali Temple was then moved to Pak Pandi's house. The temple rock was brought using a makeshift tool by Innaya, who is also the son of Mr. Pandi. He then made a simple small house with his personal funds to put the temple.

Going forward: Sustainability

"My hope, the regional government and the central government, to be more concerned and there is a follow -up. Because it has been 11 years there has been no follow -up back". Mr. Pandi's message when interviewed.

11 years ago, Kuripan Village was made tantrum for the discovery of Bedali Temple. Starting from reporters, selfies, and spiritual activists. The carved stone is a trending topic in Wonosobo. But how is the condition now? Yes, that is, his fate is abandoned which is only treated by the family of Mr. Pandi. Even though this Bedali Temple is very important as evidence of the existence of ancient Javanese civilization in Watumalang District.

Conclusion

Bedali Temple, is a form of spiritual aspiration and ancient Javanese artistic achievement on the slopes of Mount Bismo. Bedali Temple is a proof of human creativity, cultural exchange and spiritual service. Bedali Temple is a treasure that deserves to be appreciated as a reminder of a rich past. Hopefully it will remain sustainable until later, until our children and grandchildren understand that in the village of Kuripan there was an ancient Javanese civilization