“Moonstone,” Dewa Agung Kalesan mused as he gazed upon the shining rock. We stand before Pura Batu Lesung. Its name echoes with the tale of Batubulan. The name Batubulan literally translates to moonstone. Batu means stone and Bulan means moon.
Batubulan is a village northeast of Denpasar. It is about eight kilometers away. Bali is known for its volcanic mountains rice paddies and coral reefs. Being under the equator it is sunny almost all year.
I Gusti Ngurah Jambe Pule ruled east of Badung Kingdom. His adoptive son Dewa Agung Kalesan founded Batubulan. The King let Kalesan build a castle in a forest. Kalesan and his followers journeyed to the forest.
Kalesan saw a stone shining like the moon at the forest’s edge. He named the place Batubulan. He built a castle there and settled with his followers. They expanded their power to Batuyang and Batuaji. Family temples built by Kalesan prove his rule in these areas.
The famous moonstone is now at Pura Merajan Agung in Batubulan. Present-day Batubulan is known for sculpture and jewelry making. Silver is a specialty. Traditional dance performances are also popular here. The village has three desa adats which are traditional villages. They are Tegaltamu Jerok Kuta and Dlod Tukat. Each desa adat is divided into banjar or communities. Some focus on agriculture. Others provide traditional dance performances.
Imagine Dewa Agung Kalesan finding that moonstone. It changed the course of this village’s history. The light of the moonstone still shines brightly. It shines through the art the dance and the spirit of Batubulan. Pura Batu Lesung stands as a reminder of this legendary beginning. It reminds of a king’s vision. It reminds of a moonlit stone. It reminds of the birth of a village.