Tonja

Enraged, a king disguised as a commoner, tripped over a stone. This seemingly insignificant stumble in the Ajungut-jungut area, now Banjar Tega, would forever shape the destiny of this place we now know as Tonja. Tonja is a village nestled in the district of North Denpasar. Its story begins in the year 1328 AD. Bali was under the rule of King Dalem Batu Ireng, also known as Raja Sri Astasura Ratna Bhumi Banten. He fiercely resisted the Majapahit Kingdom’s advances, refusing to submit to their authority. This defiance led to a pursuit. Dalem Batu Ireng, forced into hiding, sought refuge in various locations across Bali, including Taro, Gegel, Batuyang, Batubulan, Bukut Kali, Batu Belig Kalanggendis, and Taman Yang Batu. He disguised himself, hoping to blend in among the commoners. During his time in hiding, he encountered I Gusti Ngurah Bongaya at the crossroads of Desa Pagan, where a yadnya ceremony was about to commence. Intrigued, Dalem Batu Ireng stopped at Pura Desa Adat Pagan. Aware of his unkempt appearance, he remained in the middle courtyard of the temple. However, his presence didn’t go unnoticed. The temple herald, shocked by his disheveled state, cried out “Tonya!”, perceiving him as a disruption to the sacred ceremony. This exclamation, “Tonya,” meaning a disturbance, became a label. I Gusti Ngurah Bongaya and other villagers drove Dalem Batu Ireng away. The king, angered by this humiliation, cursed I Gusti Ngurah Bongaya. He proclaimed that the village would become fractured, plagued by conflicts. As he journeyed north, he stumbled over a stone in Ajungut-jungut. He blessed this stone, declaring it “Bhumi Tonjaya.” The name “Tonja” is derived from the word “ketonjok,” meaning “to trip.” It serves as a permanent reminder of the king’s stumble and the events that unfolded. This incident, etched in the village’s history, gave Tonja its name. It shaped its identity.