Situated to the north of Setra Agung Badung in Denpasar, stand two significant cultural heritage sites: The Sacred Tomb of Raden Ayu Siti Khodijah and the resting place of Tuan Miora from Japan. These two historic sites are located adjacently, to the east of the Dalem Kahyangan Temple in Denpasar.
Tuan Miora Djo, a Japanese soldier born in 1888, passed away on September 7, 1945. Throughout his life, he found himself deeply perturbed by the savage violence perpetrated by invaders. Choosing to align himself with the indigenous people, he provided significant assistance to the local community. As his life came to an end, he expressed the wish to be buried amongst the local people in Sema Badung.
The Sacred Tomb of Raden Ayu Siti Khodijah houses the remains of one of the daughters of King Pemecutan. Her birth name was Gusti Ayu Made Rai, but she was also known as Raden Ayu Pemecutan. Her spouse was the son of the King of Bangkalan, Raden Sosroningrat. Post their marriage, Dewi Ayu relocated to Madura, embraced Islam, and adopted the name Siti Khotijah.
According to legend, the tomb was dedicated to Siti Khotijah, who willingly sacrificed herself due to a misunderstanding when the guards of the Pemecutan Kingdom, having inadvertently found her praying while cloaked in a white veil, accused her of practicing ngeleak, or witchcraft. This distressing misapprehension unjustly led to her demise.
In our present-day multicultural world, we engage with individuals from myriad cultural backgrounds daily. We should take to heart Siti Khotijah's story and learn to appreciate, respect, and rejoice in our diverse cultures. In doing so, we can cultivate a broader understanding, acceptance, and harmony amongst all of us.