Discover Spiritual Cleansing in Lombok: Melukat at Pura Suranadi

For travelers seeking a deeper, more spiritual connection with the places they visit, Lombok spiritual cleansing offers a unique cultural and religious experience. Known locally as melukat, this sacred Hindu ritual is a water purification ceremony believed to cleanse the body, mind, and soul from negative energy. While melukat is more commonly associated with Bali, the tradition has also taken root in Lombok—especially at Pura Suranadi, one of the island’s most revered temples.

What is Melukat?

Melukat comes from the Balinese word lukat, which means to purify. The ceremony uses natural spring water to wash away spiritual impurities. It is not only a symbolic act of purification but also an important ritual in the Hindu-Balinese religious system. Typically involving prayers, offerings, and bathing under sacred water fountains, melukat is performed to restore balance, seek protection, or mark a new beginning in life.

How the Tradition Arrived in Lombok

Lombok, particularly its western region, is home to a significant Hindu community. Over centuries of interaction with Bali—both culturally and spiritually—the practice of melukat found its place on this island. Today, some of the holiest water temples in Lombok offer this ritual as a part of regular religious activity and spiritual tourism.

One such place is Pura Suranadi, located in the village of Sesaot, Narmada district, West Lombok. Built in the 18th century by the legendary priest Dang Hyang Nirartha, this temple is considered a Dang Kahyangan—a sacred site of major spiritual significance. The name Suranadi is derived from the words sura (god) and nadi (river), meaning “the river of the gods.”

The Melukat Experience at Pura Suranadi

Melukat in Lombok, especially at Pura Suranadi, offers a deeply authentic and structured experience. The temple complex consists of several sections, including:

• Pura Ulon (main temple)
• Pura Pengentas (middle temple)
• Pura Pembersihan (purification temple)
• And even a secluded Pura Majapahit within the surrounding forest

Each temple is home to natural springs, known as kelebutan, that serve different ceremonial purposes. There are five holy water sources in total:

• Petirtaan and Pengelukatan at Pura Ulon
• Pengentas and Toya Tabah at Pura Pengentas
• A final spring at Pura Pembersihan

These springs feed into bathing pools, with separate areas for spiritual cleansing and recreational swimming. The main purification pool, located in Pura Pembersihan, is reserved for melukat and follows a specific protocol.

Ritual Steps to Melukat

Visitors wishing to participate must follow temple customs. Here’s a breakdown of the typical steps:

1. Wear a white sarong, which is provided at the temple or brought from home.
2. Initial rinse in the outer pool to remove soap and physical impurities.
3. Prepare offerings such as canang (flower offerings), which can be purchased at the temple.
4. Enter the sacred pool for melukat, where you’ll bathe under a large, continuously flowing spring.
5. Pray and meditate under the water stream to release negativity.
6. Change into temple attire and head to the Pesimpangan (shrine near the pool) to pray again with offerings.
7. Final prayers are done at Utama Mandala, the main temple courtyard.

This isn’t just a photo-op or tourist activity—it’s a real, living tradition. Respect, modesty, and sincerity are expected.

Why You Should Try Melukat in Lombok

Participating in a melukat ritual in Lombok is more than a spiritual experience—it’s a window into the living culture of the island. Unlike the often-crowded rituals in Bali, Suranadi offers a more peaceful, personal experience surrounded by nature and sacred energy. Whether you’re seeking emotional release, spiritual grounding, or cultural enrichment, this ceremony is worth your time.