In the heart of Denpasar, Bali, lies the sacred tomb of Raden Ayu Siti Khotijah, a princess whose story is one of beauty, faith, and sacrifice. Though her name closely resembles Siti Khadijah, the wife of Prophet Muhammad, Raden Ayu Siti Khotijah was actually a Balinese princess born as Gusti Ayu Made Rai. She was also known as Raden Ayu Pemecutan, the beloved daughter of the King of Pemecutan.
Known for her exceptional beauty, she became the pride of the royal family and caught the attention of many noblemen who wished to marry her. However, tragedy struck when she fell ill with jaundice. Desperate to save his daughter, the King of Pemecutan announced a challenge: whoever could cure the princess would be greatly rewarded. If the healer was a woman, she would be adopted as the king’s daughter, while if it was a man, he would be granted the princess’s hand in marriage.
News of this challenge reached an Islamic scholar in Yogyakarta, who had a disciple—Cakraningrat IV, the ruler of Madura. The scholar called upon Cakraningrat IV, believing he could cure the princess. When he arrived in Bali, he successfully healed Raden Ayu Pemecutan, fulfilling the king’s challenge.
As a result, the two were wed, but under one condition—Raden Ayu had to embrace Islam. After converting, she took the name Raden Ayu Siti Khotijah and left for Madura with her husband.
Some time later, Raden Ayu Siti Khotijah returned to Bali, accompanied by 40 attendants and guards. Before her departure, Cakraningrat IV entrusted her with a sacred jar, a kris (dagger), and a hairpin-shaped heirloom, which she kept in her hair. Upon her arrival in Pemecutan, she was welcomed with joy. However, no one in the palace knew she had converted to Islam.
One evening, during a traditional Balinese ceremony called Meligia or Nyekah, she was seen praying in the palace’s sacred shrine. Dressed in a mukena (Islamic prayer attire), she was spotted by a palace official who did not recognize the ritual she was performing.
Unaware of her conversion, the palace guards and officials saw her actions as unusual and linked them to black magic. Alarmed, they reported the incident to the king, who, in his anger, ordered her execution.
She was taken to a burial ground spanning nine hectares. As she stood before Pura Kepuh Kembar, she calmly addressed her captors:
“I have foreseen this moment. If this is the king’s command, then do as you must. But know this—I was only performing my prayers according to my faith. I had no evil intentions, nor was I practicing black magic.”
Before her execution, she made a final request:
“Do not kill me with a sharp weapon, for it will not harm me. Instead, use my own hairpin, wrapped in betel leaves and bound with a sacred three-colored thread—red, white, and black (Tri Datu). Pierce it into my chest. If my body releases a foul-smelling smoke, bury me. But if the scent is fragrant, build a sacred site in my honor.”
When she was executed, a fragrant aroma filled the air instead of the expected foul smell. The guards and officials were left in shock, and many began to weep upon realizing their mistake. The king, overcome with regret, ordered a sacred tomb (keramat) to be built at the site of her burial, fulfilling her dying wish.
To ensure the site was properly maintained, Gede Sedahan Gelogor, a high-ranking palace official, was appointed as its caretaker.
The tomb of Raden Ayu Siti Khotijah remains a revered site and is located on Gunung Batukaru Street, Pemecutan, Denpasar, Bali. To this day, it stands as a symbol of faith, misunderstanding, and the lasting legacy of a princess who followed her beliefs despite the consequences. (BT)
