When literally translated, Pura Pusering Jagat means “The Navel of The Universe.’  This grand and ancient temple was built in the 14th century and is located slightly north of Kebo Edan. The main point of interest here is a massive stone holy water vessel (called Naragiri or ‘The Mountain of Man’) carved with reliefs that illustrate the Hindu myth Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean of milk).  Also within the Pura is a stone that may never be moved as it guarded the secret entrance used by Bali’s King Badaulu to escape to Shiva s Nusa Penida during the invasion of the Majapahit army.

There are several versions of this legend, but they all relate to the story of the gods and the demons desperately trying to get their hands on the elixir of immortal life. As the story goes, it was under Vishnu's guidance that they set about churning this cosmic sea of milk with the aid of a holy mountain as their pestle and the serpentine naga as the pulleys. Carved from a single block of sandstone you can still just make out some of the figures included in the undulating naga ropes and a number of dancing deities supporting them. In a nearby pavilion is another significant icon, the meter-high phallic lingam and its female receptacle, the yoni - an important shrine for the Balinese for infertile couples and newlyweds.