The Balinese Hindu Religious Belief System

The Hindu Dharma, the religious belief system of Bali, governs all activities of the daily life of the Balinese, working, sleeping, eating, praying, dancing, and all other activities are part of and governed by the Dharma.

Offering not just made up of fruits and cake, but also from artistically carved slices of pork. This one found at Besakih

This short introduction will hopefully serve as a guide to visitors who wish to understand the essence of Balinese life and customs and to help those visitors who wish to witness and participate in some of the religious ceremonies, large or small.
A ritual in a temple festival would invite spirits of ancestors, Gods and Goddesses which send messages through human bodies in trance

Once in Ball, some visitors forget that, as in their own societies, religious ceremonies are not commercial performances staged for the pleasure of the tourist, but are a very important part of the daily life of the community.

As the ceremonies in Bali display spectacular and colorful scenes, they have become a great attraction to visitors who, when they do not understand the procedures, may unwittingly create intrusive distractions leading to misunderstandings for the Balinese and visitors alike.

At times, outsiders are not permitted to attend ceremonies. Visitors are asked to respect these occasions where the presence of outsiders may disturb the ritual activities.

As a photo-opportunity, with out regard for the sensibilities of the Balinese, and who does not want to know the meaning and purpose of the religious practices of the people, selfishly disregarding all reasonable requests to behave respectfully and unobtrusively, will not be welcome. However, a real welcome is extended to all those who are willing to respect us and our customs as we respect them.

This leaflet contains short outlines of the different kinds of ceremonies performed in Bali, and some information outlining the basic tenets of the Hindu Dharma. It contains suggestions as to where to go, how to dress and behave, and how to experience ceremonial activities in Bali.

Yadnya Ceremony
The three basic fundamentals of the Hindu Dharma are Yadnya (ceremony), Philosophy (Tatwa) and Susila (moral behavior). These interact to form Balinese culture.

There are too many ceremonies and rituals in Balinese life to de~ scribe in a short introduction. The simplest and most often performed is the Mesaiban, the daily presentation of the offerings. Every day in every family small offerings are prepared from a piece of banana leaf with some rice and other foods (except beef). These are placed at every building and shrine in the compound and at intersections to be blessed, This is the Yadnya for the protection of everyday life.

Other ceremonies are performed every five days (Kliwon), every fifteen days (Kajeng Kliwon), every six months or 210 days (Piodalan), and others are performed every five or ten years. The largest ceremony of all - the complete cleansing of the island, Eka Dasa Rudra - is performed every 100 years and only at the Besakih Temple. The last was held in 1979. There are five types of ceremonies in Bali, the Panca Yadnya, (Panca : Five, Yadnya holy sacrifice with a pure heart). They are as follows:

Dewa Yadnya Holy sacrifice to the Gods and Goddesses as manifestations of the Supreme Being.

Pitra Yadnya Holy sacrifice to our ancestors who gave us guidance in life and the opportunity to be born.

Manusa Yadnya Holy sacrifice to protect our lives and those of future generations.

Rsi Yadnya Holy sacrifice to priests who guide us on our spiritual journey.

Bhuta Yadnya Holy' sacrifice to any other beings (visible and invisible) to ensure that there will be the harmony and unity of nature.
 

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All the Yadnya are performed as part of the belief called Panca Srada (Panca : five, Srada : faith, belief). These five are: (1) The Supreme Being, (2) The Atman (soul). (3) The judgement of Karina Pala, the law of cause and effect (you reap what you sow), (4) The Samsara (reincarnation). (5) The Moksa (unity with God.)

It is from these beliefs that so many of our religious artifacts are created. They are sacred, and through holy ceremonies their sanctity is perpetuated. They include statues, shrines, masks, and other symbols and are placed in holy sites or buildings. They are the bridge to communicate our prayers to God.

The Khayangan are the places where these sacred artifacts are kept and they are considered as Holy Ground for the performing of prayers and religious ceremonies. The type and name, as well as the date of the anniversary (every 210 days) of each Kahyangan depend on the function of the Kahyangan as well as the history and legends associated kith it.

For example: Sanggah/Merajan: a holy place or household temple which is built in every family compound. Sanggah Gede/Merajan Agung : larger than the Sanggah, it is used for ceremonies by more than one family with common ancestors. Pura Nataran : (Pura = temple) larger still than the Merajan Agung, it is used for ceremonies by larger lineages with common ancestors. Pura Melanting : a temple built near the market place for the merchants to perform their Yadnya. Pura Dugul : a temple built near the fields to enable farmers, members of the Subak (irrigation society), to pay homage to God.

1) Pura Desa: The temple to worship Brahma (God as Creator). 2) Pura Puseh: The temple to worship Wisnu (God as Preserver). 3) Pura Dalem: The temple to worship Siwa (God as Destroyer)

Responsibility for the Kahyangan Tiga lies with Desa, the community consisting of the families who live in the village and believe in the Hindu Dharma.

There are also larger Kahyangan called Sad Kahyangan or Dang Kahyangan at which any one may worship, for example, Pura Besakih, Pura Uluwatu, Pura Batur and others.

Every Kahyangan is a holy and sanctified place and it is expected that anyone who enters there will respect and preserve its holiness.

Susila - Moral Behaviour
First and foremost, the ceremonies which take place in any village in Ball are for the wellbeing of the people of that community. Each village has its own customs (Adat) and regulations which have been passed down from the ancestors and which are determined by Desa (place'), Kala, (time) and Patra (situation/condition).

During a ceremony, it is important to feel as one with the people of the community and be prepared to cooperate with them. Some points of conduct must be followed before even entering the Pura / Kahyangan where a ceremony is taking place. You will not be welcome if you are not prepared to observe these guidelines listed below. without observing these guidelines your conduct will be harmful to both yourself and the community.

The three major temples present in every village are the Kahyangan Tiga:
1) Pura Desa: The temple to worship Brahma (God as Creator).
2) Pura Puseh: The temple to worship Wisnu (God as Preserver).
3) Pura Dalem: The temple to worship Siwa (God as Destroyer)

Responsibility for the Kahyangan Tiga lies with Desa, the community consisting of the families who live in the village and believe in the Hindu Dharma.

There are also larger Kahyangan called Sad Kahyangan or Dang Kahyangan at which any one may worship, for example, Pura Besakih, Pura Uluwatu, Pura Batur and others.

General Behaviour
It is essential to remember that a ceremony is not a spectacle put on for the benefit of the visitor but an important event in the life of the community. Therefore

a. Stay in the background
b. Don't push people around
c. Don't stand in the paths or entrances
d. Don't talk too loudly
e. Don't sit on any part of the buildings of the inner temple
f. Don't wander about when the community is praying

In short, behave as you would expect outsiders to behave during special occasions in your own society.

Other Ceremonies / Yadnya
Observe the same rules for other ceremonies such as tooth filings, weddings and cremations as you do for temple ceremonies. They are private restricted to formally invited guests, friends and the local community. Respect the private nature of these ceremonies and do not enter unless you have been formally invited or been given explicit permission to enter by the person who is responsible.

Ceremonies on Public Ground
Almost any ceremony involves some activity taking place on public ground such as the street or graveyard. For example, temple to temple processions (Mepeed), processions to collect holy water from a spring (Mekiyis) or the sea (Melasti), and the carrying of the cremation tower to the cremation ground (Ngaben). To the participants, these activities are as much a part of the ceremony as the proceedings inside the temple compound. Respect all of these aspects with a pure heart and an open mind. Don't get in the way, don't follow them and refrain from watching them. Once they arrive at their destination, they again become part of a private ceremony, so don't follow them inside unless specifically invited or properly dressed. Again, follow the general rules of proper behaviour.

Lastly, please do not climb on any part of the buildings where a ceremony is taking place. It is tempting to do so in order to get a better photo, but it is disrespectful and disturbs the harmony of the occasion.

You, the visitor, and we, the Balinese participants, will enjoy our ceremonies in greater harmony if you follow these simple rules.

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