An introduction to traditional Bali

-
The population of Indonesian islands is predominantly Muslim (about 90%). The island of Bali is an exception where 83% of its people identify as Hindu

As a Hindu, one of the first things i noticed was a small, square containers made from coconut leaves containing colorful flowers,a pinch of rice (or substituted by snacks made of rice), traditional herbs, and small portions of food they have in the house on every street, building, and entrance. Those are offerings are made by Balinese people for the gods as a form of their gratitude.
The offering is called canang or canang sari. It is a part of Balinese Hinduism ritual for daily prayers, usually in the early morning or dusk.

Balinese house is built within a compound surrounded by walls of whitewashed mud or brick, depending on the wealth of the owner.A Balinese house compound contains multiple pavilions( rooms/spaces),Pavilions are usually wall-less. They are built over a low plinth. The pavilions are topped with clay pantiles or thatched roof, which is supported by a timber or bamboo frame. Each house has the family shrine area  known as the pamerajan.The pamerajan contains several shrines dedicated to the ancestor of the family as well as several gods of the Balinese Hindu pantheon.Each family line, the Balinese say, was founded by a distinct god, which helps explain why there are so many temples

Balinese temple or pura (Sanskrit for:"walled city") are designed as an open air place of worship within enclosed walls, connected with a series of intricately decorated gates between its compounds. This walled compounds contains several shrines, meru (towers), and bale (pavilions).The Balinese believe that deities are symbols of forces. Of particularly importance to Balinese are the Hindu God Wisnut and the mythical bird Garuda. Arjuna, is another important Hindu god to the Balinese. The Balinese traditionally believed that their gods were defied human beings. Ancestors are said to present in the spiritual world and worldly world and no one knows for sure exactly when they descended to earth and when ancestors are gods. Balinese Hinduism makes no real distinction between the living and dead.

There are several types of ‘Pura’, each serving different functions.
Pura kahyangan jagad (celestial universe) are built upon hillsides or volcanos, near the gods. The most important one of these is the Mother Temple of Besakih on Mount Agung.
Pura segara (ocean) are located by the sea to appease bad spirits. Pura Tanah Lot, Pura Batu Bolong and Pura Uluwatu are great examples.
Pura desa (village) are local temples, modest but popular, intended for everyday prayer and offerings.
Pura tirta (water) are freshwater temples. Many have sacred bathing pools for purification ceremonies. Beautiful examples are Pura Ulun Danu, Pura Taman Ayun, Pura Tirta Empul and Pura Tirta Gangga.
https://sailingstonetravel.com/an-introduction-to-balinese-temples/

Indigenous beliefs, such as animism and the famous ancestor worship, are the backbone of Balinese thinking. Spirits and ancestors are feted with offerings and housed in shrines or natural elements..Although the main Hindu gods are worshiped, equal attention is paid to local, agricultural, and ancestral deities. For the Balinese, reincarnation is a practical business: a return to this world is guaranteed. For someone practicing Indian Hinduism, Balinese Hinduism practices will come as a surprise and could be difficult to accept.

My introduction to Balinese Hinduism was through Taman Ayun temple located in Mengwi Village.Taman Ayun is one of five sites jointly listed as part of the Bali Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site. It is also one of six surviving royal temples on the island, dating back to the 17th century. Highlights include a huge cockfighting pavilion, an ornate watchtower, a beautiful moat and numerous multi-tiered shrines known as meru. The subak (a cooperative water management system of canals and weirs) reflects the philosophical concept of Tri Hita Karana, which brings together the realms of the spirit, the human world and nature.

What caught my attention was that complex houses  the Royal family ancestral shrines and the Meru shrines to the major deities and that was something we don't come across in India. Bot there is more to Bali than this culture.
https://www.tripsavvy.com/bali-culture-101-1629107













July 2018
Bali, Indonesia

The Travel Connection:  Religion
Tip :  More to Bali than Beaches
https://au.hotels.com/go/indonesia/bali-must-see-temples
Location: Jl. Ayodya No.10, Mengwi, Kec. Mengwi, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80351, Indonesia

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Destination Aihole

-
Image
The cradle of Hindu temple architecture, Aihole or Aryapura was the destination to learn and experiment on the temple architecture. Under the patronage of early Chalukyan kings, the Chalukyan style of temple architecture was refined here between  the 5th and 8th century.  The preview of Aihole given to us by the guide at Pattadakal was enough to excite me about visiting the ancient school of architecture, You wonder if you have arrived at Aihole as the narrow lanes leads you into the chaos of a village life but the complex of ancient structures in various states of disintegration  make you think you have time traveled. The proximity of the timeworn stone monuments and the present day village dwellings raised a lot of questions. The encroachment of these temples was even more intriguing. Be it the cattle housed in these structures, smoke bellowing out or the colorful clothes drying on a line between intricate carved column, all of it just amazed me. When we arrived a...
Read more

Citadel Acropolis Of Athens

-
Image
Faded reminiscent of a lavish bygone era, Acropolis is a collection of multiple monuments. The current state is due to foreign occupation, pilfering of foreign archaeologist, inept renovations and of course nature's fury. Along with these factor,the indifferent visitor who do not respect the history have made it worse. Does this  remind you of multiple monuments across India. History repeats itself no matter the location. A short climb up the flat rock outcrop and one reaches the propylaea. It is the gateway to the cradle of history. Phidias was the lead architect. The first sight of Doric columns from a distance, the most easiest to sketch was underwhelmed by the crowds. But as we got closer to the gateway, the temple of Athena Nike with ionic columns and the scale of the Doric columns gave us the first preview of what can be expected inside the citadel of acropolis. Stairs Leading to western facade of Propylaea The reconstructed Temple of Athena Nike in tetr...
Read more

Destination Punakha Dzong

-
Image
If I had to choose my favorite structure, It would be the bridges without any hesitation. Bhutan renewed my fascination for bridges with their traditional cantilever bridge called the Bazam. Tintin's knowledge about architecture was limited. My questions on the location of  the toilets, kitchens inside the Dzong  or how the water supply/ drainage worked  and other queries must have driven him mad or made him think that the mountain air had made me go bonkers. So my hopes of understanding the bridge through Tintin was futile. Punakha Dzong is undoubtedly one of the most elegant structures in Bhutan.  To get to the main building , one has to cross Mo chhu through one of the most beautiful bridges I have come across so far. Most buildings in Bhutan are a replica of their ancient self. Due to natural calamities or fire, almost all the prominent sites in Bhutan have been rebuilt in the recent years. The Punakha bridge is no different. You can read more about i...
Read more