Out of more than 20,000 thousand temples in Bali, Pura Dalem Jawa in Bunutin village, in Bangli regency has its unique characteristic that cannot be found in any other temples in Bali. Not just Hindu devotees pay homage in this temple but also Muslim which happen to live or on vacation in Bali.

This temple is situated on the outskirt of Bangli’s capital town. A yellow sign on the side of the road will give you the direction to the temple. Pura Dalem Jawa is surrounded by a pond filled with water lilies and colorful fish. Seeing from outside the temple, this temple is just like any other temple in Bali but if we step our feet on the inner courtyard of the temple, we can find a unique structure which differentiate this temple from the rest of the temples in Bali. This structure is a shrine in form of a langgar (a small version of mosque). This structure is not function as a mosque but as matter of fact a Hindu shrine in form of Muslim praying place.

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Here is a good articles on wedding by Balinese high priest Sri Bhagawan Dwija Warsa Nawa Sandi from Buleleng regency, without further ado here is the words of Bhagawan Dwija

THE WEDDING IN HINDU (BALINESE) RELIGION

By : Bhagawan Dwija

Om Swastiastu,

The “Weda” says that marriage in Hindu is a holly act. There are two main reasons; firstly, God bless man and woman to love each other as what “Dewa Smara” (similar with Adam) and “Dewi Ratih” (similar with Eve) done in the beginning; secondly, human have to allow their ancestor come to reincarnation through the couple so that the soul be able to reform live in the next born. Reform to a better and holly live exactly important for every soul than through reincarnation that rolling times to times they hope at one time can be in one with God. That is make children is a need in Balinese couple.

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On June 28th, at 10.00 in the morning Art Center was filled with visitors. Men-women, young-old, and native-foreigners seemed never want to blink their eyes as if they did not want to miss a thing from this show. They were hypnotized. Wherever the show went then those people would follow it as if they were the part of this show.

Bali Art Festival does not just present Balinese handmade goods or Balinese culinary heritage but also performances that begin to be neglected. One of them is Nglawang. This show had been presented twice to re-popularize it to the people, especially to the Balinese children.

Nglawang actually is a Balinese tradition aiming to ward a village from disasters. This tradition is similar to Pangrebongan which is held in Kesiman village (see the article). Nglawang is usually held after Kuningan day in several villages in Bali but it becomes rare ritual to be held in the town nowadays.

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Here is another good articles on climate change by Balinese high priest Sri Bhagawan Dwija Warsa Nawa Sandi from Buleleng regency who has great concern on environment and climate change without further ado here is the words of Bhagawan Dwija.

TRIHITAKARANA for UNFCCC

The relevancy to the world climate change anticipation
By : Bhagawan Dwija

Introduction
Mpu Kuturan who came to Bali at 11 AD by request of King Udayana and Gunapriadharmapatni, not only succeed to unite various existing Hinduism sects at that time under Trimurti belief system, but also have placed social religious life foundation in the form of Desa Pakraman. Desa Pakraman as Hindu-Bali community, is developed with Trimurti belief where God with his manifestation as Brahma, Siwa, and Wisnu are placed at Pura Desa for Brahma, Pura Dalem for Siwa, and Pura Segara or Pura Puseh for Wisnu. These three Puras, known as Trikahyangan. Based on that, concept of Trihitakarana also developed, with human as central or determinant for kindliness and prosperity. Trihitakarana means three things needed to make kindliness and prosperity happen, i.e Parhyangan (well-balanced and harmonious relation between human with God); Pawongan (well-balanced and harmonious relation between human with each others); and Palemahan (well-balanced and harmonious relation between human with environment).

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Once upon a time, there was a region named Daha. When Daha was ruled by King Sri Aji Airlangga the region was remained safe and the people were prosperous. On his power, none of thieves had enough bravery to practice their occupation in Daha. And people lived peacefuly. Unlike Girah, one of villages in Daha, was remained unorganized. This was because a widow named Rangdeng Girah, Rangda (the word “rangda” means “widow” in Bali this word is associated with witch and evil) from Girah village, lived there. She had a daughter; named Diah Ratna Manggali who rumored of having a beauty of an angel.

Rangdeng Girah wished her lovely daughter to get marriage soon. But no one have enough guts to marry Diah because Rangdeng Girah was known as a witch who had a great power to harm everyone. Therefore Rangdeng was very angry. One night, she went to graveyard named Gandamayu, followed by her adherents, Ni Larung, Ni Guyang, Ni Lenda, Ni Lendi, Ni Weksirsa, and Ni Mahisawedana. In the midnight, she tranced and asked her adherents to dance. On that moment she put a curse to every one in Girah Village .

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If you happen to be in Bali today, you will have a chance to see cars, motorcycles and bicycles all over the island are adorned with beautiful coconut-leaf decorations. Today, Balinese celebrate Tumpek Landep holiday; a holiday in which Balinese hold a ceremony as a homage to god Pasupati, the lord of steel implements and to express their gratitude to all steel implements which help Balinese in their everyday live.

In the bygone days, Tumpek Landep ceremony was only dedicated to weapons which made of steel such as Kris daggers, spears, swords and so on, especially the weapons that has been “pasupati-ed”, or invested with magical power. Actually, the word ‘landep’ is a high Balinese dialect means ‘sharp’ and usually associated with weapon.

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