In every part of their daily life Balinese deal not just with the mortal but also with the inhabitants of supernatural realm which in the eye of the visitors always complicate even a very simple activity of a Balinese. The inhabitants of supernatural realm range from deified ancestors to evil spirit, from gods to demons have always to be taken into consideration on every activity of a Balinese, since Balinese believe they contribute a great deal to the success and failure of an activity.

Prior to every important ceremony, a matur piuning (informing) ceremony is hold to inform the inhabitants of supernatural realm that an important ceremony will take place and ask for their support. When a Balinese want to build a house, the spirits which dwell on the spot where the house is going to be build have to be informed about the project and have to be appeased with a certain offering.

Though all inhabitants of the supernatural world affect the life of a Balinese in one way or another but the spirits of ancestors or deified ancestors give the most significant effect. Like the living member of the family the ancestors’ spirit have to be consulted when making an important decision or holding a great ceremony, sometimes their words are laws that Balinese are reluctance to break since it can incite divine rage which always end up with misfortunes and sicknesses. When there is a serious problem or sickness in the family, the living members of the family will seek help from a Balian Taksu (Shaman) to enable them to communicate with the spirits of their ancestors, asking for solution of the problem or remedy for the sickness.

(more…)

Divine rage is a belief in which deities and ancestors may punish one for one’s actions, especially in relation with religious ethic or ritual such as failure to perform a cremation, failure to fulfill a promise to the deities, forgetting a particular offering, entering temple while one is in spiritually unclean state, etc. The punishment does not take the form of a judgment in the afterworld, but in the form of illness, misfortune or death.

This idea divine rage (kaduken, or kasalahang) is still feared by most of Balinese. It is provides an effective social and moral controlling device which ensures the obedience of the Balinese to religious ethic and sometimes contribute to the continuity of the performance of the religious ritual and at the end fear of divine rage support directly to the preservation of Balinese culture though in uncomfortable way.

(more…)

Gods and goddesses in Balinese culture is not immune to the emotions, they can be happy sad or in rage, that is why Balinese strive in many ways to please them. Beautiful offerings, sacred ceremonies, delicate gamelan music, superb dances performance, and sweet singer voice when reciting ancient romances (kakawin) are just small parts of Balinese efforts to please the gods and goddesses.

(more…)