Making A Sacred Mask

In Bali, a sacred mask serves as a protector of a village. Balinese believe that it protects all its followers as long as the deity that resides in the mask is constantly appeased with rituals and devotions. When a temple priest has a vision instructing the worshippers to acquire a sacred mask in which the deity of the temple can reside, the priest and worshippers will summon a consecrated mask maker to create a sacred mask in which the protective deity will reside. Only a few carvers in this island are qualified to carve a sacred mask. Only a member of high caste are allowed to initiate the carving of sacred mask, and difficulty of forming the mask further limits the eligible.

The process of making a sacred mask begins with choosing a propitious day to cut the sacred wood for the material of the mask from a sacred tree. The choice of the tree from which the sacred wood is secured is also extremely important. The sacred trees which are considered fit as sacred mask material are Pule (alstonia scholaris), Waru Taluh, Kepah, and Kepuh Rangdu. Most mask makers prefer Pule (white cheesewood, milky pine, or milkwood) while for the sacred mask Kepuh is considered superior since Banaspati Raja (guardian of the trees) resides in this tree. Both Kepuh and Pule are strong but not thick, which facilitates the carving process, and are light in color, which makes them simple to paint.

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