Omen for Balinese is an important thing and it can be a serious problem if it occurs inside a house compound. For Balinese an ill omen if it occurs inside a house compound, it signifies that the house compound is “hot”. A “hot” house compound in Balinese point of view is not fit for living since it will bring misfortune for its inhabitants, make them ill, confuse, short tempered, quarrel with no apparent reason, and have short life span.

Omen that occurs in a house compound that signifies the “hot” condition of the house compound is usually in the form of the birth of strange animal for example a cat with three eyes, a dog with two tails, etc; the appearance of strange plant such as coconut with two or three branches; bees or wasps make a nest inside the house; snakes come out of nowhere inside the house compound; blood come out of nowhere, thousands of worms come out of nowhere in the house compound or big fungus growth on the wall of the house.

Accident, death, or fight that cause blood to be shed on the ground is considered an ill omen that signifies a “hot” house compound. Accidents that can be classified as an ill omen are as follow: a tree falls down on the house or family temple with no apparent reason; a house, a kitchen or family temple falls down; someone runs amuck into the house compound or some injured himself badly until blood shed to the ground.

(more…)

Building a Balinese traditional house or structure is not a simple matter, not just simply taking natural materials – wood, grass, and stone – and shaping them to fit human needs. Instead, it seeks balance and propriety, in a Hindu sense, between the occupant and the structure, and structure and cosmos.

Man’s body is considered in Hindu thought to be a microcosm or miniature of the universe at large. It is only natural, therefore, that the Balinese should regard their house compounds as extension of same concept of balance between body and environment.

There is a set of traditional rules known as Asta Kosala Kosali that have to be observed in building a Balinese traditional structure. A Balinese traditional structure that is built in accordance with The Asta Kosala Kosali will express a harmony between human body and environment.

(more…)