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Through the Eyes of Balinese High Priest:Trihitakarana for UNFCCC

Friday, June 27th, 2008 by Sidarta Wijaya

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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A Little Mountain of Rice called Tumpeng

Thursday, May 29th, 2008 by Rina-Editor

In the paradise island of Bali, when it comes to offering (banten) for the ceremony the Balinese women holds the sway. Balinese women prepare all the offerings (banten) that is needed for the ceremony. If you look at glance you can see that the stuffs called banten consists of various parts and hard to remember all in a few minutes. Each stuff has its own role and function. Sometimes if banten is not complete then traditional ceremony can not be held. There is a stuff named tumpeng which is need in several ceremonies.

Tumpeng

Tumpeng is made from rice. Balinese women usually form the rice with their hands and with help of shaper. This shaper is usually created by their hands using coconut leaves. Its shape like cone then obviously rice which is put into it will have the same form and Balinese call it tumpeng. In order to produce tight and firm tumpeng Balinese women should press the rice to the cone using their thumb. Their thumb will be tired when they have to make 100 until 300 tumpeng in each Galungan and Kuningan day.

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Photo News: Penjor

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008 by ablteam

If you pass by Jalan Raya Kapal, You will easily find a nice-decorative bamboo pole (Penjor). According Mr. Sunada, he always makes every Galungan different type of unusual Penjor. This time looks like God of Wisnu with bird of Garuda and Dragon.

penjor on galungan day

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Frog Dance

Thursday, December 6th, 2007 by Sidarta Wijaya

Animals, their behaviors and movements are the source of inspiration for many Balinese choreographers to create new Balinese contemporary dances and one of the most successful contemporary dances that depict the behavior and movement of animal is the Godogan (frog) dance. This contemporary dance is the brainchild of dance maestro I Made Jimat, which was established in 1967. This dance depicts the movements and behavior of a frog, and reenacts a Balinese version of the familiar fairy tale about the princess who marries a frog.

The Story of the Godogan dance can be summed up as follow, a prince of Jenggala who was fond of catching dragonflies disappeared in a dense forest near an erupting volcano. A few years later a frog emerged which was believed to be the reincarnation of the lost prince. One day the prince-frog encountered a beautiful princess of Daha; he fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. Unable to fulfill this dream the frog committed itself to ascetic life, but by the blessing of the great God Wisnu, he was turned back into a handsome young man, the lost prince of Jenggala.

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The Most Dangerous Time

Thursday, November 29th, 2007 by Sidarta Wijaya

Dusk for Balinese is considered the most dangerous time during the whole day especially around 6 or 7 PM. These hours are known as Sandhi Kala. The word “sandhi” means “secret” and the word “kala” means ‘time”; so “sandhi kala” means “a time full of secret”. Full of unknown things that cannot be seen or felt by common sense.

This time is believed to be the transition between day and night, the time when nocturnal spirits, bhuta kala, and other supernatural creatures come from their hiding place and enjoying their time since the night is believed to be the time for nocturnal creatures to do all their activities. It is believed that the spirits and bhuta kala are in high spirit during the sandi kala, in a magically dangerous day such as Kajeng Kliwon (Friday the 13th a la Balinese), a set of segehan offering is given to the Bhuta Kala during this time and since it is believed that the bhuta kala can only move in straight line and can not turn sharply to left or right there is a great chance for a human wander around during the sandhi kala to collide with the bhuta kala.

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On Eclipse

Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 by Sidarta Wijaya

Every civilization on the face of earth developed its own tale on the cause of eclipse and Balinese has its own version on the cause of the eclipse, and developed a unique practice during an eclipse, though nowadays it is seldom practiced.

Kala Rahu eating the sun, causing solar aclipse
Kala Rahu swallowing the sun. Image taken from Bali Sekala Niskala Vol. 1, Fred B. Eiseman, Jr., page 66.

Balinese version of lunar and solar eclipse is taken from a famous section of Mahabharata epic that describes the join effort of gods and demons in churning the sea of milk in order to obtain the elixir of life (tirtha amertha), a holy water that can grant immortality. Using the huge mountain Mandara Giri as the mixer, the gods and demons churned the sea of milk, after truly epic labors, the tirtha amertha was produced on the side of demons. The demons brought the elixir to their base. The god Wisnu, the protector, disguised as a very beautiful girl deceived the demons and stole the tirtha amertha, before they got any chance to drink it. One of the demons, named Kala Rahu, changed his shape and infiltrated into the gods base to drink the holy water.

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