Bali A Well Flavored History and Culture - Duryeaduryea.org/cruise/io/destination/Bali - A Well Flavored...A Well Flavored History and Culture Ceremonies • Aside from major rituals,

Bali A Well Flavored History and Culture

Dr Tom Duryea Copyright © 2016

A Well Flavored History and Culture

Prehistorical Animist Beliefs • Tortoise from Creation Story (Bulge in the Milky Way)

• Tortoise from Temple of Death

• Lower Shell – Earth

• Body – Atmosphere

• Top Shell - Heaven


Prehistorical Animist Beliefs • Moon of Pejeng (Brass Kettle Drum)

• Wheel from Chariot that was used to pull the real Moon across the Sky

• Wheel fell off the Chariot and landed in a Tree and Glowed

• Thief Urinated on it, Lost its Glow, Thief lost his Life

• Relic of Early Rice Cultivation Ritual (300 BC)


Prehistorical Animist Beliefs • Acintya Sang Hyang – either benevolent or malevolent

• Unseen Spiritual Entity with Supernatural Power (Ancestor)

• Can Only Move in Straight Lines


Balinese Hinduism • Amalgam where gods and demigods worshipped together with Buddhist heroes,

spirits of ancestors, indigenous agricultural deities and sacred places

• Influenced by Indian (Hindu) & Chinese (Buddhist) Culture

• Dewi Sri – Rice Goddess (consort of Vishnu) • Special Day each Month


Balinese Hinduism • Balinese societies believe that a great force aides them in achieving good harvests

• Dewa Wishnu (Vishnu) – Water married Sang Hyang Pertiwi (Mother Earth)

• Prosperity achieved once two elements are combined • Earth/Water – Man/Woman

• Balinese always use symbols to express their Spiritual Dedications (1,000 Temples)


Balinese Hinduism • Replaced Buddhism brought by the Chinese (5th Century)

• Dharma (order) & Adharma (disorder)

• Seek Balance and Harmony


Balinese Hinduism • Pura Taman Saraswati – Lotus Pond Temple

• In Honor of Dewi Saraswati, the goddess of Wisdom and the Arts


Balinese Hinduism • Tirta Empul Temple Waters – Healing Properties

• Created by the god Indra to Create a Fountain of Immortality

• Worshippers make an Offering at the Temple, then Descend into the main Pool to Bathe and Pray


Balinese Hinduism • Ulun Danu Temple at Bratan Lake

• Dedicated to the goddess of Lakes and Rivers – Dewi Danu

• Pelinggih Meru (Pagoda) dedicated for Shiva and his consort Parvathi

• Buddha statue inside


Balinese Hinduism • Tanah Lot Temple

• The land in the Middle of the sea

• For Worshipping the sea gods including Dewa Baruna

• Venomous Sea Snakes are believed to Guard the Temple from Evil Spirits


Balinese Hinduism • Taman Ayun Temple (Mengwi Empire’s Royal temple)

• Means “Beautiful garden”


Balinese Hinduism • Ganesha Manjangan Temple

• Son of Shiva


Balinese Hinduism • Limestone Crocodiles and Dragons – Pura Gede Perancak Temple

• One of Seven Sea Temples

• Reflects Animism


Balinese Hinduism • Pulaki Pura

• Water & Dragons


Balinese Hinduism • Penataran Temple

• Yellow & Orange Silk Banners and Covers


Balinese Hinduism • Pura Gere Perancak

• Crocodiles


Balinese Hinduism • Water & Dragons

• Guardian Lions (Foo Dogs) Shishi


Balinese Hinduism • Mother Temple – Besakih • Dedicated to the dragon god Besakih who inhabits the sacred mountain (before 1000 AD) • Kiungkung Dynasty rulers built several small temples to honor their deified kin (15th Century)


Bali Dance • Barong (Lion) Dance

• Depicts His Struggles in Life • Defeat Evil in the End


Bali Dance • Baris Tunggal – Warrior

• Steady & Careful

• Self Assurance

• Passions of a Quick-tempered Warrior


Bali Dance

• Cendrawasih

• Mating Ritual

• Male & Female Bird of Paradise


Bali Dance • Condong

• Opening for a Legong Dance • Usually a Young Girl • Story of 2 Nymphs


Bali Dance • Legong Dance

• Voluntary Possession of two little girls by Beneficent Spirits • Heroic Romances


Bali Dance • Kecak (Ketjak) Dance

• Circle of 150 Performers • Depicts the Hindu epic, “Ramayana,” that tells the story of Prince Rama, who with the help of the monkey-

like Vanara defeats the evil King Ravana to rescue his Princess Sita


Ceremonies • Gedong-gedongan

• 8th month of Pregnancy for an Easy birth

• The pregnant woman and her husband wade into the river, where eels and small fish are placed face down on her protruding belly to show the baby the right way out!


Ceremonies • Tooth Filing

• Balinese Teens get the top middle teeth filed

• Symbolizes the Filing away of Greed, Anger, Lust, Drunkenness, Envy and Confusion


Ceremonies • Cremation Ceremony

• Frees the Spirit from the Body for Reincarnation


• 12 main Ceremonies • Gedong-gedongan • Birth • Three Days after birth • Rorasin: 12 days after birth • 42-day ceremony • Three month ceremony • Odalan or six months (210 days) ceremony (every 6 months) • Three odalans • Menek kelih or puberty • Tooth filing • Wedding • Death


Ceremonies • Aside from major rituals, there are also honor days which occur every 35 days and are made for

• Anything out of metal: daggers, knives, gamelan instruments and now cars and the like

• Any fruiting trees

• Any domesticated animals, such as pigs, cows, chickens, goats.

• Shadow puppets and dance paraphenelia

• Literature (Goddess Saraswati)

• Kuningan : the end of the l0 day cycle of Galungan

Bali A Well Flavored History and Culture

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Bali A Well Flavored History and Culture - Duryeaduryea.org/cruise/io/destination/Bali - A Well Flavored...A Well Flavored History and Culture Ceremonies • Aside from major rituals,