Bali Culture - Goa Gajah

Goa Gajah or Elephant Cave is located in the southwest of Bedulu village, next to Yeh Pulu relief, 6 km from Ubud. Known only to local villagers and the bats during centuries of neglect, the cave was revealed to the public in 1954 during archeological investigations done by Mr. Krijgsman. It had became filled in and a temple built upon it, which had to be moved to its present site. The spring and pond there have given the temple its name Pura Taman.

Carved into the stone above the cave entrance is a massive face with bugling eyes and high arched eyebrows. The eyes glance toward the west or the left as you face the cave. The ear ornaments do not necessarily indicate a female face, for male royalty also wore such ornaments. This figure represents Boma (sometimes also called Kala or Sanskrit: Kittimukha), and it is probably earliest  representation of this figure in Bali. Acording to Balinese texts (lontar), Boma is the son of the Wishnu and the goddess Basundari or Ibu (mother) pertiwi. Boma may be linked to the child of water and earth, for wisnu is the god of waters and Parwati is the goddess of the soil or mother earth.

Read More »

Bali Culture - Yeh Pulu Relief

Relief Yeh Pulu was discovered by the army commander of the kingdom of Ubud for the first time in 1925. It is one of the classic monuments from the 14 AD century. The research about this monument was published by DR. W.F Sutterheim, the head of the Dutch Archeological Department in 1929.

The name of Yeh Pulu is derived from an image of a bowl where the water comes out in one part of the relief. Yeh means water and Pulu means large a earthenware bowl used for water. The relief is carved 24 meters by 2 meters along a steeply sloped riverbank. The daily activity of people during that time is perpetuated through this beautiful relief. Beside the relief itself, there are several niches that are used by the king of Bedahulu village for meditation.

Relief Yeh Pulu is located in Bedulu village, next to Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave), 7 km from Ubud. To get there you can ride a bicycle or go by bemo

Read More »

Bali Culture - Odalan

Bali is know as an island with a thousand temple. It is easy to find a temple ceremonies is called odalan. Odalan is a celebration of the first day when the temple was built. Some odalan ceremonies are short, lasting from 1 to 3 days only, religious ritual is finished, odalan becomes more a social occasion, with dance, music, drama, comedy, and shadow puppet plays.

Since Bali has its calendar system for religious puposes, which cycle 210 days, and each temple celebrates their odalan every 2010 days, it's no wonder that it's possible for one to see an odalan ceremony every day somewhere around Bali.

Read More »

Bali Culture - Barong Ngelawang

During celebration of Galungan & Kuningan holy day, there is unique tradition that you will see in Ubud area. It's called Barong Ngelawang. A group of people performs a barong dance on the street, going from one house to another.

These are 2 kinds of barongs they use. The scared barong from the temple is used by the group of men and the barong-barongan (toy barong) is used by the group of kids. Barong-barongan goes from one village to another village and they receive money from the villagers for their performances.

Barong Ngelawang is a ritual tradition. It was used by the farmer to chase plant diseases away. Today, many restaurant/shop owners invite Barong Ngelawang to perform in front of their places. By doing this, they believe they will get more customers in the future.

Read More »

Bali Culture - Mepatung and Ngelawar

In the coolness of the night before the dawn breaks, the Hindus in Bali are simultaneously slaughtering pigs with in their own small group. This activity is called mepatung. A pig of some 100 kg in weight may be purchased by six to eight people. By doing it this way, they can save money as they obtain cheaper pork compared to the retail price at the market or supermarket.

In addition, they will get complete parts like flesh, innards, ribs and so forth. From a distance, the hitting sounds of the chopping board can be heard one after another. People call this activity ngelawar or making lawar,  a delicacy consisting of minced meat, vegetables (young coconut shells, jackfruit, string beans, papaya or others) and seasoned with many Balinese spices.

However, they do not only make lawar on this special day but more than that, they also make some other traditional Balinese delicacies like tum or minced by steaming; twisted satay, komoh (soup), crispy skin cracker and so on. Unique atmospheres such as this can be seen one day before the celebration of Galungan.

On this day, people throughly focus on the preparation of food intended to fill in the oblation (religious ceremony), consumption and served to relatives. Pertaining to the latter, they at all times will continue the heritage traditional of ngejot, namely exchanging some delicacies with their nearby neigbours and family. Apart from 'cross tasting' the food, it is also meant to maintain the social relationship with others. Both men and women are remarkably busy on this day. Women do activities concerning with the oblation, while men, after this 'special kitchen work', set up shrine paraphernalia, penjor of bamboo poles and some others. Right on the Galungan day, all of the family members pay homage to village, clan and family temples. 

Read More »

Bali Culture - Penampahan Galungan

Balinese people will kill one or several domestic animals as special offerings. Which are meant to get rid of negativity in both the bhuana agung (the environment of the individual human being). The meat is afterwards prepared and cooked for traditional Balinese dishes such as lawar, babi guling, and satay.

In the afternoon of Penampahan Galungan people install the penjor in front of their house compunds tall,  decorated bamboo poles that are curved at the top.

These penjor are a type of offering with which people express their gratitude for the prosperity of the earth that is bestowed on them. The bow og the penjor symbolize the holy mount Agung, the tall bamboo the rivers that run down from the mountains to the sea, and the decorations of fruits and plants are symbolic for the crops that can grow where the river (sysmbol for water) passes the farm lands on its way to the sea.

Read More »

Lahirnya Sri Rama/Ramawijaya

Prabu Dasarata mempunyai tiga orang permaisuri yaitu Kausalya, Kaikayi, dan Sumitra. Kausalya berputra Ramawijaya, Kaikayi berputra Barata, dan Sumitra berputra kembar, yaitu Laksamana dan Satrugna. Sifat dan watak para putra itupun amat terpuji. Mereka adalah satria yang berbudi luhur. Mereka amat mencintai rakyatnya sehingga rakyatnya pun amat berbakti. Ramawijaya adalah seorang satria yang pandai berperang. Walaupun sikapnya lemah-lembut, tetapi ia tangkas menggunakan senjata, terutama panah. Ia rajin berlatih menggunakan panah sehingga tak ada satria lain yang mampu mengalahkan kepandaiannya dalam memanah. Busur yang seberapapun besarnya dapat dilengkungkan olehnya, dan sasaran yang betapapun jauhnya selalu terbidik dengan tepat. Bala tentara Ayodya pun amat besar dan kuat serta memiliki pasukan berkuda yang tangguh. Gajah-gajah pun digunakan untuk berperang. Syahdan, datanglah seorang pendeta mengunjungi istana Ayodya. Ia bernama Bagawan Wiswamitra. Karena Prabu Dasarata sangat menghargai kehidupan beragama maka kedatangan Bagawan Wiswamitra disambut dengan segala kehormatan.

Read More »

Negeri Ayodya

Negeri Ayodya adalah sebuah negeri yang memiliki wilayah yang luas dan subur. Rajanya bernama Dasarata. Ia memerintah kerajaan tersebut dengan adil dan bijaksana sehingga kehidupan rakyatnya menjadi aman dan damai. Raja Dasarata memiliki watak kepanditaan pula. Ia amat menjunjung ajaran-ajaran tentang kebenaran. Karenanya rakyat Ayodya amat mencintai rajanya. Rakyat Ayodya hidup tolong- menolong dan bergotong-royong. Mereka bekerja giat dan selalu patuh terhadap undang-undang Negeri Ayodya. 

Read More »

Lahirnya Rahwana

Tersebutlah Prabu Danaraja yang memerintah Negeri Lokapala. Ia ingin mempersunting puteri Negeri Langkapura, Dewi Sukesi, yang sedang disayembarakan. Agar niatnya berhasil, Sang Prabu memohon bantuan ayahnya, Bagawan Wisrawa, menjadi wakil dalam sayembara itu. Konon Bagawan Wisrawa adalah seorang pendeta yang amat sakti. Maka berangkatlah Sang Bagawan ke Langkapura. Bagawan Wisrawapun berhasil memenangkan sayembara tersebut. Tapi ia berubah pikiran. Ia sendiri berhasrat memperistri Dewi Sukesi dan lupa akan puteranya sendiri. Maka kawinlah Sang Bagawan dengan puteri Langkapura itu. Dari perkawinan itu lahirlah putera sulung, Rahwana atau Dasamuka. Tubuhnya gagah perkasa tapi berwajah raksasa dan berwatak angkara murka. Putera kedua yang diberi nama Kumbakarna berwajah raksasa pula, tapi berbudi luhur. Puteri ketiga berwajah raksasi dan amat buruk wataknya. Ia bernama Sarpakenaka. Sedangkan Wibisana, sang putera bungsu berwajah satria dan pula amat bijaksana. Rahwana mewarisi takhta  kerajaan. Ia menaklukkan negeri-negeri lain termasuk Lokapala. Bahkan Kahyangan hendak pula ditaklukkannya. Batara Wisnu berniat hendak memberantas kezaliman Rahwana. Maka menjelmalah ia pada seorang pangeran Negeri Ayodya, Sang Ramawijaya 

Read More »