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The water maidens of the courtyard fountains at Goa Gajah Elephant Cave

Balinese souls purified in a mass 'memukur' ceremony

Balinese souls purified in a mass 'memukur' ceremony

Balinese souls purified in a mass 'memukur' ceremony

Memukur Bali Hindu ceremony is to purify the human soul with the holy spirit. This ceremony is a continuation of the Hindu cremation ceremony in Bali. Mass memukur it held as low cost model ceremony because of economical related. Memukur focal point is 'Sekah', sculpture decoration with bamboo frame, representing to the soul of a cremated. Sekah will be burned as a symbol of the second cremation to purify the soul in preperation to climb to the top of the world. Ash from sekah then placed in coconut shells and decorated with flowers, chinese coins (sometimes replaced with paper money that is still true today) and other decorative items.With the accompaniment of gamelan angklung and baleganjur, sekah brought to sea and release there as a symbolic return of the severe spirit to the creator.

Rice terraces

The Indonesian island of Bali, with around 1.6 million estimated farmers, has a direct democratic system of water distribution despite its irrigation system being completely hierarchical. Water governance is deeply intertwined in the rituals, the belief-system, the identity, the infrastructure, and even the notion of time. With channels and canals that are often over a thousand years old, the agricultural system and the ecology of the island have become deeply intertwined, acting as one organism. Efforts to drastically change Balinese agriculture in the seventies during the Green Revolution in Indonesia wreaked great havoc on the ancient and sophisticated system, and over the years the modernization efforts were withdrawn.

Rice terraces

Pura Tegeh Koripan

While they are identified as Hindus, the Balinese call their belief-system Āgama Tirta, or “Belief-system of Water”. Along every major point of diversion along the irrigation system is a water temple devoted to the Water Goddess, Dewi Danu.There is a proposal in the works to make the irrigation system a world heritage site.

Rice Terraces and Water Temples of Bali: A Proposal to create a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape(This proposal would establish a World Heritage site in Bali to support and protect Balinese farmers, subaks, water temple networks, lakes, rivers and forests)

Pura Tirta Empul

Holy Water: The Backbone of Balinese HinduismThe most important part of all Balinese ceremony is the Holy water. Holy water accompanies every act of Hindu-Balinese worship from individual devotion at household shrine to island-wide ceremonies. Holy water acts as an agent of the power of a God, a container of a mysterious force. It can be cleanse spiritual impurities, fend off evil forces, and render the recipient immune to the attacks of the negative, or demonic, influences. In Bali, holy water is not a symbol, it a material container of mystical power, and as such, is sacred and holy in and of itself. The holy water strengthens and purifies everything it touches. Although there are many kinds and potencies of holy water, no matter where or by whom it is made and no matter whether its quantity is great or small, holy water is always a sacred and powerful agent. The Balinese call holy water toya, from medium Balinese word for “water,” and often the High Balinese tirtha will be used. These are never confused with ordinary water, however, which everyone calls by its low Balinese name, yeh. The uses and potency of holy water vary according to how it is made, its source, and who makes it. The more powerful the mantra and the more elaborate the offering use to make it, the more mystic energy it contains. The more sacred the place from which it is obtain, the greater the sanctity of the holy water. The more exalted the status of the person who makes it, the greater its magical power. Holy water is use in many different ways and need not always be the most powerful variety. All holy water is sacred but some kinds are more powerful, more appropriate in a given situation than others. Holy water requires special handling, it must be treated with respect and deference. Any container of holy water is always held and passed to others using only the right hand. For more than a thousand years, Balinese worshipers have been drawn to Pura Tirta Empul, whose sacred spring is said to have been created by Indra and to have curative properties. The tradition continues almost unchanged at the temple today. Pura Tirta Empul,

Pura Tirta Empul,

Legend has it that the sacred spring was created by the god Indra. His forces had been poisoned by Mayadanawa, so he pierced the earth to create a fountain of immortality to revive them. An inscription dates the founding of a temple at the site to 926 AD. Ever since - for more than a thousand years - the Balinese have come to bathe in the sacred waters for healing and spiritual merit.

Pura Tirta Empul is located in the village of Tampak Siring,Accessible from Ubud by public transportation. The souvenir stands outside the temple specialize in the local craft, carved bone jewelry.

Worshippers first make an offering at the temple, then climb into the main pool to bathe and pray. Many collect the holy water in bottles to take home.

Pura Tirta Empul

Holy Water is an indispensable part of Balinese Hinduism; the importance of Holy Water is shown by the older generation of Balinese who still calls the Balinese Hinduism as ‘Agama Tirtha‘, (the religion of Holy Water). No ceremony in Balinese Hinduism can be called perfect or finish without the presence of Holy Water. If a Balinese cannot attend a temple ceremony or other kind of ceremony, he simply asks for Holy Water that is obtained from the temple where the ceremony is held or the Holy Water that is distributed in other kind of ceremony.

The courtyard fountains at Goa Gajah Elephant Cave

Holy water can be obtained either from natural sources or from the peranda (high priest). The natural resources of holy waters range from klebutan (spring), tukad (river), campuan (meeting of two or more river), loloan (estuary), danu (lake), and segara (sea).And one of the most devastating things that can happen to a family is to be denied access to holy water from the village temples. This is a dreadful punishment for a person who has been expelled from his banjar because of failure to comply with the religious or customary laws. Because it is so serious, it is not a common punishment. It means, in effect, that the person so expelled is ritually dead. And this applies not only to him but also to all members of his family.

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, or Pura Bratan, is a major Shivaite and water temple on Bali

Balinese daily offerings made to the Hindu Gods as a symbol for their gratitude

Cocoa fruitObtaining Holy Water is an obligatory part of every ceremony

Udeng, male headband in Bali

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, or Pura Bratan, is a major Shivaite and water temple on Bali

Pura Ulun featured in Indonesian banknote

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, or Pura Bratan, is a major Shivaite and water temple on Bali, Indonesia — the other major water temple being Pura Ulun Danu Batur. Water temples serve the entire region in the outflow area; downstream there are many smaller water temples that are specific to each irrigation association (subak).Built in 1663, this temple is used for offerings ceremony to the Balinese water, lake and river goddess Dewi Danu, due to the importance of Lake Bratan as a main source of irrigation in central Bali. The 11 stories of pelinggih meru dedicated for Shiva and his consort Parvathi. Buddha statue also present inside this temple.Lake Bratan is known as the Lake of Holy Mountain due to the fertility of this area. Located 1200 m above sea level, it has a cold tropical climate.

Pura Ulun Danu Batur (also known as "Pura Ulun Danu," "Pura Batur" or "Pura Bat") is the second most important temple in Bali, after Pura Besakih. Built in 1926, the temple is dedicated to Dewi Danu, goddess of lakes and rivers. "Ulun Danu" literally translates as "head of the lake".

Stone temple guardian

Each year, in Melasti ceremony, thousand of Balinese follow their deities to the sea in order to take the elixir of life for the welfare Bali. Sea also serve as the greatest purifier, after the cremation ceremony remnant of the deceased is thrown to the sea in order to purify the soul of the deceased. Thousand of Balinese also do melukat ritual in the sea to purify themselves.

Udeng, male headband in Bali

The colourful traditional fishing boats that line the coastal shores of Jimbaran and Sanur are known as jukung.

Pura Tanah Lot

Text & pictures: Internet

Background: The Pushan or Acceptance Mudra

Copyright: All the images belong to their authors

Arangement: Sanda Foişoreanu

Sound: Bamboo Wind Harp - Bamboo Xylophone