island bali

Balinese Hinduism

Though Bali is multi-religious, consisting of Christian, Muslim and Buddhist Minorities, the predominant religion is Hinduism.

Balinese Hinduism, called Agama Hindu Dharma, originated from java and is a blend of Shivaism and Buddhism. The theological foundation for the religion comes from Indian philosophy while indigenous beliefs form the backbone of the rituals. This blending is prefectly acceptable in Bali as the saying goes "The truth is one; the interpretation, multiple."

In Balinese Hinduism, the indigenous beliefs manifest in the belief that nature is "power" and each element is subject to influence form spirits. Ancestor worship is also a part of the beliefs. Spirit and ancestors are treated with respect, and they are housed in a shrine and feted with offerings made from agricultural products.

As Gunung Agung is the abode of the gods and the ancestors, it is revered as the "Mother" mountain and is highly sacred to the Balinese. As water and volcanoes - Considered as the wrath of the gods - come from Gunung Agung, the mountain occupies the pole of purity, kaja.

In contrast, the pole of impurity is the sea, or kelod. Balinese Hinduism revolves around this kaja-kelod axis and determines the spatial organization of rituals, architecture and daily life. One sleeps, for example, with one's head in the directionof the mountain.

Religion in Bali varies according to three principles : desa (place), kala (time) and patra (circumstances). Hinduism acknowledges five pillars of faith. They are belief in the one Supreme God (Brahaman of Sang Hyang Widdhi Wasa); belief in the soul as the universal principle of life and consciousness (atma); belief in the fruition of one's deeds (karma phala); belief in the process of birth and death (samsara); and belief in ultimate release (moksa).

Overview Of Bali

With swaying palm trees that beautifully line its many white sandy beaches, Bali welcomes every visitor to her land of songs, dance, colors and culture that are intertwined with its natural beauty.

An island shaped by religion and dances, it offers visitors exciting treks through its lush junglie or leisurely walks through the vastness of its paddy fields and opportunities to savor the refreshing air of its mountainous retreats. Go diving, surfing, shopping or simply scour for its delectable local delicacies.

Bali is one such paradise island that is so much endowed with natural beauty and fertile land where its people cherish their prosperous and harmonious way of life. Often tourists will stumble stark gold, pink and purple costumes, carrying their generous offering of fruits and flowers to the stone temples. Bali is so inspirational, so alive!

The indonesian archipelago stretches from the islands of Sumatra to Irian Jaya, and Bali is situated between highly populated java and idyllic Lombok. In a way, Bali captures much of the soul and identity of indonesia yet it has evolved a unique culture of its own making it a very special place.

Amongst the 13,700 Indonesian islands (900 of which are inhabited), Bali is the only Hindu state, and the rich blend of tradition and culture has had an incredible impact. Also Bali is the last island running east to have a distictly torpical Asian environment. Any island east of Bali lies east of the wallace line, and life form show signs of having a greater Australian and New Guinean influence. Strangely enough, it is also considered to be the most western of the lesser sunda island, which stretch as far as New Guinea.

Geographically, Bali is the ideal location for such a colorful and deeply spiritual culture. In fact the rich geography of the island has, most probably, actually been responsible for theextensive and fascinating culture.

Bali enjoys a consistently warm climate, which is particularly mild in the dry season, and the mountains ensure there is a steady ranfall to perodically cool the island down through rainy season. The mountainous regions maintain arefreshing temperature all year round, and can provide a great break from the greater heat and humidity of the plains.

The people of Bali, as deverse as the geography of the different regions and yet united by their strong religious beliefs, draw their strength and their meaning from this wonderful environment.

History of Bali

Bali is beautiful island that is in harmony with nature. it is also know worldwide for having a unique colorful spiritual culture. Inherent in the fascinating culture are its many rituals and practices which originated thousands of years ago, and till today they have survived. Such is the endurance of Balinese culture, which in turn reflects on the deep faith and resilience of the balinese people. To study the roots of today's practices adn how they have evolved from the original rituals is to take an interesting educational journey into the past.

In contrast to matters of religion, Bali's history is difficult to chronicle as factual evidence has not been collected. What is known is that at some stage in pre-historical times, an indigenous people populated the island. Their descendants, know as the Bali Aga, practised lages of Tenganan and Trunyan and still continue to worship the spirits of nature, uninfluenced by the spread of Hinduism.

By 300 Bc, historical records were being kept, which identified a more advanced and organized agrarian society. By then, complex irrigation systems fed cascading rice rerraces in wet rice cultivation. At this time rice was already well adn truly established as the major food commodity in Bali, and as its abundance and importance increased, so did its value. Dewi Sri, the ancient rice goddess, was revered then as she still is today through cili figures given as offerings. Based on the large yields of rice crops, communities became more and more wealthy and developed into more sophisticated kingdoms, each with ruling rajahs.

One of the most dramatic and enduring developments in Bali's history came about when a form of Hinduism, which had been introduced to java, was transported to and widely accepted in Bali in the first century. This religion was, in fact, a fascinating mix of Siwa Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism, both originally from India and brought to Indonesia by Indian traders.

Bali only opened up to tourists again in the late 1960s, when the new President recognized the value of the island as a tourist destination.
Since then it has been heavily promoted for its tourist value, and has also quite naturally acted as a magnet to the many types of tourists who enjoy bali. Artists, surfers, backpackers, divers, shoppers, adventurers, and a whole range of visitors now appreciate the many facets of the Balinese environment and culture.
Even on the brink of the 21st century, bali is proving that the unique spiritual forces that have shped the island will continue to act as major determining influences well into the future. Every time a small canang offering, laden with incense and coloured flowers, is laid on the ground; every time a chisel strikes soft wood and carves out the features on a mythological creature; every time a young baby touches the ground for the first time or ashes are offered to the seas; evidence of Bali's living traditions are being manifested, acting as constant reminders of her passion for an authentic existence.

if we, as visitors to Bali, can share but a small taste of this passion, our own lives will be enriched. And if we can also five something in return, in the way of respecting these piople and their culture and supporting them as they find their way into the future, the benefits will be mutual. Let's make the most of our time in Bali; let's appreciate and enjoy.