Tajen - The Balinese Cook Fighting

'Tajen' is Balinese word for cock fighting gambling, yet in the sense of true gambling of Bali 'Tajen' has developed from a small number of men gathering at the village temple during the ritual provocating their cocks to fight each other until one or either were dead or one gives up armed with sharp two sided knife tied at the leg of the cock involved in fighting. Both cocks will injure each other, even kills one or both. This sharp knife called  'taji' which word forms "tajian", and 'tajian' is assimilated into 'tajen' The bebebotoh is the name of 'tajen' gambler who use the money for betting at the cock fighting field called  'kalangan tajen'.

It is not known when Balinese started to know this type of gambling. Since the government of Indonesia declared with regulations that 'tajen' is one of gambling and is forbidden, the 'bebotohs' looking for a reason that 'tajen' is a necessity, for requirement of ritual, and always organize the 'tajen' during the temple ritual, or during family ritual. The birth of 'tajen' inspired a person to write superstitious forecasts. We do not able to find out weather the writing was made by a 'brahmana' or a common people. Seen from the language it would have been written around 18th century. This manuscript is called 'Pengayam-ayaman' or simply means the consultant for 'bebotohs' to foresee what cock will be the winner on certain day of the 'tajen', what color of the cock will be the victorious, and at what direction the cock should be provocated for the first time on the battle field. The manuscript claims to be able to give clues to the cock that will win the battle.

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Mepandes, The Unique Hindhu Ceremony in Bali

"Potong Gigi” (Mepandes) ceremony can be found in "Kalapati" manuscript. In short, it states that there are six teeth in the upper jaw that are scoured by using gerigi, namely the two canine teeth and four incisors. It symbolized the self-awareness to control the "Sadripu" (the six enemies) in human soul. Those are "Kama" (desire), "Lobha" (greedy), "Krodha" (furiousity), "Mada" (intoxicated) "Moha" (swollen), and "Matsarya" (jealousy). 

The uncontrolled "Sadripu" will endanger the human’s life. That is the reason why it becomes the parents’ responsibility to suggest the child and wish to "Hyang Widhi" to be avoided from the affect of "Sadripu". The meaning is implicitly sates in "Kala Pati", "Kala Tatwa" and "Semaradhana" mythology that human must aware in his life. It is important in order not to get lost or far from his religion teaching (dharma) so that the holy spirit can reach the heaven together with the ancestors’ spirit become in unity with Brahman (Hyang Widhi).The "Semaradana" also rules the relationship between man and woman must stay in line with the norm. The “Potong Gigi” ceremony is usually conducted together with the "Ngeraja sewala" ceremony or normally called the "Menek Kelih" that is a ceremony to show the appreciation to God because the child has become mature, leave the childhood and become teenager.

THE STEPS OF "MEPANDES" CEREMONY

1. Those who have the mepandes are purified with "padudusan madya" after the priest doing the "ngarga tirta", "mereresik" and "mapiuning" at "Sanggar Surya". Soon after that, they will worship the "Hyang Raditya" for safeties in conducting the ceremony.

2. The hairs will be cut and the body is painted with holy letters by using special ink which is called "mererajah". The purpose is to purify the body and to sign the changing of the status from tender age to teenager.

3. Get into the bad where the "mepandes" is conducted, but before that the person must step on the "caru" as the symbol of harmonious, tap the crow bar three times (Ang-Ung-Mang) as the symbol of "Hyang Widhi’s" power, and the left armpit nips "caket" as the symbol of the doubtfulness to be aware of "Sadripu".

4. During the "mepandes" ceremony, the water which is used to gargle is thrown into a "kelungah nyuh gading" (young yellowish coconut) in order not to create "keletehan" (make the surrounding in dirt).

5. "Mepedamel" is derived from the word “dama” which means wisdom. The purpose of "mepedamel" after "mepandes" is in order the child will became a wisdom child during and teen age and so forth, stand to face the happiness and sadness of life, stay in line with Hindu religious teaching, has wide perspective, and has strong self confidence to decide on something and know how to differentiate "dharma" and "adharma".

The following are the symbolization of activities that are held in mepedamel:

• The person wears white fabric, yellow “kampuh”. and “samara-ratih” bandoleer as the symbol of God “Semara” and Godess “Ratih” (based on Semaradhana manuscript)
• Wearing “pawitra yarn” which has tridatu colors (red, white, and black) as the symbol of personal band toward the religious norms.
• Testing the “Sad Rasa” (six flavor) , bitter  and sour as the symbol to become tough in facing the life which unpleasant sometimes; spicy  as the symbol to become not to get angry easily when experiencing or hearing unpleasant things; sepet (casquette ) as the symbol to be obedient toward the rules or norms; salty as the symbol of wisdom, always try to increase the knowledge quality by studying; sweet as the symbol of  physically and spiritually happiness  life.

6. “Natab banten”. The purpose is to wish for bless from “Hyang Widhi” so the real aims of the ceremony could be achieved.

7. “Matapak”. Spiritually, the parents’ responsibilities toward the child start from fetus until mature has been accomplished. It also symbolized the appreciation of the child to the parents because they already take good care of him/ her, asks for forgiveness from the parents because of the fault, and also wish for their bless in order to be success in facing the life in the future.

8. “Persembahyangan” (worshiping) to worship “Hyang Widhi”.

 

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PAGERWESI DAY

Happy Pagerwesi Day, On May 06th 2015

Today Balinese Hindu religion, celebrate of Pagerwesi Day. Pagerwesi day is part of a major holiday in Bali's Hindus, who are always there on Wednesday, every 210 days. And is part of the Saraswati day, also takes place once every 210 days, on Saturday. Saraswati is the feast day of the Lord's descent science to mankind. So on that day, Balinese Hindus celebrate it with utter gratitude to God for having given intelligence and knowledge, so that they can live well and this world. While the Pagerwesi meaningful to improve the firmness of faith and to pray to the Almighty God for the world and its contents are given salvation.

Balinese people will commemorate Pagerwesi. The word is derived from two words Pagerwesi Java language, pager (fencing) and wesi (iron). Pagerwesi literally means the "iron fence". Pagerwesi is dedicated to honour Siva, the God manifestation as Sanghyang Pramesi Guru, guardian of the universe, which is meant to ask for protection a.nd prosperity. Pagerwesi has a very close relationship with Saraswati which falls four days after Saraswati Day. After people received knowledge on Saraswati Day, Pagerwesi is the day to show our respect to the teacher and the main Guru (God or Siva). Another correlation between Saraswati and Pagerwesi is that the knowledge must be protected from bad influences and misuse

Pagerwesi is the day when Balinese fortify the space around themselves to ward off evil spirits, a day of offerings for the protection of the village and families and the world around them. As on the day Galungan, on the day of Pagerwesi, “penjors” (a tall decorated bamboo poles) are raised which makes it a day as almost as important as Galungan. 

On this Wednesday in Bali, all activities of the government offices and schools were closed. With the goal, so that all Balinese Hindus perform religious rites in peace, and walked with linear. Because the Balinese Hindus, this day is a very big day. Every Pagerwesi day in Bali, all Balinese Hindus perform religious rites in their homes. Conducted since early morning till noon. There is a belief for Balinese Hindus, ancestors descend into the world of heaven only in the morning, and returned to heaven at noon.

Just like other rituals in Bali, on the Pagerwesi day, also held a religious ceremony to deliver to the offerings as well as a series of leaf, flower and fruit in the family temple (Merajan). Because the family temple (Merajan) is an ancestral place is down to earth, so the family temple is part of the highly purified. In addition to praying at the family temple, Balinese Hindus also pray to be some nearby temples.

Pagerwesi day is actually a normal working day in Indonesia, but Bali Governor grant a dispensation to all employees who are Hindus, and dismiss students to perform a series of rituals. So on this day, many people capitalize on this holiday to visit relatives. So long ago, visiting relatives and family activities at this Pagerwesi Day has become a tradition for the people of Bali.

The philosophy of Saraswati and Pagerwesi celebrations are that people must keep knowledge, health, food, cloth and gold high in their lives to keep the universe in balance.

Goa Lawah, Klungkung - Bali

Pura Goa Lawah known as one of the six important temples in Bali. Five of them are, Lempuyang Temple, Uluwatu, Andakasa, Batukaru, and Silayukti. Goa Lawah Consists of the cave and lawah, where in said means Lawah Bat. So Goa Lawah Temple is a temple in which there are caves with thousands bats. Pura Goa Lawah including rural areas Pesinggahan, Dawan sub district, Klungkung regency or approximately 50 km from the city of Denpasar. A distance of one and a half hour from Ngurah Rai International Airport by pass through prof. Ida Bagus Mantra. Its location is also one lane with attractions Candidasa, range 15 miles east of the temple and Goa Lawah and Kerta Gosa Bali.

On the history of Goa Lawah Temple is not known exactly when and who built this temple. According to the research of the history of this temple was built in the 11th century the notion of Mpu Kuturan. Pura Goa Lawah is worship god as a god of the sea. Landscape of this temple is very typical, since a cave under the shady trees. At the mouth of the cave was built a place of worship. In front of the cave in the temple area also seems a lot of places of worship. Big ceremony in this temple held once every six months. In the Balinese calender days Anggarkasih called Medangsia. This Temple is located opposite the beach and into the hills. A temple was also built at this beach called Pura Segara. Pura Segara is a temple around which most of the community livelihood as fisherman to worship the lord with the title of Lord Varuna or the God of the Sea. Upon entering the village temple Pesinggahan towrds Goa Lawah, along the way there many stalls that offer a menu of fish. Such as grilled fish, spiced fish, satay, fish soup, vegetable plecing, raw chili, red chili spice Bali, complete with rice and coconut rice. Stall - stall snacks are also many temples across. Area ample parking available outside the temple and on the waterfront. This tourists destination visited by foreign tourists and domestic. Espicially during the holiday season and holiday. 

The King of Klungkung decided that I Gusti Ketut Agung be ordered to enter Goa Lawah, if he came out

alive he would be recognized as a descendant. The cave at that time also housed, as well as bats, big snakes, and other wild animals. According to history I Gusti Ketut Agung accepted the sentence, entered the cave and finally emerged at Besakih. True to the judgement of the King of Klungkung, he was recognized as a member of the King of Mengwi's family. When he became a King he was known as I Gusti Ketut Agung Besakih. The records also said that as a result of entering the cave he became deaf. The snakes and other wild animals no longer inhabit the cave, but thousands of bats that remain create a unique and popular attraction. 

Goa Lawah is one of the tourist sites in Bali visited by many tourists to holiday in Bali and Balinese temple Goa Lawah  very often in jawadwalkan as one of Bali's tourism object's contained in the package tour in Bali. Attraction to the tour schedule is usually accompanied by kunjungan Bali tourism objects to another, such as Bali Tirta Empul and Ulun Danu Temple.