The Philosophy of Holy Ceremonies, Galungan and Kuningan

The Philosophy of Holy Ceremonies, Galungan and Kuningan

                                         Author: I Ketut Alit Widiana (BSP)

            Hiiiii..... What’s Up Dude!! How was your day?? :))  I really hope that everything was okay and you are fine enough to read an interesting (latest) article from Learning English Easier-English For Tourism entitle “The Philosophy Of Holy Ceremonies, Galungan and Kuningan”. I want to know, have you heard about the purpose of Galungan and Kuningan ceremonies before? If no, let’s find out and make it clear!! What is Galungan ceremony? Why we (Hindus) have to celebrate it? And what is the philosophy of the ceremony? We will discuss it on this simple Blog, here and right now! Check it out!

            Galungan is one of the biggest of religious ceremony of Hindus follower and it usually celebrate every twice a year. Beside Galungan, there are so many another religious ceremony such as Nyepi, Siwalatri, Saraswati, and many more. But, today we will focus on Galungan ceremony. Well visitors! The history of Galungan ceremony is really attractive insight that we have to fully understand. Here is the short history of Galungan.

Long time ago, there is a King named Mayadenawa (Son of Cruel Giant). He is very strong and has a great power. With his power, he can change his body to whatever he wants. He has full control of lot of area, such as Makassar,Sumbawa,Bugis,Lombok and Blambangan.  This King is well known because so cruel and he also forbiden his follower (citizen) to prays. He also breaks down all the temples. The follower (citizen) won’t fight back because Mayadenawa has a mighty power. And then, a Hindus priest arrives. His name is Mpu Kulputih. He so sad to see the citizen condition, and then he decide to meditate at Besakih temple to ask the solution for beating Mayadenawa. After meditate, he goes to India for a help. In short, the troop’s assistance comes from India and heaven to fight back Mayadenawa which is lead by Dewa Indra. A terrifying war exploded. Finally, the Mayadenawa’s troops defeated and run away. Mayadenawa won’t give up, one night quietly Mayadenawa comes to Heaven and spread the poison to all of the Heaven’s water. In order that he and his follower isn’t detection they walk by only one side of his foot. Nowadays, this place is well known as Tampak Siring (aslant foot strip). In the morning, the heaven’s troops drink the water and all of them fainted. Dewa Indra knows that the poison is come from the water source that’s why he makes a new springs water. This spring’s water, nowadays is famous by the name Tirtha Empul. The river which is come out because the new springs water is well known as Tukad Pekerisan. Dewa Indra (Dharma/Kind Side) chased Mayadenawa (Adharma/Wicked Side) and his troops. In his escape, he changes his body in to a giant bird named Manokraya. And finally,Dewa Indra defeated and kill the King. The victory of Dewa Indra, become a symbol the victory of kindness beat up the wickedness which is celebrate as Galungan Ceremony. DISCLAIMER (I get this History from one of the Youtube Chanel, named BALI BERSEJARAH. The video of Galungan History was uploaded on September, 4th 2017. Check it on You tube for more Videos) – Sorry for ordinary translation.

Well Visitors! As we know, every 210 days a year we (Hindus Follower) celebrate Galungan. The holy day of Galungan is the day when we muse that on the day there is a victory that we have to celebrate. When Galungan, the most familiar things that we can see are Penjor, the Penyekeban Day, Penampahan and so on. Actually, what is the relationship of the philosophy of each day before and after Galungan? Visitors, actually the Galungan Ceremony is beginning from 25 days before the peak of ceremony. In detail, here is the series of Galungan Ceremony.

1.      Tumpek Wariga/Tumpek Pengarah

We also sometimes called this day by the name “Selae Lebeng Galungan”. Where on this day we prays to Bhatara Sangkara in order to get a good fruits, leafs, flowers, and another products from the field which we can use at the peak ceremony of Galungan.

2.      Sugihan Jawa

Sugihan Jawa is one of the series of Galungan Ceremony which has symbol to purify the macrocosm. Macrocosm in Bali, exactly in Hindu perception is a whole of this universe. (Bhuana Agung).

3.      Sugihan Bali

While Sugihan Bali is a day when we celebrate Galungan to purify the microcosm or the human soul and body. (Bhuana Alit). Sugihan (Both Jawa and Bali) actually is a purify between this whole of the universe and our soul and body. (Outside/Inside praying). After this celebration, we make a preparation that on Redite,Wuku Dungulan we have to fight Sang Bhuta Dungulan which we called this day by the name Penyekeban Day.

4.      Penyekeban

“Nyekeb” is actually a process to make the fruits and others offerings to mature (cooked) / ready to eat. It seem with, increase (mature) our insight (Jnana) so that we can get ready to fight back all the devil annoyance that we usually called by the name “Bhuta Tiga”. (Sunday, 3rd Days Before Galungan).

5.      Penyajaan

Penyajaan is a day to prepare all of the dishes and beverages to be offerings to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa. This is actually giving us a message that on the day Sang Bhuta Galungan appears and gives us the devil annoyance. We try to fight back the devil by doing Brata (Meditate) / Metapa so that we can win from the devil annoyance and still stand up with the kindness. (Monday, 2nd Days before Galungan).

6.      Penampahan

Penampahan is a symbol the descent of Sang Bhuta Amengkurat. Sang Bhuta Amengkurat gives a fully devil annoyance to make the human being defetaed for celebrating the victory days. On this day we usually cutt off (kill) the animals (Pigs and Chickens actualy) to be an offerings to the Bhuta Tiga. So, we can avoid the devil annoyance on the peak ceremony of Galungan. Why we usually kill the pigs to be an offerings? It is because Galungan is actualy a days fro praying  to Dewi Durga. On the morning we did Penampahan,while on the afternoon we did Byakala Proccess at the house yard and will be continue by seting up the Penjor. Remember! We allowed to set up the Penjor in front of our house on the right side if we can vague (Nyomia) the all of Bhuta Kala (The Devils) (( Sang Bhuta Tiga ; Bhuta Dungulan,Bhuta Galungan,and Bhuta Amengkurat)). (Tuesday, A Day Before Galungan).

7.      Galungan

Budha Kliwon,Wuku Dungulan is the peak ceremony of Galungan. Every Hindus Follower will praying at the whole of the temples around their hometown. It is to celebrate the victory day. Kidness beat the wickedness.

8.      Umanis Galungan

Is a day after Galungan. Actually we celebrate it by doing a vacation (refreshing) or even doing a purifyng to the springs water.

9.      Kuningan

Ten (10) days after Galungan, we prays to celebrate Kuningan Day. We make a yellow rice and another offerings for praying to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa. (Saniscara Kliwon Kuningan)

10.  Umanis Kuningan

While Umanis Kuningan is a day after Kuningan.

11.  Pegatwakan

And the last series of GalunganCelebration is Pegatwakan. On this day we allowed to take off the Penjor and another decoration in our temples.

Well Visitors!! It is a long celebration. Isn’t it? Beside we celebrate it as the victory symbol of Kindness defated Wickedness, we also celebrate it to say thankful and grateful to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa upon the great things we accept.

THANK YOU so much for visiting my Blog! I Hope you guys like it! That’s all for today we’ll meet up on the next articles! So, Stay tuned and keep humble!

“Rahajeng Rahina Jagat Galungan Lan Kuningan”

                                                                      Untalan, 30 Mei 2018/15:25 

source : https://youtube.com