Dogs and Bali

Do not be surprised if you see many street dogs, especially in rural districts, during your vacation to Bali. Dogs group together in search of food in rural spots where rice food stalls still exist there in plenty. It is not strange for the Balinese if all of a sudden, dogs start fighting over rice remains. It does not destroy the appetite of the consume

Dogs also often bark at foreigners on entering rural areas. Nevertheless, you need not be afraid of dogs, if you do not challenge them by throwing stones or hitting them, they will not bother you.. Do not run away from barking dogs.
Almost all Balinese rear dogs because of their belief that they are capable of guarding their households and the village environment against criminals or thieves.
There is a story about some performing yoga meditation at Ulundanu to incarnate as human beings when at once Dewa Yamadipati changing his appearance into a black dog disturbed the meditating deities with the aim to stop the meditation and make it futile. He even bet and curse on the possible failure of creating human beings by Hyang Pasupati. If Hyang Pasupati and children succeeded in their meditation, all dogs would be prepared to serve man.
So, Hyang Pasupati together with his sons improved their spiritual power to achieve success in creating humans. Several times, they failed in their efforts to the high spirit of cheering on the side of the dogs by barking loudly. Hyang Pasupati’s unceasing meditation at once gave fruit shown by the transformation of a little bulk of ground into human beings to the defeat suffered by the big black dog. From Heaven Bathara Guru instructed the dogs to fulfil their vow to be sincere servants.
The dog, which was the unseen Hyang Yamadipati, shamefully returned to its Heaven to issue instructions to its people led by Ki Buta Kalika to descend to earth incarnated into dogs to serve mankind.
Interesting to see is the fact that there has been a mutual close relation of enjoyment between men and dogs. The feeling of closeness between both sides has been transformed into “Tumpek Kandang” or “Tumpek Andang” Day celebrated on every Saturday Kliwon, Wuku Uyei.
There is a story in Mahabharata that Prabu Yudistira or Prabu Darmawangsa ahead of entering Heaven was continuously followed by his friendly dog. Deities welcoming Yudistira just before stepping into the door of the Heaven Gate, the deities asked Darmawangsa to leave his dog away. Darmawangsa rejected the requirement plainly, while making it clear he prefer not to enter Heaven above leaving the dog in the Earth. The deities persisted in their request, but Darmawangsa got ever more sincere to his dog until at last the deities surrendered. All at once, the dog, which was a reincarnation of Dewa Darma (Deity of Wisdom), disappeared. A mysterious voice followed in praise of the fidelity and consistent spirit shown by Darmawangsa. A great amount of flowers fell down guiding Hujan Darmawangsa stepping into the Heaven Gate, describing faithful and lovely relations between Balinese and dogs to safeguard and protect mutually.
Ketut Sumadi
Lecture at “STAH Negeri Denpasar”
(Denpasar College of Hindu Studies)
He is chairperson of the “Sari Kahyangan Indonesia” Foundation.

Tumpek Kandang, A Special Day for Cattle

In Bali, almost everybody has several jobs to do at the same period. Maybe a man is an artist, but at the same time he is probably also a farmer. They may have some ducks, pigs, cows, or local chickens. All these domestic animals are very useful for the survival of the Balinese who firmly keep their traditions and conduct religious ceremonies in line with Hindu teachings.
Every ceremony certainly needs meat as part of the sesaji offering, depending on the kind of ceremony and the level of ceremony conducted. The higher the ceremony level, the more animals are needed to provide an offering. For instance, a sacrificial macaru ceremony of Panca Sata would make use of five chickens, respectively having feathers of black, white, reddish, white-and-black, and mixed color.
Apart from ceremonial needs, domestic animals are also butchered for daily needs to make dishes such as lawar chopped meat, ares vegetables, sate roasted meat, serapah Balinese special dish, urutan cuisine.
Some people ask whether a ceremony conducted by sacrificing animals does not contradict the ahimsa teachings, forbidding the killing of living creatures. The Balinese look at it from a broader viewpoint with respect to the divine teachings of niskala, stipulating that every animal proposed as a sacred sacrifice is to be awarded the opportunity to gain a higher level of life and to become more perfect being.
Similar is the case when ordinary people slaughter an animal for daily consumption, he would cite a prayer before killing the animal, hoping that the animal’s soul might gain a peaceful place in Heaven.
The sacred slaughter of animals is known as penyupatan, meaning the returning of the beast to its place of origin in order to gain a more perfect level. The meaning of penyupatan has been written about in a wide-ranging description in Widisatra palm-leaf ‘lontar’ holy book. So, animals play a very important role in Bali’s community, mainly in the eyes of the Balinese cattle breeders
On the Tumpek Kandang Day the Balinese, mainly those busy in rearing cattle, render offerings to the Sang Hyang Rare Angon with a prayer hoping that the beasts will grow fat and healthy. Other people have also labeled the day Tumpek Uye, celebrated every six months, this year on February 8, according to the Balinese traditional calendar, to pray for blessing from Sang Hyang Rare Angon to guarantee the cattle safety.
Rich cattle breeders of course will make a grand and complete offering, dedicated to Sang Hyang Rare Angon. Cattle stalls will be cleaned and decorated as beautifully as possible, while the cattle will be bathed and decorated with artistic cloths around their necks or backs.
It has been noticed Balinese cattle owners practice a modern method of rearing cattle in combination with the traditional way of holding ceremonies on the occasion of the Tumpek Kandang day. Do you want to see this ceremony? Asks your travel agent or your tour guides to visit Balinese villages where there are many domestic animals, and you are sure to witness this ceremony.

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