Bangli, Peace and Harmony

”Tumpek Landep”
A Means of Sharpening the Mind

Tumpek Landep has become a topic of comment for Ir. I Ketut Kayana, M.S., a member of the executive board of Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) of Bangli, given that it is celebrated every six months or 210 days according to the Balinese Calendar, and that it is of great relevance to the day to day living of all people.

“The sharpening of the mind may be seen as a drive to develop the quality of human resources to a higher level, through education and the mastering of technology applied on the grounds of morally religious ethics.” He explains that landep is a Balinese word meaning ‘sharp’, a character often reflected by the symbol of a spear or other sharp objects made of iron or other metal.
People honor these ritual objects with the aim of gaining the potential to increase and continue developing their capability of thinking and expressing their gratitude to the god Ida Sanghyang Widi Wasa for all advantages granted to them.
The celebrations carried out in today’s world are not aimed solely with respect to sharp objects made of iron, but also include other metal objects such as machines, computers, vehicles and electronic implements.
Meanwhile, I Dewa Gede of Kelurahan Bebalang, Bangli, a businessman running an inter-regency bus company, said that Tumpek Landep has a special meaning for himself as an entrepreneur operating nume-rous vehicles throughout Bali. During Tumpek Landep Holy Day, all the buses gather together to take part in the afternoon’s blessing ritual. All the bus crew participate in the common honoring of Ida Sanghyang Widhi Wasa to ask for the god’s blessing and safety and strength, both physically and spiritually.

Offering to Dewa Brahma
Dewa Brahma in Hindu’s belief is a manifestation of Ida Sanghyang Widhi Wasa as the Supreme Divine Creator. Nengah Sukarta, a goldsmith, skilled in producing gold and silver objects, including dagger sheaths, who lives in Banjar Pande, Kelurahan Cempaga (Bangli), always offers ‘banten’ implements to Dewa Brahma on the site of his workplace every Tumpek Landep Day. All the tools of his craft are blessed at this ritual.Another place for rituals is the family temple’s inner power shrine or pelinggih taksu, where people ask for the strength and inspiration to be able to produce quality objects creatively. (Suka)