New Book

“Tanaman Gumi Banten, Ensiklopedi Tanaman Upakara”

The Institute for Community Service (LPM) of Udayana University (Unud) has published a book entitled “Tanaman Gumi Banten, Ensiklopedi Tanaman Upakara”. The book that was published last September was written comprehensively, so it resembled an encyclopedia. This book coincidentally constitutes a revised edition and completed the previous edition “Tanaman Gumi Banten” published in September 2002.

Dr. Nyoman Sadra Dharmawan, the Head of LPM Unud who is also the writer team leader of the book said that there were some subjects expounded in the book such as philosophical meanings of the usage of plants in ritual sacrifice; classification of plants for offering ingredients; its usage in ritual sacrifices; morphological descriptions; plant’s habitats and the owner of the plants. “The information is an exploration result of our team for between (2001-2004). They performed bibliographical analysis that was completed with interviews to some informants such as a Brahmanic holy priest, offering maker and village temple attendant,” he said.
This book also carries the inventory of those oblation plants’ collectors along with the sorts of plant they have. It’s aimed that Hindu devotees who need these plants can make direct contact to their owners.
Literally, gumi banten means land or world of offerings (gumi = land; banten = offering, oblation). Taman Gumi Banten means parkland that consists of various kinds of offering ingredient plants. The land used for this garden belongs to Pura Kahyangan Jagat in Bali.
The publishing of this book is a superior program of LPM Unud in its effort to conserve Balinese culture, especially plants for offerings. This idea arose seeing the fact that it is getting harder and harder to obtain plants for offering ingredients due to the rapid growth of development in Bali that results in agricultural land being developed for residential purposes and agrarian activities that tend to turn to the tourism industry.
Rector of Unud, DR. I Wayan Wita is proud and appreciates the hard work of the team of LPM Unud, therefore the promise to publish the book ultimately comes to reality. “The publishing of this book proves that Unud is concerned about maintaining the preservation of Balinese culture and custom,” he stated firmly.
In the meantime, the Bali Governor, Dewa Beratha, highly appreciated the publishing of the book. Through “Tanaman Gumi Banten, Ensiklopedi Tanaman Upakara” it’s expected that Hindu devotees will have written reference on the performance of religious rites. “This book is important and it should be perfected so it can be used for all Hindu devotees,” he said.
(BTN/para)