Gianyar, Regency

Coconut, a Multifunctional Plant

Plant’s parts that are used for offerings are the flowers, leafs, and fruit, but some offerings often use roots and tree branches. Beringin trees for example, are used only for their leaf. This can be seen at ngaben ceremonies, which some parts of this ceremony called nganget don bingin (taking beringin’s leaf). The ceremony is carried out after a cremation ritual. This leaf taking process is not complicated and is usually lead by the temple’s pemangku (holy person), where the tree is sited.

From the entire ceremonial plants, the coconut tree is a multifunctional tree that can be used for all its parts for ceremonial needs.
Coconut trees are beneficially good for Balinese people. It’s bar can be used for material construction, it’s leaf is for house roof, and it’s fruit can be used for various foods; starts from coconut milk as a cooking ingredient and its oil to fry food.
It’s shell is used to grill, whilst it’s fiber is used to make various household needs. In ancient times, Balinese often ate on refined coconut shell, because they didn’t have plates.
As Hindu’s offering equipment, the only fruit that can be used for entire ritual executions in Bali is coconut fruit. Not only its fruit, leaf, and flower, but its bar and root is also useful for many kinds of rituals. That’s why coconut trees are often called multifunctional trees, not only for offering elements but also for other substances. 
Coconut trees that come in various kinds depends on it’s fruit. In Balinese terms, a coconut tree is called nyuh, for example the yellowish red coconut tree is called ‘Nyuh Gading’.
In Gianyar, there are some people who collect various coconut trees to depend on their fruits. One of them is Tjokorda Putu Pesraman who is famed as ceremonial plant collector in Payangan, Gianyar.
As a collector, Tjokorda Putu Pesraman originally from Puri Agung Payangan, Melinggih, Payangan, collects several coconut trees, such as nyuh gading, nyuh gadang, nyuh udang, nyuh sudamala, nyuh gede (nyuh beruk), nyuh anggalan, nyuh pelet, etc. (BTN/Made Suambara)