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Bomb Did Not Tease the Harmony
of Religious Life in Bali
Bali frequently receives awards as the world
best tourist destination. Many people admire
the island known as of abundant spiritual
vibration with interfaith harmonious life.
High tolerance between the majority of Balinese
who practice Hinduism and other inhabitants
of Islam, Christian, Catholic and Buddhist,
in fact, has created the harmonious and
peaceful Bali community.
Though the two bomb blasts have shaken Bali,
the rise of provocation and issues of certain
religious groups by terrorists, in fact,
the harmony of religious life in Bali was
not teased at all. Even, joint movements
then appeared among all religious groups
led by their prominent figures in Bali that
held a prayer of peace at Puputan Margarana
Square, Niti Mandala, Renon Denpasar and
at location of bomb blast in Kuta and Jimbaran.
Activity of joint prayer was accidentally
accomplished to maintain the security stability
of Bali after the bomb tragedy. Economic,
religious, social and tourism activity remain
to work normally even though the number
of tourist visit to Bali drastically dropped.
Please thank God, for you who are on holiday
in Bali and can see the Balinese stay to
smile and live concordantly in the midst
of pressure of economic problems. Tolerance
and harmony of religious life in Bali has
been indeed established from time immemorial
by the Balinese predecessors. “Menyama
braya” or social communion concept
is the life’s fundamental of the Balinese
that has been remarkably renowned to tighten
brotherhood among the fellows.
Elders in Bali highly respect and appreciate
diversity in faith, culture, ethnic and
so forth, so they sometimes advise their
children by parable in Balinese language
as “celebingkah di beten biyu, belahan
pane belahan paso, gumi linggah ajak liu,
ada kene ada keto.” It means that we
live together in the world of different
characters, faiths, cultures and so on and
they no need to be contrasted. Therefore,
everyone should be able to live together
in difference and diversity of faiths.
A concordant and peaceful life is the desire
of all people. In Bali, you can see how
the concord of life among people of different
religions, ethnic and culture is well established.
The Hindus, Moslems, Christians, Buddhists
and Catholics can pay homage based on their
own faith without annoying others. Sometimes
on certain occasion, they pray together
at a place for invoking the safety of the
world. On particular days, they occasionally
do prayer en masse at certain place to appeal
for welfare of the world. Accordingly, holidays
often falling concurrently can be celebrated
flourishingly and ran smoothly. For instance,
Nyepi (Silence) Day in which the Balinese
(Hindus) are not allowed to go out falls
at the same time as Idul Fitri and the Balinese
will tolerate the Moslems to go to nearest
mosque to pay homage.
Kingdom
Periods
If traced back farther to ancient times
in accordance with historical data of development
of Hinduism in Bali, strategic step to establish
this harmony of religious life seems to
have existed since the kingdom periods around
the 8th century CE. Up to these days, there
are many historical remains in the form
of archaeological relics, building of sanctums,
inscriptions and so on that can become a
proof of interfaith concordance and mutual
respect. I Gusti Gde Ardana quoted the result
of research of R. Goris (1954) in his book
Sejarah Perkembangan Hinduisme di Bali (History
of Hinduism Development in Bali) in accordance
with inscription of Sukawana AI dated 882
CE that there were three religious figures,
namely Sivaite Monk Kangsita, Sivanirmala
and Sivaprajna establishing hermitage at
Cintamani Hill. Seeing the words monk and
Sivaite is predicted to have existed a well
interfaith concordance, even in the later
development is believed these two religions
underwent syncretism into Siva-Buddha because
on the reign of King Udayana (the 10th Century
CE), both religions, Siva-Buddha, have been
appointed official religions.
The palm-leaf manuscript Bhuvana Tattva
by Maharishi Markandeya recounts the arrival
of the rishi who practiced the trishakti
Paksa cult to Bali. Religious aspect he
practised along with his followers consisting
of three main gods namely Brahma, Vishnu
and Shiva. He first came to Bali arriving
at the foot of Mount Agung and known as
groundbreaker of the establishment of Besakih
Temple that grandiosely stands up to these
days. He buried the panca datu (five kinds
of metal comprising gold, silver, copper,
iron and mixture of the four metals previously
mentioned) to appeal for safety. Then, he
opened the agricultural land at Taro Village,
Tegalalang, Gianyar.
During the rule of King Udayana up to the
14th century CE in Bali also developed sects
that venerated certain gods like Saiva Siddhanta,
Pasupata, Bhairava, Vaishnavism, Bodha/Sogata,
Brahmana, Rishi, Sora and Ganapatya. To
enable to shelter all sects, the King Udayana
entrusted the Sage Kuturan to arrange the
religious system in Bali. In a Pesamuhan
(assembly) was decided that all sects could
unite and respect one another. Such togetherness
was implemented by establishing the Trimurti
(trinity) concept by founding Pura Kahyangan
Tiga or three sanctuaries at every customary
village in Bali. Such temples consisted
of Pura Desa/Bale Agung, temple to worship
the Lord Brahma as the creator; Pura Puseh
to worship the Lord Vishnu as the preserver;
and Pura Dalem to the Lord Shiva as destroyer.
Of all sects mentioned above, the greatest
influence up to now originates from Saiva
Siddhanta sect that practised by Balinese
people. Fusion of such sects in Bali is
not only discernible in terms of archaeological
relics and the establishment of holy buildings
at temples across Bali as Penataran Sasih
at Pejeng, Pusering Jagat, Goa Gajah Temple
and so forth, but can also be identified
through the religious rites. Many oblations
and mantras (prayer) have function and significance
to respect the holy teaching of such sects.
In further development until the arrival
of Dang Hyang Dwijendra in Bali during the
administration of Dalem Waturenggong that
centralized at Gelgel, the organization
of religious life in Bali was getting established.
Kings in Badung, Buleleng and other regions
in later development in the 18th and 19th
centuries also extended special settlement
to Islamic devotees as seen at Pegayaman
Village in Buleleng, Pemogan Village or
Bugis Kampong at Serangan Village. Under
the instruction of the sagacious king, the
interfaith life in Bali was thoroughly harmonious.
They altogether struggle and develop Bali.
Prominent figures of Bali also conceived
a universal concept called Tri Hita Karana
to maintain the harmony and concordance
of interfaith life through the ages.
Since the establishment of Department of
Religious Affairs in the administration
of Indonesia after the independence, the
issues of religious life are handled by
government, including the efforts to maintain
the interfaith concordance that persistently
nourished by setting up a socio-religious
organization named “Interfaith Concordance
Forum” of which members consisting
of representatives of each religion in Bali.
By capability of adapting and mutual respect
implanted by their predecessors, the Balinese
can live harmoniously with devotees of Islam,
Christian, Catholic, Buddhist and other
faiths that now flourish luxuriantly in
Bali. You can see this by yourself while
celebrating the New Year, 1 January 2006.
Maybe good luck will always be with us!
Ketut Sumadi
Contributor of Bali Travel News
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