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Çiwaratri, To Establish
Awareness Leading to Peace
Year 2006, according to prophecies of some
clairvoyants, the economy of Balinese community
is still difficult considering the tourism
sector that has become its prima donna is
in agony due to bomb incident, natural disaster
and terror issues that disturb the security
affairs. Number of indigent family is predicted
progressively to increase in keeping with
more tourism-related companies ‘laying
off’ their employees.
But you, who are spending holidays in Bali
or will come to Bali, do not worry about
the phenomenon of life difficulty of the
Balinese. Even though they live in misery,
the Balinese remain to enjoy and do their
creativity as they usually do, including
endless socio-religious activity all day
long. This is the manifestation of life
concept of their ancestors that emphasized
the balance of sekala (material life) and
niskala (inner life).
Commencing the year 2006, the Balinese endeavour
to revive from economic difficulty by promoting
agricultural sector and small or medium-scale
industry, however, they also carry out traditional
activities that underlaid by Hinduism. Just
have a look at their schedule. On 3 January
fall the Anggara Kasih Prangbakat, Kajeng
Kliwon Enyitan (13 January) Purnama Kapitu
(14 January), Buda Kliwon Ugu (18 January),
Kajeng Kliwon Uwudan, Çiwaratri,
Tumpek Wayang (28 January) and Tilem Kepitu
(29 January).
An interesting point is that ceremonies
falling coincidently on Saturday 28 January,
namely Kajeng Kliwon, Tumpek Wayang and
Çiwaratri. Kajeng Kliwon is an auspicious
day and full of magical ritual for the Balinese
to keep their safety as well as mystical
power to make human beings realize in order
to stay maintaining the universe along with
its harmony of all beings. Tumpek Wayang
is veneration to Lord Ishvara as the gods
of art.
In Bali, Çiwaratri has been celebrated
exuberantly since the last ten years, particularly
among the pupils, students and youth organization.
Narrative and Çiwaratri ritual in
Bali refer to the palm-leaf manuscript Kekawin
Çiwaratri Kalpa.
The story goes that when Lubdhaka (the hunter)
dies, his atman (soul) flies and swings
on the celestial plane and is tortured by
the troops of Yamaloka (indwellers of hell)
who finally is picked up by celestial airborne
vehicle by servants of Siwaloka. Lord Shiva
then comes and explains about his act of
picking up the soul of Lubhdaka and gives
him boon to reach eternal peace, free from
bonds of papa (miseries) and samsara (reincarnation).
In front of the gods, Lord Shiva states
that he once taught in the past how to appreciate
the Shiva’s eve (Çiwaratri).
Ritual performed on that eve was so sacred
that could purify any disgraces and wickedness.
But nobody does it, including the gods.
In fact, it’s Lubdhaka who does it
for the first time, though unintentionally
as he overtaken by night in the dense forest
coincides with the panglong ping 14 tileming
kepitu (one day before black moon around
January). On that account, he is entitled
to receive the result of his good luck,
to live peacefully in Siwaloka (heaven).
Çiwaratri Day falls on the day before
the black moon in January. The Hindus celebrate
this day along with its entire procession
and abstinence (of eating and drinking)
and stays up all night. The narrative of
Lubdhaka in the Kekawin Siwaratri Kalpa
by Sage Tanakung as explained above is discussed
and analysed in terms of several perspectives
for all the night. This story tells the
Hindus about the process of spiritual ascent
meaning to make them closer to the Supreme
Being.
Sage Tanakung seemingly wanted to invite
all human beings in order to give attention
to brata (abstinence) of Çiwaratri
because it constitutes the stairs of pleasure
control to reach immortal peace, sukha tan
pawali duka-moksha. So, it’s described
that Lubdhaka, a hunter of full wickedness
who could inhale peaceful air of Siwaloka
after he unintentionally performed the abstinence
of Çiwaratri in the forest.
Leading
to Peace
Çiwaratri is an injunction of human
self-awareness on whence do all beings originate,
whence do all beings flourish and where
do they go after death. With the superiority
on intellect and mind—budhi and manah—as
taught by Bhagavan Wararuci in the Sarasamusccaya,
as the ultimate being human can perform
good deeds and avoid bad deeds. If the self
of human beings overloaded by sensual passion,
their action will bear sins, miseries and
frequent rebirth. However, should there
be any desire to make themselves closer
to the Almighty God, it indicates the shining
of God in our mind and heart.
As Lubdhaka who is entirely presented his
life to God while picking the leaves of
bilva (Aegle marmelos) that is sacred to
Lord Shiva, so we should devote our life
totally to His predistination. Sage Tanakung
beautifully describes such sincerity as:
Om our adoration is merely dedicated to
your grace, O Lord the Master of the whole
World, maybe it’s witnessed / our material
and spiritual worship is dedicated to you
at all times / real and unreal you abides
on earth, you are the soul of all beings
and that makes the good and bad / You’re
always praised by those who’d like
to purify the mind and are in control of
their sensual passion// (Siwaratri Kalpa:
33.1)
Celebration of Çiwaratri does not
get rid of human sins. Sin constituting
the karma wasana (accumulation of deeds)
will be brought along wherever human goes
in compliance with the injunction of karmic
(cause and effect) law.
Circle of pupils and students give meaning
to Çiwaratri’s Eve through the
activities of worship, brata, dharmatula
(discussion) and art performance like puppet
shadow play, mask, arja operetta and other
religious nuance ones. Therefore, the ambience
of campuses or schools across Bali on that
night is immensely exuberant. Meanwhile,
the wider community carry out Çiwaratri
puja at temples, village meeting hall, psalmodic
venue and other sacred places.
During staying awake for all night long,
they generally discuss a variety of narratives
that associated with the actual social developments,
including the progress in science and sophistication
of technology promising pseudo worldly enjoyment.
Many people finally become hunters who are
unable to distinguish their ‘target’,
all are shot and paralysed and then brought
home for personal or their group interest.
The teaching of ethics and hospitality become
a mirror that is getting darker and darker
in the togetherness of social life, including
finding out solution for reviving from trauma
of twice bombs that have shaken Bali.
Çiwaratri celebration invites human
beings to be able to stay awake, aware and
cautious, control sensual desire and get
rid them of one by one as Lubdhaka drops
the bilva leaves, arrogance, envy, greedy
and egoism. On this hallowed night, human
beings sharpen their voice of truth to establish
the peaceful and prosperous life. As a matter
of fact, we are a hunter who has been bestowed
with the weapon of inner feelings and bright
mind. Therefore, this Çiwaratri celebration
is a ladder for human beings to set up the
new world order, globalisation era without
lacking of identity and human rights.
Ketut
Sumadi
Contributor of Bali Travel News
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