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For fist time visitor to Bali,
there are many questions they ask such as; “why is the
statue dressed” and “is what offerings are given,
should they be flower or fruit?”. Throughout Bali Island
there are many dressed statues. The colors of material may differ
from one statue to another, according to the character of the
statue. The statue as shown on the picture is the statue symbolizing
a Hindu Priest. It
is dressed in black and white, white being the symbols of holiness
and black being the symbol to preserve holiness. It is appropriate
for a priest who always prays to create and preserve holiness
toward the dynamic of the Universe and all that is in it. The
prayers are accompanied by bell ringing serenely , so that what
hope is for will materialize accordingly.
People passing by the statue
feel secure and protected by the miracles of the statue symbolizing
a priest, and arrive safely at their destination. It is natural
that the Hindu people
treat this statue as a human being and frequently provide offering.
However, the offerings are not merely directed towards the statue
but mainly to the powers of the highest dwelling in the statue,
namely God. Dressing the statue is not merely to preserve it,
but to support the religious philosophy called “Sarwam
Khalu idham Brahman” meaning “All that there is
in this world is Brahman/God” or “ All this in this
world are owned by God”.
A high religious emotion
amongst the Hindu
congregation in Bali makes them regard everything in this world
like a human being. This is believed to be the only way to preserve
the Universe. Because the belief in the existence of God (which
may come in any form) is so strong, even a statue is given great
attention; if the dress is torn it is changed and offering are
given. The behavior of Hindu
people contains elements of high social value. Because they
always behave in accordance with the character of man (namely:
this life is for work) one of the elements is to give offerings
to the statues symbolizing a Hindu
Priest. Therefore they pray to God to always create and preserve
the Universe and all that there is in it.
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