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Balinese Hindus
make great use of symbols for various manifestation of the Almighty
in their worship. Two examples are Arca statues and sacred object
called Pratima.
Often the meaning of these two
terms is confused. Both are used for the same propose but indifferent
forms. The Arca statues are sacred form of Almighty which are
in fact made by men and then made holy through special ceremonies.
On the other hand, Pratima are secret objects obtain in a miraculous
or inexplicable manner; consequently they are regarded as sent
by Gods themselves. As the symbols of the manifestations of
the Almighty, Arca statues are made accordingly-representing
God as Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. Pratima are also a
from or manifestation of God, used as an object of worship among
the Balinese Hindus
and they too function as means of worshiping God. They are therefore
a kind of link between the worshipper and God. Although Hindus
in their worship of God make us of many kinds of symbols such
as Arca statues and Pratima, this does not mean however, that
Hindu are worshiping
the physical object, but rather they are worshipping the Godhead
which is represented there in.
This is explainable when we
remember that God is always present everywhere. God is infinitively
great, yet also infinitely minute, having no form, being invisible
to the human eye, neither male nor female. Yet the existence
of the God is incontrovertible. Perhaps there are those amongst
you who may wonder whether all those statues displayed for sale
in shop also represent God, for example at art shop in Batubulan
village. The answer is NO. The statues in the shops are merely
works of art. They may have aesthetic worth but they are not
sacred and are a symbol of the God. Therefore the holy nature
of such a statue can be worshipped. Of course in addition, statues
for sale in the art shops have not been blessed in the religious
ceremonies which are used to sanctify Arca statues and partita. |
