Hindu
religion or Hindu Dharma is held by almost 95% of the population.
Its teaching is to reach peace and harmony of life guided
by Wedas as Holy Scriptures. Hindu Dharma is a special blend
of Hinduism, Buddhism and ancestor worship that has been flourishing
over centuries. The believe in One Supreme God called Ida
Sanghyang Widhi Wasa, with His three manifestation known as
Tri Sakti, that are Brahma, the Creator, Wisnu the Preserver,
and Siva the Transformer.
Religion is inseparable from the everyday life, from the
simply daily ritual to the lavishly semi annually temple festivals.
No opportunity is lost to worship God in an unending series
of ceremonies that stretches from birth up to after death
of the people.
There are three things guiding the spiritual life of the
Hindu Balinese people which are Tatwa (philosophy), Susila
(etiquette/moral codes), and Upacara (rituals).
Tatwa tells about the Panca Crada, the five principle beliefs
which are beliefs in the existence of:
Susila, moral codes, put emphasis on three things e.g.: positive
thinking, positive talking and positive action known locally
as “Tri Kaya Parisuda”. Related to those moral
codes also can be mentioned “Tat Twam Asi”, freely
translated into “I am you” or “You are me”
which controls and prevents somebody from committing (intentional)
wrong doings.
Upacara, are those religious ceremonies classified into five
classifications e.g.:
-
Dewa Yadnya : ceremonies related to
the worship of God.
-
Rsi Yadnya : ceremonies related to
the prophet, priests or priest hood.
-
Pitra Yadnya : ceremonies related
to the dead.
-
Manusia Yadnya : ceremonies for human
beings.
-
Buta Yadnya : sacrifices to placate
the negative (butas)
As the out-come of the Tatwa among others you can see a lot
of temples dedicated to Brahman, God the almighty, and temples
dedicated to the ancestors, the souls of the dead relatives.
The belief in Samsara creates the opinion that having a child
is important to give possibility for the soul to reincarnate.
Family planning is successful in Bali because there is also
a set of rule spiritually controlling the birth of too many
children. That is the “duties if parents” which
includes the necessity to look after children well which parents
can not do if they have too many.
Karma law prevents people from doing bad deeds because such
things will result in negative effect to the doer. While belief
in Moksha suggest positive attitude that eventually everybody
or every soul, after series of reincarnations will be able
to join the origin, the God head.
Susila prescribes good behaviors and attitudes which are
vital in social life, unless one is able to control himself
and manage to place himself in the right position he will
certainly suffer in his life specially in Balinese society
where “mental torture” is one of the most feared,
a kind of social punishment, like being declared socially
dead an ignored.
Upacara manifests itself in innumerable ceremonies, such
as the semi annual or annual temple festivals, ordination
ceremonies, cremation, tooth
filing and wedding
ceremonies and sacrifices. An example of such sacrifices
is done yearly the day before Nyepi,
the Caka New Year.
Another philosophy of the Balinese if the “Tri Hita
Karana” or the three prosperity/happiness supporting
clement in the form of harmonious relationship amongst Man,
God and Environment.
