A grand farewell<\/p>\n
For two months, the people of Ubud had come by the thousands to
\nhelp the royal family prepare the palebon (grand cremation) of
\nits princess Tjokorda Istri Muter. During the same time, the
\nroyal family also spent much energy and funds to finance the
\nelaborate rite.<\/p>\n
An imposing nine-tiered bade (wooden tower), 25 meters tall
\nand bedecked with glittering ornaments, a giant dragon effigy of
\nNaga Banda and massive offerings including at least 10,000
\ncoconuts and 600 chickens told of the hard work.<\/p>\n
At the climax of the cremation ceremonies on Saturday
\nevening, the remains of the princess, who died in June at the age
\nof 94, the bade and the Naga Banda were torched until they turned
\nto ashes. Some observers might conclude that what they had
\nwitnessed was simply the display of the Ubud people's loyalty
\ntoward their royal family, and the latter's obsession with grand
\nceremonies.<\/p>\n
However, in Bali, every rite is a symbol and every mantra a
\ngate to a larger cosmos of meaning. The true meaning of every
\ncremation lies in the Balinese Hindu's awareness of the ephemeral
\nnature of existence.<\/p>\n
When the high priest released the sacred arrow to kill the
\nNaga Banda, when the first torch was set upon the corpse, every
\nBalinese Hindu was reminded once again that lust, desires,
\nachievements, life and that gilded bade were all transient. And,
\nthat only atma (the primal soul) could survive the flame of
\nimpermanency.<\/p>\n
-- I Wayan Juniartha<\/p>\n
______<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-grand-farewell-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }