Balinese pay their last respects to a noble<\/p>\n
Ananta Wijaya and Pariama Hutasoit, Contributors, Mengwi, Bali<\/p>\n
Thousands of people flocked to Puri Agung Mengwi Palace, 20
\nkilometers north of Denpasar, with just one thing on their minds,
\nwitnessing one of the biggest cremations in Bali.<\/p>\n
The ritual was dedicated to Ida Tjokorda Mengwi, a descendent
\nfrom the 13th generation of the king of Mengwi, who reigned at
\nthe end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th century. The man,
\nknown as a great violinist, dancer and close confidante of the
\nMengwi community, died at 86 in September this year.<\/p>\n
Palebon or ngaben (cremation) is a common ritual for Balinese
\npeople and it is a Pitra Rena, the responsibility of children to
\ntheir parents or ancestors. Still, this ritual was a rare
\noccasion as it involved local nobility. During the rite, as many
\nas 830 other remains from 37 villages in Mengwi were also
\nincluded in the ceremony on Dec. 7.<\/p>\n
The cremation was the last and the peak of the Palebon
\nceremony, which started in October. Attended by all the noble
\nfamilies in Bali, a representative of Surakarta royal house and
\nhundreds of foreign tourists, the procession started with
\nMelaspas Pemereman (purification of bade, the carriage) and
\nMelaspas Lembu (purification of a white-buffalo coffin that
\nsymbolizes this world) at Puri Agung Mengwi.<\/p>\n
Later on, another ritual called Nedulang Layon was carried out
\nto place the remains on the tower-like structure called
\nPemereman.<\/p>\n
The ritual was later followed by a Manah Naga procession, only
\nperformed for a king.Naga (dragon) was a symbol of life in this
\nworld. In Bali, such a procession could only take place within
\nthe dynasty of King Dalem Waturenggong or his descendants who had
\nobtained his blessing.<\/p>\n
In the procession, dozens of men, direct descendants of the
\nking of Mengwi's soldiers from Kapal and Balaputra Batu, carried
\na 133-meter-long dragon-like creature. Their ancestors were the
\nking's close and faithful soldiers and followers. The dragon was
\nplaced on the west side of the remains.<\/p>\n
Two Hindu high priests, Ida Pedanda Made Gunung (chairman of
\nthe Bali chapter of the Hindu Council) from Gianyar and Ida
\nPedanda Kekeran, shot the dragon with arrows. This was intended
\nto release the soul of the remains from the earth.<\/p>\n
The remains were later taken to the cemetery where all close
\nrelatives and friends, including Kanjeng Ratu Alit from the
\nSurakarta Sultanate, paid their last respects to the late king.<\/p>\n
Using sacred wood, yellow sandalwood and eaglewood, the body
\nof the late king was cremated, a symbolic action to return the
\nbody to the elements -- soil, water, air and light.<\/p>\n
\"It was fantastic ceremony,\" praised an American guest.<\/p>\n
But, the Balinese people believe that the \"ticket\" to heaven
\nis not guaranteed by the greatness of one's ceremony. It is
\nkarma, the good deeds of the dead.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/balinese-pay-their-last-respects-to-a-noble-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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