'Tabuh rah' may ward off evil<\/p>\n
Jagaditha, Contributor, Gianyar<\/p>\n
Bali's Police Chief Insp. Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika is
\ncurrently waging war against traditional cockfighting, or tajen,
\nwhich was once performed as a sacred ritual but has now become a
\nsource of gambling for many local men.<\/p>\n
As a social vice, Pastika argues that tajen causes many
\nproblems for both the spectators (bebotoh), their families and
\nsociety as a whole. In response, the Bali Police have launched
\nextensive media campaigns using both the printed and electronic
\nmedia to urge Balinese people to shun tajen.<\/p>\n
But, in the Hindu temple of Pura Hyang Api in Kelusa village,
\nPayangan, Gianyar, cockfighting is still sacrosanct as it is
\nclosely linked to the tabuh rah religious ritual.<\/p>\n
Cockfights must be held for 35 consecutive days or otherwise
\nthe village people believe they will suffer various forms of
\nphysical and other misfortunes, affecting both humans and their
\nlivestock.<\/p>\n
During the first five days, the cockfights are usually held
\nfrom dawn to noon. At least 100 pairs of fighting cocks will be
\ninvolved.<\/p>\n
No one would dare to cheat their opponent, and each fight is
\npresided over by an impartial referee. As these cockfights are
\nconnected with religious belief, the police and the authorities
\nwould face enormous hurdles if they were to attempt to prevent
\nthe cockfights.<\/p>\n
The local people believe that anyone who tries to stop the
\ncockfights will experience bad luck, including falling victim to
\nill health or accidents.<\/p>\n
These cockfights are staged during the anniversary, or
\npiodalan, of the Pengerebonan temple in Kesiman Village,
\nDenpasar.<\/p>\n
One of the temple's ordinary priests, Made Mardika, explained
\nthat the cockfights are not profane. \"This type of cockfighting
\nis called tabuh rah, not tajen as outsiders usually think,\" said
\nMangku Mardika.<\/p>\n
He explained that tabuh rah, which literally means the
\nspilling of blood, consists of a series of rituals to appease the
\nevil spirits (buthakala) with blood. The rituals are mainly aimed
\nat preventing the evil spirits from harming people.<\/p>\n
In the temple, previously called Pura Pemuteran Jagat, tabuh
\nrah must be staged to avoid religious and social disharmony. A
\nfew years ago, the temple authorities decided to ban the tabuh
\nrah. Local people in Kesiman village to this day claim that they
\nhave faced all manner of hardships as a result.<\/p>\n
It is recalled that during one temple anniversary a local man
\nhad a strange experience. At prayer time, he fell into a trance
\nand started to repeatedly slash at his chest with a dagger. His
\nblood spilled out onto the temple's courtyard.<\/p>\n
\"In the past, when people went into trances, they could not be
\nhurt by any weapon or burnt by fire. They became 'untouchable',\"
\nthe low priest said.<\/p>\n
Since tabuh rah was forbidden, local people claim that many
\nstrange events have occurred during piodalan rituals. The temple
\nauthorities have frequently asked the police and local government
\nto allow them perform tabuh rah, but to no avail.<\/p>\n
Based on the incidents that have occurred, the people in
\nKesiman village believed they should be allowed to hold the tabuh
\nrah ceremony. \"If we don't spill the blood of the cocks, then it
\nwill be human blood that will be spilt,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
The priest also claimed that police officers and local
\nofficials who tried to stop the cockfights often had strange
\nexperiences. One day, a number of policemen came to the temple
\nand ordered the locals to break up a cockfight.<\/p>\n
A few days later, some of the officers came back to the temple
\nto seek forgiveness from the temple guardians. It was reported
\nthat after they broke up the cockfight, the officers fell victim
\nto \"unknown illnesses\" and \"strange accidents\".<\/p>\n
\"Balinese police usually ask the spectators and those involved
\nvery politely to stop the cockfight,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that one day a number of non-Balinese police officers
\nvisited the temple. They brusquely ordered the cockfight to be
\nstopped, and then shot the cocks dead.<\/p>\n
\"They did not believe in the sacredness of tabuh rah and the
\nconsequences of not holding the ceremony,\" Mangku Mardika said.<\/p>\n
The following day, he claims, one of the policemen suffered a
\nstroke. \"His friends said the officer was in good health
\nbeforehand,\" he said. Later, he presented an offering to honor
\nthe temple's guardians, after which he felt better.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tabuh-rah-may-ward-off-evil-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}