Tenganan community preserves age-old traditions<\/p>\n
Text and photos by Tarko Sudiarno<\/p>\n
TENGANAN VILLAGE, Karangasem, East Bali (JP): A state within a
\nstate. This is a true picture of the traditional village Tenganan
\nPageringsingan in Karangasem regency, East Bali.<\/p>\n
Tenganan is one of the remaining ancient Balinese villages
\noccupied by the Bali Aga (early Balinese) society who have strong
\nattachments to their centuries-old traditions.<\/p>\n
Located 70 kilometer east of Denpasar, the province's capital
\ncity, the village is laid out in a large rectangle measuring some
\n500 meters by 250 meters encircled by natural boundaries and
\nwalls.<\/p>\n
In the village, there are three public corridors rising in a
\nterrace-like fashion, running along a north-south axis from the
\nsea toward the sacred volcano Gunung Agung. There are six
\nlengthwise rows of compounds; the pairs located in the center and
\nto the west are striking because of their closed house fronts,
\nwhich resemble palm leaf-covered longhouses.<\/p>\n
The buildings and areas for public use are situated on the
\ncentral axes of the central and western streets. On the western
\nstreets are walled temple areas, longhouses, smaller pavilions,
\nrice granaries and shrines, all of which suggest a strong
\ncommunal life with pronounced ritual rites.<\/p>\n
In the eastern compounds of the banjar pande live those who
\nhave been banished from the village, such as disabled people,
\ntogether with those whose customs share greater similarities with
\nthe majority of Hindu-Javanized Balinese.<\/p>\n
The Tengananese are the custodians of the pre-Hindu Majapahit,
\nwho, as speculated by many scholars, presumably came from India.<\/p>\n
But there are other indications that the people of Tenganan
\nhave not always lived in the present Tenganan village.<\/p>\n
A copper inscription dated A.D. 1040 speaks of a relationship
\nbetween the powerful governor from Java, a certain Buddhist
\nreformer Mpu (master) Kuturan in Silayuki (near Padang Bai), and
\na nearby village named Trangana that was then on the coast near
\nCandi (temple) Dasa but which later moved to the interior.<\/p>\n
Proof that the Tenganan moved from the seaside to their
\npresent location is provided in the design and placement of the
\nsanggah kamulan (original altars) in the house compounds. In
\nother parts of Bali this altar is always built in the corner
\nfacing east and toward the mountains. As Urs Ramseyer discusses
\nin Bali, Island of the gods, in Tenganan it is placed toward the
\nseas.<\/p>\n
The Tenganan people vigorously maintained their customs and
\nrefused to comply with traditions brought by the Hindu-Majapahit
\nfollowers from East Java.<\/p>\n
Their age-old customs and traditions do not recognize types of
\nceremonies, rituals and celebrations performed by other Hindu-
\nBalinese people, such as Nyepi, the Caka New Year, Galungan,
\nNgaben and cremation ceremonies.<\/p>\n
The Tengananese adopt a Hindu religion which originated from
\nthe Indra sect in India. This is clearly seen from the types of
\nrituals and ceremonies, such as the rituals for death ceremonies.<\/p>\n
When a member of the Tenganan community dies, his or her body
\nis not cremated. Once the sun is past it's highest point, the
\ncorpse is carried from the compound to the cemetery. At the grave
\nthe body is undressed and buried facing the sun.<\/p>\n
Unlike other Balinese villages, Tenganan traces its origins
\nand its social institutions back to a written source called the
\nAwig-awig, a set of laws and guidances which regulate the social
\nand religious activities of the Tenganan community.<\/p>\n
According to this text, the Tengananese have chosen by their
\ncreator, Batara Indra, to honor their descendants through
\ncommunal offerings and sacrifices. It states that the descendants
\nof the original villagers have been chosen to administer the
\nsurrounding lands.<\/p>\n
The concept of territorial and bodily purity and integrity
\nplays an exceedingly important role in village culture. It is
\nreflected not only in many important rituals, but also in the
\nidea that only a person who is healthy -- physically as well as
\nmentally -- may take part in rituals. Disabled members of the
\ncommunity and outsiders cannot be admitted to the adat
\norganizations of the village.<\/p>\n
As a result of this divinely ordained scheme, the original
\nlayout and social organization of the village may not be changed.
\nHouses, compounds, gardens, the village council and youth groups
\nare to be left as the gods have created them.<\/p>\n
Should anything be changed or taken away, the curse of the
\ngods would fall upon the village and its people would perish.
\nAnyone guilty of not respecting the inherited order is banned
\nfrom participating in village rites, and thus from sharing in
\ncommunal property.<\/p>\n
The Awig-awig, for instance, clearly stipulates that land,
\nwater, and other natural resources are communal properties.<\/p>\n
The Tengananese highly respect their nature and environment.
\nNo one in the community would dare to cut a tree without prior
\npermission from the village's council. Furthermore, they are not
\nallowed to pick fruit and other crops such as durian, kemiri
\n(candlenuts), etc. before they are ripe.<\/p>\n
Those who violate the existing rules face certain punishment
\nfrom the village council and the community.<\/p>\n
The Tenganan people have also adopted a well-ordered community
\nsystem. The village is chaired by four people called the Krama
\nDesa, the all village council.<\/p>\n
Only men and women without mental and physical defects who
\nwere born in Tenganan, and who have duly passed all ritual
\ninitiation stages by the time they marry, are eligible to join
\nthe council.<\/p>\n
With the opening of the once-isolated and sacred village
\nTenganan to visitors, the fate and the future of the ancient Bali
\nAga must be secured, not only by its community but also by the
\npeople of Bali and Indonesia in general.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tenganan-community-preserves-age-old-traditions-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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