Thieves seek blessings from god<\/p>\n
Putu Wirata, Contributor, Tabanan, Bali<\/p>\n
Being a thief is against religious, social and legal norms.
\nBut in Bali, if you want to be a smart one, just pray to get a
\nblessing from the god of thieves at the Pelinggih Sang Hyang
\nMaling sacred site on the slope of Batukaru mountain in Tabanan
\nregency.<\/p>\n
In Bali, there are two places of worship dedicated to the god
\nof thieves: Besikalung Temple near the Hoo river and Petali
\nTemple in Jatiluwih village. However, only a few worshipers come
\nto visit the two temples.<\/p>\n
\"There has been no pemangku (low-ranking priests) at the two
\ntemples for quite a long time,\" said a pemangku from another
\ntemple.<\/p>\n
The existence of Pelinggih Sang Hyang Maling has raised
\nquestions among Balinese scholars, wondering whether the \"culture
\nof thieves\" was acknowledged in a religious context. The fact
\nthat some people praise the god of thieves is still confusing. Up
\nto the present, nobody knows the reason why people built the two
\ntemples or their main functions within the Bali Hindu religious
\nconcept.<\/p>\n
According to old stories and legends, those who wished to
\nbecome clever thieves should pray at the temples. If the god,
\nSang Hyang Maling, gave his blessing, those worshipers would soon
\nbecome adept at the thieving trade.<\/p>\n
The pemangku, however, said that Sang Hyang Maling set strict
\nrequirements, only allowing thieves to steal \"moderately\". \"The
\nthieves only steal things when necessary. Don't use the stolen
\ngoods extravagantly,\" he warned.<\/p>\n
If the thieves failed to meet the requirements, they would
\nloose their \"thieving skills\". \"Apart from thieves, the people
\nhere also ask Sang Hyang Maling's blessings to protect their
\nhouses and their goods,\" the pemangku said.<\/p>\n
Local scholar Nengah Bawa Atmaja recently wrote an article
\nabout the thieves and their relationship with Balinese society.<\/p>\n
In the article, he argued that the presence of Pelinggih Sang
\nHyang Maling represented the Balinese people's idea of a \"social
\nbandit\".<\/p>\n
According to Atmaja, the concept of a social bandit exists not
\nonly in Bali but also elsewhere in Indonesia and even in other
\ncountries. The Betawi, indigenous Jakarta people, are familiar
\nwith the kind-hearted thief Si Pitung. The legendary Robin Hood
\nis another example.<\/p>\n
Another scholar, Hadukusumo, writes in Protes dan Proses
\nBudaya (Protest and Cultural Processes) that in Lampung and Aceh
\nprovinces, there were ancient traditions allowing individuals or
\ngroups to steal from corrupt authorities to help the poor.<\/p>\n
In Bali, however, there has been no real evidence of people
\nreceiving blessings from Sang Hyang Maling. \"People here are no
\nlonger interested in becoming 'social bandits',\" the pemangku
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Residents living in Utu, Babahan, Wongaya, Betan and Bolangan
\nvillages which surround the two Sang Hyang Maling temples do not
\nfollow the social bandit path or worship at the temples.<\/p>\n
\"People only come to the temple to ask for holy water for the
\nprotection of their belongings,\" the pemangku said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thieves-seek-blessings-from-god-1447893297",
"image": ""
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