Ari Dwipayana: Mahasabha a Turning Point to Restore PHDI's Dignity
Ari Dwipayana, chairman of the Puri Kauhan Ubud Foundation, Anak Agung Gde Ngurah Ari Dwipayana, has said that the Mahasabha XIII of Parisadha Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) 2026 is not merely an arena for elite contestation and leadership changes, but rather a restoration of PHDI’s dignity.
Furthermore, it is an occasion to unite the faithful and nurture the diversity of Nusantara Hinduism, as well as a gateway to institutional transformation for PHDI.
“Mahasabha XIII must become a momentum to return to the essence of PHDI’s identity in carrying out the dharma of religion and the dharma of the state. What we need is not only a change of personnel, but a renewal of ways of thinking, ways of working, and the way PHDI is present in the life of the faithful,” he said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.
According to him, the challenges facing the Hindu community today demand that PHDI reassert its identity as the highest religious council of Indonesian Hindus, while building a modern, professional, transparent, accountable and service-oriented institution.
To realise these changes, he offered a five-point transformation agenda for PHDI called the Panca Kertha Transformasi PHDI. First, restoring PHDI’s dignity through the restoration of its institutional architecture, by strengthening the functions of the sabha pandita, sabha welaka, and the executive board in accordance with their positions and mandates.
Second, strengthening the unity of the faithful through institutional reconciliation and the development of communication and collaboration networks. Third, making PHDI a shared home for Nusantara Hinduism. PHDI must be able to embrace the diversity of traditions, dresta, ceremonial procedures, and various Nusantara Hindu communities in the spirit of “Eka Twa, Aneka Twa, Swalaksana Bhatara” (one in essence, diverse in expression and paths of service).
Fourth, carrying out governance reform and safeguarding PHDI’s independence. At the same time, PHDI must maintain a healthy distance from practical political interests, group or factional interests, and personal ambitions.
Fifth, shifting the paradigm from protection to empowerment of the faithful. PHDI must be increasingly present in advocating for access to quality education and healthcare, economic empowerment of the faithful, strengthening the younger generation, honouring and preserving the arts, traditions, dresta and Nusantara Hindu culture, and advocating for the rights of Hindus.
Ari Dwipayana stressed that institutional reform is not the final goal. All organisational arrangements must lead to PHDI’s ability to more tangibly guide, serve, protect and empower Hindus in carrying out the dharma of religion and the dharma of the state.
“Institutional reform is only the opening path. The ultimate aim is the presence of a PHDI whose benefits are truly felt by the faithful, from strengthening sraddha, education and health, economic empowerment, the younger generation, culture, to the protection of the rights of the faithful,” he said.
Ahead of Mahasabha XIII, he invited pandita, pinandita, PHDI central and regional administrators, intellectuals, the younger generation, traditional and cultural figures, community organisations, and all Hindus to jointly make the mahasabha an opportunity to strengthen the great house of Indonesian Hindus.
“Let us restore PHDI’s dignity, strengthen our brotherhood, and rebuild PHDI as a shared home for Nusantara Hindus. We return to the noble goal of carrying out the dharma of religion and the dharma of the state with sincerity, towards the realisation of ‘Moksartham Jagadhita Ya Ca Iti Dharma’,” said Ari Dwipayana.