First Sulinggih Cremation at Ujung Mantri Crematorium Fulfils Holy Man's Final Wish

The cremation procession for Ida Pandita Mpu Acharya Nanda, known as Bumi Suda, was held at the Graha Yadnya Tyaga Margananda Crematorium in Ujung Mantri, Karangasem, on Thursday (30/7/2026). The ceremony was conducted to honour the late holy man’s final wishes. The cremation also made history for the Tyaga Margananda Crematorium, as it was the first pelebon (cremation ceremony) for a sulinggih to be held there since the facility began operations on 27 September 2025. The series of rituals commenced on 26 July 2026 at Griya Widya Giri Kusuma, Sidembunut, Cempaga Village, Bangli. Several sacred processions were carried out, including matur piuning, nancep taring, nunas tirta Tri Kahyangan, and mesucian agung. The peak of the ceremony was marked by the transport of the body from Bangli to Karangasem. Upon arrival at the crematorium, the procession continued with the Bumi Suda rites. Crematorium manager I Wayan Pasek Yasa expressed pride in the trust placed in the facility. He noted that despite operating for less than a year, the crematorium had been chosen for the pelebon of a high priest. He added that public interest in the crematorium is growing, with residents from various sub-districts in Karangasem beginning to use it as an alternative for yadnya ceremonies. He stressed that the offerings prepared were as complete as those for a traditional ngaben, ensuring the ceremony’s significance was not diminished. Ida Pandita Mpu Jaya Sattwika Nanda, a family representative, confirmed the cremation was the direct wish of the deceased during his lifetime. Although the family had prepared a tegal suci, a special burial ground for sulinggih, the request was respected. He explained that all religious procedures, from Purwasaya to penyekahan, were followed. He added that the crematorium’s existence is not meant to change tradition but to provide a more practical and efficient alternative for the community without sacrificing sacredness. The late priest’s son, I Komang Pujawan, stated the family carried out the cremation to honour his father’s final message, with the village’s ongoing traditional ceremonies also being a consideration. He said the cremation was a viable option that did not reduce the meaning of the yadnya. During his lifetime, Ida Pandita Mpu Acharya Nanda was known as an educator who served as a headmaster and a lecturer at I Gusti Bagus Sugriwa State Hindu University before becoming a sulinggih. The cremation procession served as a final tribute and the fulfilment of his will, whilst upholding the sanctity of the ceremony.