Service unites interfaith communities in prayer for peace

Service unites interfaith communities in prayer for peace

I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Kuta, Bali

Hundreds of Hindu, Islam, Christian and Buddhism followers
gathered at the famous Kuta Beach on Sunday evening to take part
in an interfaith service, a Mahashanti Puja (prayer for peace),
to ask God to bestow peace on the souls of 184 victims of the
Oct. 12 bombing.

"We ask God to engulf these souls in his infinite compassion
and love so that their journey to the next realm will not be
hampered by the violent nature of their deaths," said event
initiator Agus Indra Udayana of Gandhi Puri Ashram.

"We also appeal that God may strengthen the faith of the
deceased families and the Balinese people so that the pain and
anguish caused by the terrorist attack will not transform into
hatred or a desire for revenge. Violence will not solve anything,
and both the terrorists and we should understand this truth," he
said.

The Mahashanti Puja was held only 500 meters from the site of
the explosions.

At least three different Hindu groups participated in the
Mahashanti Puja, namely, the followers of Sai Baba, Hare Khrisna
and Mahatma Gandhi. Meanwhile the Muslims attending came mainly
from the country's largest Muslim organization, Nadhlatul Ulama
(NU).

A Pada Yatra, (peace walk) during which all the participants
walked some 400 meters along the beach while carrying a 60-meter-
long white cloth stretched above their head, started the Puja.

"During the walk all of us chanted the sacred songs of our
beliefs as our part in performing Pamarisuddha Bumi (Earth
purification)," Agus Indra Udayana said.

After the Pada Yatra, each religious group prayed successively
and performed a ritual for the souls. The Buddhists, for
instance, chanted the Mahakaruna Dharani (prayer for universal
love), a wish for happiness and peace for every being.

Meanwhile, the Hindus performed the Agni Hotra, (fire homage)
while reciting the Maha Mantra for the souls' safe and speedy
journey to the abode of God.

"The explosion was powerful and shattered part of our sanity,
but it will fail in turning us into the kind of people the
terrorists are -- violent, merciless and bloodthirsty," a Hare
Khrisna follower said.

As the sun gradually set in the beautiful evening horizon of
Kuta Beach and a full moon appeared in the east, the participants
lit bamboo torches and carried the white cloth into the sea. This
marked the end of the ritual.

"It was a symbolic act of guiding the deceased souls into the
dwelling of the Lord of the Sea, Varuna, who is responsible for
purifying the souls," Agus Indra Udayana said.