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dhruva023
17 November 2008, 04:57 PM
I was wondering, Do we have any member from Bali, Indonesia? I want to know more about Baliness Hinduism and experience it.

Necromancer
11 January 2013, 03:26 AM
Om Swasti Astu.

Yes, I do realise this thread is years old and I am necrobumping it to pieces, but after what happened last time I tried to make a thread, I thought I would play it safe.

I am going to tell you all this by way of an understanding about what makes me 'different' to all of you and why this may come through in my posts.

I shall begin, as I always do, by relating a story...

From my early years of 13-19, my family made frequent trips to Bali, Indonesia on business, often staying for 6 weeks to 2 months twice per year.

One time, my parents and I had a huge fight, so I 'ran away' from Denpasar to a place called Ubud and then up to Singharaja to an arts festival.

Here, I was introduced to a Balinese Yellow Bamboo Master (12th Dan), but I didn't know who/what he was at the time (I found that out much later). It was like; 'I'd like you to meet my friend, he may interest you'.

From the moment he walked into the room, the air became electric and when he looked at me, I felt totally like...naked.

We were introduced, then somebody brought him over a glass of iced water, full of ice and he boiled it in his hands...then, he said 'oh, you have a sprained wrist I see?' (My father grabbed me by it really hard a few days before and it was swollen and purple)...he grabbed my wrist, sort of 'snapped it back into position'...the pain was incredible, but then it was gone...so was all the swelling and discomfort. It was like nothing had even happened with it.

I was impressed and we became good friends. I followed him around for a week, just watching what he did and it was just amazing.

We got pretty close as friends and then the inevitable happened. I told him to 'hold nothing back' and my Kundalini was awakened for the very first time.

More Information on Yellow Bamboo:
http://www.yellowbamboohk.com/yellowbamboo/YB-BalineseWhiteMagic-AlDonovan.html

Now, after many years of searching, going here and there, I am returning to Yellow Bamboo and the worship of Agama Hinduism...just like I did all those years ago.

The sacred texts found in Agama Hindu Dharma are the Vedas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas). They are the basis of Balinese Hinduism. Other sources of religious information include the Puranas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purana) and the Itihasa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itihasa) (mainly Ramayana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramayana) and the Mahabharata (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata)).

There is a belief in one supreme Lord called: 'Ida Sanghyang Widi Wasa' which is also called 'Maharaja Dewa' or the Sanskrit equivalent of Maha Deva. *I actually learned 'correct' Sanskrit in Bali. That's where I first studied it.

Lord Shiva (called Siwa) is mainly worshipped as Bhairaw there as a fierce temple guardian and His amazing countenance adorns all temples in Bali. He's been my 'Guardian Spirit' since like forever. *weeps*

Hinduism in Bali is very 'esoteric' and they believe in Nature Spirits, worshipping Ancestors, and there's definitely some real Shinto influence there...it's everywhere you look (but you must leave the 'Tourist Traps' like anywhere, I guess). It's just the raw, primal energy...the power of the 'Dance Divine' everywhere.

Balinese Hindus also worship the Trimurti (Brahma, Wisnu & Siwa), but Ida Sanghyang Widi Wasa is the Supreme Being. They also make sacrifices to these gods twice daily, at 6am and 6pm by making banana leaf trays and filling them with rice, incense, sweets, flowers, fruit...oh yes, I have seen money in them...and cigarettes too (which always makes me chuckle). I am still learning how to make these...I mean I actually knew how, once.

The black and white checquered robes the priests and statues wear, represent Yin/Yang or Shiva Shakti. Shakti is worshipped in the form of 'Dewi" and there's usually no distinction there..."Dewi is just...Dewi" and the Balinese Hindus also follow Tantric practices very seriously. Most of their belief is based upon this and ancient fertility rites anyway.

The Caste System is still a big part of it...their Temples are laid out astrologically...can't think of anything else other than that for me, Kala Bhairava = Ida Sanghyang Widi Wasa and I have decided to go and volunteer at my local animal shelter looking after all the dogs there...feeding them...taking them for walks...

I am waiting for Guru Purnima to take Pashupati initiation...but that's ages away now...I'll work towards it. I am dying for it.

If there's anything else anybody would like to know/understand about Balinese Hinduism (as I am one), please don't hesitate to ask.

Aum Namah Shivaya

Jeffery D. Long
11 January 2013, 10:31 PM
Dear Necromancer (love the name by the way: Tolkien fan?),

I am fascinated by Hinduism in Bali, and in Southeast Asia generally, but have not yet had the opportunity to visit. It's encouraging to have such an example of people outside of India having been drawn to and having practiced Hindu Dharma for centuries, and that this is not merely some kind of new fad amongst a few of us westerners.

I enjoyed your account of your experiences there, and your discussions generally about your devotion to Lord Shiva. As I just mentioned in another posting in response to ShivaFan, I too have a relationship with Lord Shiva, from my time in Siddha Yoga. Even if I do not often post a response, I read what you have to say with great interest and appreciate your perspective.

Om Namah Shivaya!

Believer
12 January 2013, 01:10 AM
Namaste,

Another viewpoint from a recent visit,

http://hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=10521

Pranam.