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Cycle Of Life Ceremony In Bali: Infant Until Child (part I)
2003-12-08
[Balibagus.com]
Balinese Hindu believe on reincarnation, cycle of life, before they can reach
moksha, the highest condition of atman or soul where the soul is back to the main
source, God, the soul must be born and reborn again.
Born, growth up, old, and die then born again are a must in Balinese Hindu. And
in every step of those stages, Balinese will perform special ceremony.
When the souls are ready to reborn again, they will enter into red and white
elements of desire that are united in the sexual love, it symbols of sperm (red)
and ovum (white). The eventual merging of the two kamas begets what is often
called Sang Hyang Jabang Bayi or fetus-Balinese always assume that the soul
comes from heaven that is why a baby in Bali is called dewa or gods during his
first year of life to honor the soul.
The ritual is beginning from pregnancy with the aim to fasten the soul in its
body before birth. The seventh moth when the fetus is strong enough is a time
for Magedong-gedongan or strength the soul in "new house" ceremony.
It is a simple ceremony.
| When the baby is born, his/her ari-ari or placenta will get special treatment.
It puts on clay pot then brings to house compound. Baby's father should wash it
until clean from the blood then put it in a coconut together with some spices
and some tools; it depends on the custom, before burry it in front of the house's
door. On the place where it buried will be put a cook's cage or basket and candle
or lamp to protect it from animal and unseen force. The fact this is a sign to
community, there are a new baby in that house
On the seventh days or depends on when the umbilical cord the ceremony is held
to celebrate it. Just a simple ceremony, run by baby's mother.
| The baby is then celebrate through tutug kambuhan or continuous to grow which
fall on 42 days after birth. Commonly the parent will invite the priest to do
the ceremony for the baby's four siblings that company him when his born by giving
special offering. Since this day baby's parent is allowed to enter holly place
again, before, since the birth both are not allowed to enter holy place, Balinese
called they are on cuntaka or prohibited time. Logically during this time baby's
parent are still in weak and busy condition, so they cannot do normal activities,
including did a festival feast or communal activities.
Bigger ceremony is held at three months, named nyambutin or celebration ceremony.
This time a baby is allowed to touch the ground and get his name. The child
has entered the earthly world and the ceremonies are to welcome and guide the
child during his or her first steps in life. This is how a child attains full
incarnation of human status.
| Then regular ceremony will be held, called otonan ceremony or happy birthday
Balinese Hindu version, it is based on one cycle in the wuku year or Balinese
calendar which is celebrate every 210 days or every six months, to remain and
strength the soul in the child's body. And this ceremony will be held until
he or she becomes an adult, but some people still celebrate it until their old
age.
to be continued... ... ...
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