Introduction
This paper was presented to Prof. Dr. I.B. Rata, the professor of Cultural History of Faculty of Letters
Udayana University, Denpasar during my preparation of my thesis of the university degree graduation in
August, 1985. Thank to my academic counselor, Dra. Mrs. I.G.A. Surasmi, the professor of Classical
Archaeology, for her courtesy in facilitating me to get in touch with local customary chiefs, from whom
I got innumerable amount of information on the living aspects of some ancient monuments. Thank also due
to Ir. I Wayan Gelebet, an architect who is an observer of Balinese culture especially on historical
architecture and it's concept, from him I got pictures and concept on spatial functions.
The reason to explore more about the existence of Tantrism in Bali is due to the fact that Bali is
famous as a magic island. As the expression of this opinion and respect of Bali many foreign writers
and film maker have adopted this very secret of Bali as their subject of art such as “ Leak Bali “,
a name of film, means Bali's sorcerer. For Balinese themselves there is a living belief which is quiet
difficult to understand, such as one said that when she/he was passing a certain place in the mid of the
night he/she saw an imaginary creatures or flashing light or round light moving very slowly than
diminishing and disappeared in the darkness, or strange sound which is by no means heard by normal life.
Many people said that those would have been an hallucinations, which were formed by our imagination,
and sub-consciousness. But the fact was that would it be possible such the same entity of hallucination
could happened for more than one person within the same time even in the identical twin. Or, could it
happen many times at the same spot of place for more than one persons? Are questions still unanswered.
It is believed that since the coming of western writers and researcher, there had come also influences
to see the phenomenon as a worldly facts which is for our society ( read : Balinese ) are totally not
ready with. I can say, although not absolute, that Balinese are still living in the shadows of myth.
That's why foreigner often find an odd when a tour guide or Balinese telling their cultural heritages
by their own cultural frame.
As what was written by the general of British colony in Far East, the founder of modern Singapore, that
he found Hindu religion was molested by local barbarian like Balinese in his volume “History of Java”
This is a fact that such inconsistency and tendency to vary religious practices have mixed up of various
conflicting concepts that happened in the history of Balinese culture. If this matter does not get a
serious attention by both local government and those who bring the flag of Hindu, and the expert within
the Hindu society it could endanger the Balinese in view also the rapid development of communication
technology.
One thing I see as younger generation is a serious opposition between traditional Balinese paradigm of
life and the newly born lifestyle as an impact of empirical concept. There will be growing conflict
between those who is not exclusively living in their group ( in the Banjar/village ) due to the pursue
of better living standard. Since religious teaching and customary laws so far can not meet this
expectation. Who will win? This would have been the central issue of the Hindu Assembly, and those
who love Bali and it's Hindu spirits. In my opinion this sharpening polarization between these two ways
of life should be eased with persistent enlightment by those who love Bali and Hindu. I would like to
contribute what I know in the extend of my knowledge and limits of thought, and would like to free
myself out of the web and look into it but not totally out of it. May this mission at least to my
family, friends and fellow students be the start of the understanding of myth and fact. In this occasion
I choose, andhave been approved by the Head of History Department, to observe closely about the thinking
of Tantrism, a left-hand part of Buddhism and Hindu practices (notably from Shivaitic Sectarianism and
the Mahayana Buddhism ).
August, 1985
I Made Terima
The original work of this paper was in Bahasa Indonesia, and translated to the request of my fellow
student from Berlin, Peter Heistermann ( now is Dr. Peter Heistermann ) for his research on Chinese
general culture and the associated concept all over South East Asia.
Tantra(yana)
One doctrine in Hindu is concerning the purpose of our life. It is said that the purpose of our life is
to attain “Sorga” an imaginary place full of joyness, eternity, and enlightment. In English it may be
“Heaven” or “Paradise”. In the course of time one pursue the short-cut to attain the heaven and proposed
a thinking that, since the god is eternal and absolute, so he is not active, activity is not absolute
since an activity consist of beginning – process – end, so it is not eternal. It was probably the
thinker in Hindu faced dead lock, since if the god is not active how about the creation, as has been
put forward that god created the world and all it's content. So, the thinker made another theory that
since god is not active it must be a power radiating from him. This power is active in all creations.
This power is called “Shakti” God Shiva has his shakti called “Durga” and known as “Tara” among the
Buddhist. This new concept developed very quickly and extensively. Their holy book is called “Tantrayana”
and the follower of this school is called “Shakta” This new school within the Buddhism is called “
Budha Tantra” and within the Hindu is called “ Shiva Bhairava”
Tantrayana Teaching
In the school of Tantrayana the aspect of woman is put on top, even gods are considered having lower
position. Other important aspects are the practice of Yoga, magic charms, magic movement of hands, magic
figure, secret writing, and creation with secular concept. For those who wants to attain “Sorga” must
fulfill their wildest instincts, wildest senses, or whatever one wishes. Probably we can say with our
current word “ just enjoy, the Sorga is here!!! “ Most of them have been proved that they practiced what
is ethically forbidden and dangerous while for them is the most important practice to be fulfilled. Five
most important teachings for them to be persistently practiced are called
5-MA such as :
Madu:drink alcohol as much you like,
Matsya: eat fish as much you wish,
Mamsa: eat meat as much you wish,
Mudra: do as much magic,
Maithuna: do seks as you wish
In their concept it is not the limitation or control of senses that would bring one to “Sorga”, but the
fulfillment of senses do bring one to it. It would sound like a protest against the older ways of Hindu
and Buddhist to put a severe measures to the senses, such as meditations, fasting, and other self
torture to attain the “Sorga/Nirvana” We do not have physical proof when actually this school was
started, but a remnants of this practice in Indonesia, especially in Bali until now are preserved well
at some places.
Proves of Tantrayana in Bali
A scripture from 10th century of East Java kingdom named Sang Hyang Kamahayanikan is clearly
mentioned the teaching of Tantrayana. At the period a king named Dharma Wangsa was on the throne of
Mataram kingdom, while in Bali governed his majesty king Udayana Warmadewa. Udayana married the queen
from East Java, her majesty Gunaprya Dharmapatni. At least 3 inscriptions carved in bronze plates are
found relating to this royal figures. The relation between kingdom in Java and Bali was very closed.
It is believed that the stream of thinking and practice also reached Bali with the coming of this queen.
We observed a sudden changes in Bali, studying from inscriptions dating starting 998 AD, and edicts of
the king showing the following:
- Old Balinese language which was absolutely used by inscriptions before 998 AD, now changed into old
Javanese language. The use of Javanese week days consist of 210 days a year. This dating system is still
used by Balinese until now, that is why every temple in Bali has their ceremony every 210 days,
- The introduction of ceremony called Galungan and Kuningan, which is now become the biggest ceremony
in Bali
- The introduction of famous imaginary figure of “Rangda”, the witch with her frightening faces and
long strolling tongue, protruding hanging breast, and spreading hairs, long canines, and others
frightening aspects. If you have watched Barong dance you must have known this figure
The king Udayana and his queen on every end of their
inscriptions always mentioned that the edict has been issued by both king and queen. The latest
inscription was without the name of the queen and mentioned that the queen had passed away and was
buried and enthroned at a place called “Burwan” Linguistic study had succeeded in identifying the place
and archaeological excavation was organized. Surprising, the remnants of ancient sculpture and basement
was unearthed. After a careful reconstruction it was found that the facts on the field is very logic with the indications on the inscriptions and the supposition that the queen was a faithful follower of Tantrayana. She was symbolized with the sculpture of “Durga” As mentioned above, “Durga” is the shakti (power) of god Shiva. Since she was the strong personalization of Tantrayana follower, than in Bali she was also identified as the master of magician who could almost flip over the strongly rooted Balinese patriarchat system into matriarchat system, but lucky for Balinese men this was not happened.
In a village called Pejeng, it was found a big statue with the height of 360cms and a group of stone
sculptures bearing the characters of this school practice. Seeing from the style of the whole carving
they show a very closed affinity with those stones culptures found in East Java from the reign of his
majesty King Kertanegara (1268 through 1292 ). The year of 1292 was the raid of Mongol troop under
general Chengiz Khan which caused the fall of Singasari kingdom, and the turn of famous Majapahit
kingdom. The invasion of Mongolian fleet had benefited a prince that was not agree with the practice of
Tantrayana, and he tried to revive old tradition of Hindu and Buddhist.
A chronicle written much later time, during Majapahit period mentions that king Kertanegara had succeeded
in annexing Bali with Java and captured their ruler. Although the fact that during that period also
appeared the documents issued by Balinese king. This raises an assumption that during that time in Bali
were existed 2 separate kingdom, or the power of king Kertanegara in Bali just short lived. The problem
is that this chronicle does not mention the name of king under custody. If we take a close look on the
monument at Kebo Edan temple in Pejeng village near the city of Gianyar, at glance we have the impression
that everything is frightening. Big statue is standing on human corps. It's accessories are made of human skulls, mimic showing wilderness, uncivilized, ruthlessness creature. Another 2 sculptures also showing the same characteristics with cup of blood in hand. It is said that in Tantrayana feast they drink the blood of their enemies. This is very closely related with the magic practices. Even today in Bali people believe that if a human being practices this black magic she/he can not make the difference between corps and meat, human or animal. This myth is often told by grand father or grandmother to the children to prevent them going out in the night or walking at open places during the mid of the day. It is strongly believed that during certain day of Balinese calendar this black magic practitioner will be on their stage. In this time we are forbidden to walk or passing a certain places such as the gate, center of cross road, border of the village and others. One thing is become a public opinion among Balinese that one who practice magic can transform his/her body into any entity such as monkey, pig, a
piece of cloth, or whatever he want. Later was rumor among the villagers once can transform into motor
bike or a sedan or a truck. One of may fellow student ever told me, that he had a friend always back
home late from his roaming time by motor bike. Between his village and the neighboring village where he
normally killing his time with colleagues was passing an empty space and on one corner of the road was a
big trees with group of shrubs. Here was put an altar for every one passes the road to put offerings.
One day when he back home around 9 pm, just closed to that place he was stopped by a pretty woman.
Unrealizing the situation he stop and approaching the lady gently and directly offering the service
of giving her a lift. The lady just come up to the back of him, and he run over a slippery hot mixed
road, only the light of motor bike broke the darkness. In his head his thinking started to work out,
where should this lady be brought and will not waste the time. His hand started to move and tried to
touch the lady, but what a surprise, the lady wasn't at the back still. His hand only touched the air.
Abruptly he powered the motor bike running at full speed with trembling body and foots, and arrived home
directly go to bad and locked the door. According to his mother he had been in bed for 2 days and did not want to open the door. This kind of story has been to many I heard.
Local people gave the temple with frightening sculptures as temple of Siwa Bherawa. The pronunciation is
very closed with Shiva Bhairawa, a Hindu sect that was practicing Tantrayana teaching. The type of these
sculptures were also found near Malang City East Java on a temple called Singasari, and in Central and
North Sumatera. So, it was a spread of almost 2500 kms distance.
Based on archaeological research the remnant of this practices have not been found after 13th century.
The reason it could be: The practices is actually in contrary to the human heart and ethic, this type
of feast could only be done by those who had power so common people could not participate in this crazy
feast. That is why this sect got no sympathy from the society, and was short lived. Some subtle aspects
of this practice is still can be seen in Bali until now, those are the black magic as mentioned above,
within the performance art such as Calon Arang drama with it's famous witch “ Rangda”. Rangda is also
performed in Barong dance. Some religious functionaries in Bali during conducting a ceremony using
hand-gestures or hand special movements called “ mudra “
If we could give the people the understanding about this phenomenon in term of more empirical way of
thinking, I believe that the accomplishment of the religious practices and inclusivity of Balinese
society could be step by step solved, and the biggest problem of living with religion by blind emotion
which is very dangerous for living in multiple ethnic could be avoided.
Bibliography
- Goris, R. 1948 Sejarah Bali Kuno, Singaraja
- Hasting,James 1954 Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics vol XII, Charles Schrive's Son, New York
- Hooykaas,Jacoba 1959 A Yantra of Speech,Magic in Balinese Folklore and Religion, disalin dari TLV
- Zaman Hindu, Jakarta, PT Pembangunan
- Pandit,Shastri, N.D 1966 Sejarah Bali Dwipa, Jilid I, Denpasar, Bhuwana Saraswati
- Prapanca,1953 Negarakertagama ( terjemahan oleh Slamet Mulyana), Penerbit Siliwangi, Jakarta
- Radhakhrisnan, 1958 Inddian Philosophy vol II New York, The Macmillan Comp.
- Surasmi, I Gst., Ayu 1969 Perkembangan Tantrisme di Indonesia, Faksas, Universitas Udayana, Denpasar
- Surasmi, I Gst. Ayu 1977 Tinjauan Arkeologis Pura Kebo Edan, Faksas, Universitas Udayana, Denpasar
- Wiryo Suparto, Sucipto 1957 Sejarah Kebudayaan, Penerbit Indira, Jakarta.
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