Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Adan’, in Bali Post, Sunday, 8th March 2009,
a column by I Wayan Juniartha
Translated by Putu Semiada
a column by I Wayan Juniartha
Translated by Putu Semiada
NAME
There is a difference between the names given by the Balinese parents to their children in the past and today.
“In the past, you just need the names only when you call the person’s name. In addition, if they came from poor family, they would have just simple names,” says I Made Katiwawalan (jackfruit).
That’s why the Balinese names in the past were simple. The ideas just came from what they saw when the baby was born. For baby-boy, they gave names like Dagdag (Moonlight Tree) or Kelor (k. o. vegetable). The girls would be Jepun (Frangipani) or Sandat (k.o. Magnolia). If the girl is a bit talkative, the name would be Mongkeg. Nobody got the name of a flower from other countries. How come they had nice names while they had never had a piece of chicken.
As dagdag is getting rare and rare, and cempaka and sandat you can find them only in the market, so no Balinese children have that kind of names today. As these days most the Balinese mothers enjoy watching cinetrons, so they would give their children names like Marvel, Marcel, Cinta, Laura. And as the fathers are addicted to watching Premier League, they would give their children names like Christiano or Ronaldo. Besides, as they admire anything from the West, their children’s names would be David, Patrick, Obama, and no Wayan, or Made.
“In the past, you just need the name to remind you of someone; the child’s name depended on when and where the child was born.”
That’s why we had names like Gejer (shaking), Linuh (earthquake), Gerudug (thunder), Carik (ricefield), Gunung (mountain), Kantor (office) and Gestok (coup d’etat). But as now most babies are born in public centres or hospitals and born in normal situation, so their names are differences. Nobody will have names like I Nyoman Puskesmas (public health centre), I Ketut Surya Husada (name of hospital), I Kadek Visit Indonesia Year or I Komang Pemilu (general election).
In the past only someone from high caste had big (royal) names as they had their people and owned lots of lands. They deserved to have long names.
However they were also careful about their names. If they hadn’t felt capable enough, they wouldn’t dare to use such names. If they had dared to use such name like Bima Sakti Blambangan, they must have never lost in any battles. If they were not powerful kings, but dare to use such names, they would have been called Ida Cokorda Mantuk Ring Rana.
But now, you can find people use names such as Satria, Sakti, Wira, Nata, etc, from Anak Agung (kstaria caste) to Anak Ajum (silly person). A lot of people used Cokorda for their names, from good people to bad ones.
“There are also people who ‘upgarde’ their names; some people from lower caste (sudra) add their names with ‘Gusti’ (wesia caste), the Gustis add their names with Anak Agung, and Anak Agung with Shri; that’s why their names become long. Are they human or gods?” Ketut Patut interrupts.
As a matter of fact, if you never do something fruitful for other people, you shouldn’t use such names. If you are not holy persons, never claim yourself as brahmana.
So what’s the difference between names in the past and today?
In the past Balinese just as simple names as they were kind-hearted, humble and simple.
But today Balinese are ‘pretending’ to be brave, they are arrogant and not really know who they are.
