Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Ngaben’, featured in Bali Post, Sunday, 6th September 2009,
a column by I Wayan Juniartha
Translated by Putu Semiada
a column by I Wayan Juniartha
Translated by Putu Semiada
N G A B EN
(Cremation Ceremony)
(Cremation Ceremony)
During mass cremations such as the ones recently held in Bali, many different places were crowded.
“Amongst them are cremation grounds, empty property, volleyball court, rice-field and ‘wantilan’ village hall. ‘The wantilan’ becomes cockfighting area,” says I Made Bebotoh Goloh (I Made Great Gambler). He laughs loudly.
I Made is very happy because during cremation season like now, he can get a lot of jobs. Every place become cock-fighting grounds; legally, illegal, or ‘legal’ by ceremony.
“In one place, I might be as pakembar (one who is in charge for the fighting cocks); in another place, I might be as saya (jury), and in another place, I might be as pemasang taji (one who attach the ‘blades’ to one of the cock’s legs). I always get some money,” he says.
Everyone agrees that ‘yadnya’ (ceremonies) in Bali always have significant economic impact. Everyone will be ‘busy’, from gamblers, to people who make offerings, to and rain forecasters.
“It’s not only that. The LPD (the village bank), bank, mortgage office, and even notary office are busy too when the cremation season comes,” I Kadek Utang Kutang-Kutang (I Kadek Borrow Money for Nothing).
It is all because Pitra Yadnya (sacrifices/ceremonies for ancestors or deified deities) cost lots of money. A Balinese will feel ashamed if he carries out ceremony with low budget. They don’t like being judged as poor people. And they will be ashamed too if people think that they don’t respect their ancestors.
“The most ironic thing for a Balinese is that when other people think that he is poor; he will be upset if you say him poor, even though, as a matter of fact, he eats low quality food.”
No matter how bad the food he eats daily, when he is having yadnya (sacrifice ceremonies), he will try to serve the best food for his guests prepared by an expensive catering company.
If he doesn’t have the money to carry out the ceremony, he will go to the village bank to borrow money, or to pawnshop service to mortgage his belongings, or even to notary office as he is planning to sell the land of his father.
“Next he will make a huge cremation tower, make a big bull-like sarcophagus, invite many people, including the district head, and television crew if necessary. By doing all this, he wants people to think that he is rich.”
Usually after the ceremony, he will be tired and get sick. He will have headache from thinking of the money he owes, and his inheritance that is getting less and less.
“He might think that Pitra Yadnya is all about ngaben (cremation), ngrorasan (12th day from the cremation), or nyekah (purification ceremony),” says I Pekak Ongol-Ongol (I Pekak Nod-off).
If you love and take care your parents properly, that’s called Pitra Yadnya as well.
“What is it for the huge cremation tower that you make for your dead father, for instance? It will not save him from his sins in the after life world. Whether the soul of the late receive punishment or rewards, it completely depends on his deeds during his life, not the golden sarcophagus.”
When your father is still alive, that’s the time for you to do something good for him. If he gets sick, you take him to the doctor, if he feels lonely, you can spend some of your time chat with him, or buy or make him some coffee sometimes.
“Preserving your ancestor’s inheritance can be called Pitra Yadnya, as well.”
You know, how your mother had worked hard so that she could afford a plot of land. And how dare you then sell the land. She might still forgive you if you sell the land and use the money for her cremation ceremony. But what if you sell the land just to provide yourself with new mobile phone, new motor bike or hang around with café girls. That’s really something that will hurt your ancestors. You will be cursed.
Bringing up your children properly, sending them to good school so that they will have good job, that’s called Pitra Yadnya too.
According to Balinese belief, our ancestors will return to the world through our children and grandchildren and we should ‘feed’ them properly. Loving and take caring your children and grandchildren meaning that you respect your ancestors.
“Ngaben is not a big deal, so you don’t really need to bother yourself, let alone you have to borrow money just to increase your status. The most important thing is to love and take care your parents properly when they are still alive, and preserve their heritance, and love you children and grandchildren.”
If you haven’t done this yet, never say that you have done Pitra Yadnya.
“Amongst them are cremation grounds, empty property, volleyball court, rice-field and ‘wantilan’ village hall. ‘The wantilan’ becomes cockfighting area,” says I Made Bebotoh Goloh (I Made Great Gambler). He laughs loudly.
I Made is very happy because during cremation season like now, he can get a lot of jobs. Every place become cock-fighting grounds; legally, illegal, or ‘legal’ by ceremony.
“In one place, I might be as pakembar (one who is in charge for the fighting cocks); in another place, I might be as saya (jury), and in another place, I might be as pemasang taji (one who attach the ‘blades’ to one of the cock’s legs). I always get some money,” he says.
Everyone agrees that ‘yadnya’ (ceremonies) in Bali always have significant economic impact. Everyone will be ‘busy’, from gamblers, to people who make offerings, to and rain forecasters.
“It’s not only that. The LPD (the village bank), bank, mortgage office, and even notary office are busy too when the cremation season comes,” I Kadek Utang Kutang-Kutang (I Kadek Borrow Money for Nothing).
It is all because Pitra Yadnya (sacrifices/ceremonies for ancestors or deified deities) cost lots of money. A Balinese will feel ashamed if he carries out ceremony with low budget. They don’t like being judged as poor people. And they will be ashamed too if people think that they don’t respect their ancestors.
“The most ironic thing for a Balinese is that when other people think that he is poor; he will be upset if you say him poor, even though, as a matter of fact, he eats low quality food.”
No matter how bad the food he eats daily, when he is having yadnya (sacrifice ceremonies), he will try to serve the best food for his guests prepared by an expensive catering company.
If he doesn’t have the money to carry out the ceremony, he will go to the village bank to borrow money, or to pawnshop service to mortgage his belongings, or even to notary office as he is planning to sell the land of his father.
“Next he will make a huge cremation tower, make a big bull-like sarcophagus, invite many people, including the district head, and television crew if necessary. By doing all this, he wants people to think that he is rich.”
Usually after the ceremony, he will be tired and get sick. He will have headache from thinking of the money he owes, and his inheritance that is getting less and less.
“He might think that Pitra Yadnya is all about ngaben (cremation), ngrorasan (12th day from the cremation), or nyekah (purification ceremony),” says I Pekak Ongol-Ongol (I Pekak Nod-off).
If you love and take care your parents properly, that’s called Pitra Yadnya as well.
“What is it for the huge cremation tower that you make for your dead father, for instance? It will not save him from his sins in the after life world. Whether the soul of the late receive punishment or rewards, it completely depends on his deeds during his life, not the golden sarcophagus.”
When your father is still alive, that’s the time for you to do something good for him. If he gets sick, you take him to the doctor, if he feels lonely, you can spend some of your time chat with him, or buy or make him some coffee sometimes.
“Preserving your ancestor’s inheritance can be called Pitra Yadnya, as well.”
You know, how your mother had worked hard so that she could afford a plot of land. And how dare you then sell the land. She might still forgive you if you sell the land and use the money for her cremation ceremony. But what if you sell the land just to provide yourself with new mobile phone, new motor bike or hang around with café girls. That’s really something that will hurt your ancestors. You will be cursed.
Bringing up your children properly, sending them to good school so that they will have good job, that’s called Pitra Yadnya too.
According to Balinese belief, our ancestors will return to the world through our children and grandchildren and we should ‘feed’ them properly. Loving and take caring your children and grandchildren meaning that you respect your ancestors.
“Ngaben is not a big deal, so you don’t really need to bother yourself, let alone you have to borrow money just to increase your status. The most important thing is to love and take care your parents properly when they are still alive, and preserve their heritance, and love you children and grandchildren.”
If you haven’t done this yet, never say that you have done Pitra Yadnya.
