‘Cuntaka’ (Impure)
In Bali, a woman during menstruation is not allowed to enter the temple. It’s called ‘cuntaka’ (impure).
“You know, when a woman has menstruation, blood comes out from her vagina. And it will be a big problem if the blood falls into the temple floor. The community would have to carry out a big ceremony to ‘revitalize’ the temple just because of one person’s fault” said I Made Hindu Noktok (I Made Fanatic Hindu).
“Well, what about the blood coming out from the roosters at the cock fighting arena in the outer temple courtyard? Who’s supposed to be ‘impure’ (cuntaka)?” The owner of the rooster is considered ‘impure’ too, isn’t he? comments I Nyoman Saya Daya (I Nyoman Very Tricky).
“If blood makes one ‘cuntaka’, then why is a family considered ‘cuntaka’ when one of their family members dies. I don’t think blood comes out from every dead body?”
“I don’t see any problem with ‘cuntaka’. You know, a woman who has just delivered a baby or having menstruation will not be in good condition. So, being ‘cuntaka’ she is free from village and religious activities. A woman is free for forty days after birth,” says I Ketut Tenggek Puyung (I Ketut Useless Brain).
As for the family whose family member has died, they of course will be in deep condolence. That’s why they are free from religious activities.
“It could happen that a very sad husband whose wife has just died might set the temple on fire, that’s why he is not allowed to the temple,” says Ketut, jokingly.
“Wait a minute, what if the temple is built using funds from cockfighting revenues or donation from corrupt high ranking officials, who is supposed to be ‘cuntaka’ then? The cockfighting committee and high ranking official, or the temple itself?” I Wayan Anti Korupsi comments.
In addition, what if the ‘pratima’ (temple paraphernalia) is donated by a corrupt high-ranking official, or if the barong ‘recharging’ ceremony is sponsored by a big mouth politician, or the temple boundary wall renovation is sponsored by an investor who has conquered the land belonging to the temple (plaba pura), or if the ceremony (karya) sponsored by the priest who becomes rich from selling offerings (banten), do you think the temple is considered ‘impure’?”
“if the temple is impure, what happens to the gods then? Does it mean that the gods can not be involved in the temple ceremony?
