On Wednesday, Balinese Hindu will celebrate Galungan Day. Spiritual preparation to celebrate this victory day had been done since Thursday (October 10th) which is known as Sugihan Jawa. While on the next day precisely on Jumat Kliwon –Friday Kliwon- Sungsang (October 9th) called as Sugihan Bali.

Many Hindu people still confused with the celebration of Sugihan Bali or Sugihan Jawa. They thought that the word “Java” and “Bali” was related to the term of place whereas that wasn’t correct. The term “Jawa” –Java- here means “jaba” –outsider-. The same with Balinese people called those who came from outside Bali as “uli Jawa” –from Java- even though they came from Lombok, Kalimantan or other regions in Bali.

Thus, the real meaning of Sugihan Java ceremony is macro cosmos purification or buana agung –universe- the place where the living live. This cleaning factually is done through cleaning Pelinggih or holy places used as location of worship.

Then on the day of Sugihan Bali, Hindu’s offering sesaji –offers in term of flowers and fruits- that has a meaning of micro cosmos purification or buana alit –ourselves- so we will release from any sinner behaviour. With those two purifications Hindu’s can feel the importance of Galungan as the holy day when Dharma appear as the winner.

On last Friday, it will better if people conduct tirta gocara or tirtayatra –went to the sea- or to the water sources or can also to merajan –private holy places for God worship- pratically, in Sugihan Bali, Hindu’s people are usually do yoga for mulatsarira –self introspects. To celebrate Galungan Day, people should have inner purity with hold himself from any mortal sense temptation.

Then, Sugihan Java and Bali if it is seen from the concept basically is conducted as a preparation for Hindu’s people face against any mortal temptation which comes along with Galungan Day. In those two Sugihan, the power of rwa bhinneda –evil power- is force to the balance point for peace and harmony.

The lecturer of Hindu Indonesia University (Unhi) Denpasar, Wayan Suka Yasa said that the basic principal of Galungan and Kuningan Day is the surviving of Dharma –good power-. To make it stand still, the purification of buana agung –universe- and buana alit –human itself- is needed. That process begin when Sugihan. “Sugi” means cleaning or purification. In Sugihan Bali the people cleaned and purified buana alit –human itself- while in Sugihan Java is associated with the purification of universe or buana agung. The processes of this spiritual climbing go through rerahinan penyajan (promise to stand for Dharma). There are efforts to destroy evil deeds in ourselves in order to maintain dharma makes penampahan procession –cutting or disappearing- a day before Galungan is needed as a symbol of our evil deeds within us. Thus evil deeds are associated with pig that’s why in penampahan Hindu’s cut pig. If rajas – is responsible for motion, energy and preservation. And thereby upholds and maintains the activity of the other two gunas; sattva and tamas- and tamas – template of inertia or resistance to action- have disappear within us the only one remain is satwam –calm, holy and wise-. “Every rerahinan –ceremony- following Galungan Day contain philosophy that need to be correlated to today’s context and meaning,” said Suka Yasa.

The same thing said by Ida Rsi Bhujangga Waisnawa Putra Sara Shri Satya Jyoti from Gria Bhuwana Dharma Santhi Sesetan. That Sugihans are the procession to purify buana agung and buana alit in order for spiritual self preparation. In that Sugihan ceremony there is ngerebu process. That is one of the buana alit purification process. Ngerebu should not see from its ceremonial side only, because there is masimakrama (meeting family) process also. When perebuan process happened there are families members attend. After been offered for Ida Shang Hyang Widhi Wasa, the offers consist of rice, meat and egg and else are eating together. In this together dine the akin relationship will tighten. If there is member of the family that had been fought each other, the ngerebu process is hoped for the relationship turn back well. In that’s context there is mind purification process that was muddy turn to be clear again. Thus make peace and harmony will manifest again within us to celebrate Galungan Day.

Galungan also stand as a moment for self introspection (mulatsarira) or self evaluation. Were for those times we able to defeat lust or destroy rajas and tamas.

News by Bali Post