Elements of Tantrism in the Balinese Rituals

Suamba, Ida Bagus Putu (2022) Elements of Tantrism in the Balinese Rituals. In: Conference: Tantric Text Practices as Intersection: Between Magical Knowledge and Self-Liberation, 28-29 Oktober 2022, Heidelberg, Germany. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

There is no Balinese religious tradition without the involvement of ritual; it is part and parcel of Balinese life. Rituals (upacara) as outer expression of faith is another manifestation or extension of metaphysics (tattva)---in the frame of Tri Kerangka Agama (three main and interrelated principles of religion). However, common people are perhaps unaware that they practice Tantrism blended in local culture. Despite the fact that the term ‘Trantric’ is hardly found either in textual or oral tradition, Tantric elements expressed in various forms and symbols pervade ritual in a subtle way. This study aims at finding some elements of Tantrism in Balinese ritual through observing instruments, tools, materials or elements used to compose rituals - either regular or occasional - and tries to explore the significance of them. A closer observation on various rituals performed by Balinese can show a number of elements known as Panca M-kara, viz. mada, mamsa, matsa, mudra, and mithuna found in various forms of banten, i.e. offering through which power (sakti) may be manifested; in addition to mandala, yantra, mantra and yoga. The commoner practices them with faith and devotion, however, they perhaps lack the knowledge about the deeper meaning of them in performing a particular ritual. The novelty of this study is that it explores various rituals in the frame of Panca-maha-yajna in which Trantric elements are embedded in a subtle way.

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