Purging evil spirits

(News Terupdate) - In the Balinese calendar, Wuku Wayang – which runs from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6 this year – is considered to be an unlucky period for a child to be born as it is coincides with the birth of the demon Bhatara Kala.

Balinese Hindus believe babies born in that period inherit Kala’s bad characteristics and are prone to illness and harm from the demon. Therefore, they should undergo a ceremony to be purified from bad influences and protected from harm.

Ketut Ariyani believes that taking part in the bayuh weton sapu leger ceremony will benefit her temperamental son Kadek Krishna who was born on a Wuku Wayang day.

“He often gets angry suddenly. I believe that by undergoing this ritual, my son will get better,” said the resident of Blahbatuh, Gianyar, when she took her 8-year-old son to the grand ceremony held in Gianyar earlier this month.

People born during the inopportune time are said to possess “excessive energy”, which should be managed to prevent them from getting in trouble.

“There are unlucky days in our lives, including the Wuku Wayang, when the influence of Bhatara Kala is very strong. To neutralize and keep the negative power away, children born on these days need to be purified through the ruwatan ritual,” said Made Titib, a professor at the Hindu Dharma Negeri Institute.

According to the Hindu historical inscription, Bhatara Kala – often portrayed as a scary-faced giant – is the descendant of Siwa, the god of destruction in Hindu belief.

To honor the birth of Kala, Siwa gave him a special blessing: allowing him to prey on everyone born in Wuku Wayang. Kala even ran after his little brother Kumara, who was born in the same period.

When Kala was chasing Kumara, the latter hid in a keropak (puppet storage box) when a dalang (puppeteer) was holding a performance. Kala failed to find Kumara and instead ate offerings prepared by the puppeteer.

The puppeteer was angry as Kala ate the offerings and therefore asked for a reward. However, Kala was not able to meet the puppeteer’s demand. He then promised that he would not prey on those born in Wuku Wayang, as long as the children had undergone the sapu leger ritual.

The puppeteer was also given special blessing from Kala that enables him to purify people born during Wuku Wayang.

Many adults born during Wuku Wayang still have to undergo the ritual.
The ceremony, held as a charity event by Maha Gotra Pasek Sanak Sapta, drew the attention of 47-year-old Made Suardana, who came with his family.

“I have never had this kind of ceremony before because it’s quite expensive to hold it on your own, you might have to spend millions of rupiah,” Suardana said.

“I believe this ritual can make my life better.”

Suardana joined 200 participants from Gianyar, Klungkung and Bangli regency.
The bayuh weton sapu leger ceremony starts with ngemargiang pengresikan, the cleaning of the participant’s body.

“This phase includes byekawonan [ritual to get rid of bad luck] and prayascita duurmanggala, which means ‘cleaning our hearts’,” said Hindu priest Made Sukarya.

Prior to the puppet performance, the dalang holds a certain ritual to sanctify the puppets.

While the dalang performs a puppet show, participants conduct melukat or clean up their bodies using holy water provided by the puppeteer. The holy water they receive from the pandita (priest), or Mpu Leger, is then splashed all over their bodies.

Not all puppeteers, however, can perform in the ceremony and present the holy water. They should be able to memorize Tattwa or Dharma Pewayangan stories, as well as various magical words, including Agni Nglayang, Asta Pungku, Dangacharya and Penglukatan Penyapuh Leger.

The next step is mejaya-jaya and natab banten sapu leger. The pandita gives the participants special prayers, which are believed to be able to retain the strength of gods. Each participant also attaches three small threads on their bodies, comprising red, white and black-colored thread, to symbolize the gods presence near them.

“Red represents Brahma, the creator god. Black symbolizes Wisnu, the protecting god, while white is a symbol of Siwa, the destroyer god,” Made Titib said.

During the ceremony, the participants also conducted other rituals as a symbol of their “spiritual cleansing”, such as dipping fingers in pig’s blood, one of the offerings.

Before participants gather in one place to join the cleansing rituals, each is required to do some lesser steps of sapu leger rituals in their houses.

People usually hold this ceremony collectively since it is expensive to prepare all the offerings and facilities.

“We organize this event to help Hindus who cannot afford to hold the ceremony on their own. Those who have more resources should help others,” said I Gede Windia Berata, chairman of the event organizer Maha Gotra Pasek Sanak Sapta Rai.

“The ceremony is only one way to get rid of the negative powers,” he added.

“Actually, there are many ways to manage the ‘excessive energy’ to create harmony in your life, such as by doing tapa, yoga and Samadhi. But those who are not able to do that can ‘purify’ themselves through this ceremony.”

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