Topeng Bali in Balinese Cultural Character

Happiness and sadness is a sense of self-expression which can be reflected from face expression. Mostly, this self-expression holds the role of a face expression which is so important in some activity and could be adjusted by base on scale of need. Not only being a certain fashion trends that a make-up faces are made only for showbiz purposes, but there are times in some ways people can create a makeover on his face with psychological factors support that wants to be disclosed or the mood to be covered, commonly use to describe a noun known as the “Mask”.

Mask is a shape which is generally used to cover a face. Mask at the beginning of its development is used to realize the imaginary form of a person and is usually associated with religious and magical atmosphere and of course with highly creativity power and art creations. Trust in the form of nature deities and forms of real ancestors reflection is often poured into the form of a mask for a complementary means of a deity or ancestor worship ceremonies at that time. The form of the arts was diverse; form of human faces up until animal’s forms, as in most of African, the mask takes the form of an animal because it is believed to be used as a means to communicate with the Gods and ancestors. While in the Asian region the mask was used to give more meaning to the definition of the characters in such colossal epics Mahabharata and Ramayana which is originally from India, then spread to several regions in Southeast Asia including Indonesia, especially Java and Bali. Development of form and masks character in Java and Bali is much influenced by Hindu & Buddhist cultures of India and China. Universally, mask is used to display the expression of a character in a ceremony or in theatrical performances. In a historic development function of the mask and its power been shifted to other purposes such as face shield even for amusement. Masks are not only used on the face of a dancer or mask user, but there are times when the mask is also used in other parts such as body or finger. Other function is a mask often used in festivals, carnival, even to be used in the Halloween event.

Mask called “Topeng” in Indonesia. By the form that commonly used by the mask dancers, Balinese “Topeng Bungkulan” distinguished as a mask form covering the entire face, and “Topeng Sibakan” is a shape of a mask that just cover half part of the face. “Topeng Bungkulan” is usually used in the Balinese theatrical drama using mastermind and sounding with word and song wearing Ancient Balinese language or a language derived from Sanskrit. While “Topeng Sibakan” on the show not wearing mastermind because the wearer can use their own voice.

In Balinese culture, mask usually became the most important part in the mask dance, and having a very close connection with religious ceremonies because it is often staged in the temple or during religious events which is so sacred. Balinese people call the mask as “Tapel”. Dance mask that very associated with religious ceremonies and performed during some religious ceremony is known as “Topeng Pajegan” or “Topeng Wali”. This mask dance is performed by a single dancer and must bring a few roles using different masks in a dance session. Dancing with five or more dancers who wear masks with different characters called “Topeng Panca”. Appearance of several figures from “Topeng Panca” can also be displayed in “Topeng Prembon” Dance. Mask dance performance that perform comedy road stories or folklore of ordinary Balinese people called “Topeng Arja” or “Topeng Bondres”.

Balinese masks are also used to represent the characters with their respective duties and functions, in order to bring a demand in the mask dance. “Topeng Tua” or “Topeng Keras” represent a character of a wise holy man; it is figure “Pangelembar”. Other strata character known as the figure of “Penasar Kelihan” and “Penasar Cenikan”. There is also a figure called “Ratu Dalem” and “Ratu Patih”. There is also a character that figure ordinary people named “Bondres”. But the character which is acted by the mask dancers must also be able to convey the mask character to the audience explicitly or implicitly.

Theatrical masks nevertheless can sometimes be understood only with the help of the voice from a puppeteer. Strong character traits by a mask user will bring the story in amusement role becomes something meaningful to the audience, although sometimes the wearer’s mood is very different from their mask figure played on role. Likewise for humans also, role of character is inherent in each individual and can give a beautiful conclusion that the world is non-different from a mask theater. What role is on performed behind your face mask, is it joy or sorrow?

Sea Sailing Above the Sky

anny's courtesyLife is a journey, taken for so many years and starting a long time ago. Each trip has a historical value for each subject and object. Whether, it will be able to create an invention or merely a transitional period or became a wish that has incoherent reply. When looking at an innovation form as seen in the picture, it might look as a little boy toy that wrote there since humans discovered the form. However, the discovery history of kite creations are created from a dream or accidentally invention can provide a scientific idea to bring objects & creatures feel the air and watch earth landscapes from the sky.

The kite is a framework made of lightweight wood, bamboo is usually crushed up in obtain desired weight, then the entire surface of the framework of such objects wrapped with paper or soft fabric like a silk. In particular ends of the thread linked with wire or cord as flying control of how high the kite is in the air. Parts of kites are made in such a way that could lead to energy thermodynamics to apply capability of lifting a kite into the air. Air flow at the top and bottom in such a way, where the high pressure air flow at the bottom of the kite and the low air pressure over the top of the cross-section of a kite. While the wire or cord functions to regulate the flow of this air.

China, believe is the origin of the history of kite using, and its use was known to dive more than a thousand years ago. Although still in the traditional stage and in times of war from dynasty to dynasty, but the kite can fly and spread its own history to other parts of the world, and popularize themselves internationally. Intermediate form of a kite that use from time to time being a great significance for the development of technology and information, from only as a tool for posting a military messages and political tactic then became to inspire the information and technology, meteorology, and human transportation by air.

Diamond is a classic form of a kite, although in the development era, the shape and size of the kite varied, as shown in the picture looks a shaped kite flown in the form of a ship along the coast of Double Six, Seminyak Bali. For the moment the kite is more popular use as creations and entertainment. In some Asian countries, the kite is used in the race kite or a kite fight, kite wire reinforcement by providing such a mixture so that when competing with others, kites can be broken off the opponent and emerged as the winner. Usually the festive kite contest can be obtained when there is a kite festival.

The journey is a journey, when a dream and all idea came from a subject on the ground, the development of paradigm will bring technological innovations to the development of an object of thought. Whether we realize it or not cruising ships is generally occurs in the blue sea and oceans, can now also be seen on a wide blue of sky, so magnificent sail journey of the sailboat, as if he could tell the world up there that any land and sea can sail in to the ocean of wide sky.

Secret of Holy Tears from Fresh Water

White Fresh Water PearlsWorld paradise offers a variety of happiness and joy of life, appear in the wide range formation depending on the individual desires from each creature. Nature as the emerge of all these pleasures reasons has been so loyal in serving their beauty strategy, so that the human conscience will be given joy for setting it up or even trying to find a ways to create a form of beauty with nature assistance.

The beauty is one of femininity character and usually associated with women, one that has managed to tie the wonderful world of women is an object that has unique reflections. The item called a pearl, the pearl is generally known as a hard object has round shape with unique characteristic of light reflections.

Pearls are formed from the accumulation layer of calcium carbonate, mineral aragonite or a mixture of aragonite and calcite, making compound with organic shell for making Conchiolin. The combination of aragonite with conchiolin called nacre which then will give a touch of beauty to the pearls. When an object interrupted into the oyster shell, the oyster coats will be issuing nacre to minimize irritation of the shell body from a foreign object, accumulation layers of nacre over a period of time can produce a pearl.
Pearls can be divided by way of its formation, the formation of environment media, or the shape of the pearl itself. Based on how the formation, divided into natural pearls are formed naturally and synthetic pearls are formed from the captivity. Based on the media environment, pearl can be divided into sea water pearls that are formed by sea shells and freshwater pearls that are formed by mollusk creature living in freshwater, such as rivers or lakes. Based on the natural shape, pearls can be divided into perfectly round pearl, semi round pearl shaped, baroque shaped pearl. Each type of pearl above must have different beauty and different economic value. Natural pearls from the sea shells with perfectly round shape of course will have higher value than synthetic freshwater mussels with semi round shape or baroque.

fresh pearlsPearls frequently used by humans as jewelry of course in the context of satisfying the value of beauty. There are also utilized as raw material in cosmetics, or as beads, a complementary of ritual. Speaking about rituals and religious issues, we will about to see the contents of the Hindu scriptures of Atharvaveda, where written the Garuda Purana which is about the value of the sanctity of the so-called “Nine Pearls” in the description of the mythological and religious aspects. In Sanskrit Hindu also said that Pearl was also featured as costume jewelry or portrayed as a necklace of Lord Vishnu, believe also as a stimulant digestion and treatment for mental ailment. Based on Marco Polo notes, the King of Malabar wear pearls of 108 pcs in strand of necklace and ritually transmitted from generation to generation, in which every king must say 108 prayers every morning and evening.

Earthly beauty of a pearl could contain the heavenly beauty that comes from the excavation mythology values of ancient Sanskrit. Tears of the filled shells layered by nacre formed in the freshness of sea water or freshwater can really soothing pearl lover. Will it also be able to provide freshness in your heart?

Meru Tumpang, the Sacred Architecture

Besakih Meru Tumpang -- Anny courtesyEnjoying Bali, known as an attractive tourist places. Nature, culture and architectural beauty of the building, seemed not to be out to uncover and sung as a song of beauty of the Gods and Goddesses. Where ever stepping Bali, seemed needed a million years to leave and erase the memory of Bali itself. However effort in trying to forget calmness moment of this tiny island, but Bali with all its contents can pull all your memory for a real tangible return to the land of Bali. Understanding of culture and religion is comprehension that protected in Bali. When you are around on this island, of course, you’ll find so many sacred buildings in which certainly known by the name of the Temple. Almost in every house will find the location used as the worship of God. So many question will occurred from you as a tourist on holiday in Bali, refer to the meaning presented by the beauty of the area and what the symbolic meaning inherent of the power of their own religious temple building. The sacred building which will be reviewed on this article is “Meru” or “Meru Tumpang”. Roof of Meru building looks gradually leveling so that’s why Meru so called as Meru Tumpang. “Meru” comes from the word “Me” which means Mother & “Ru” which means Father, so that Meru has a meaning as human ancestors. In addition Meru also as the symbol of Mount Mahameru as the place of God in the universe, this is characterized by a leveling roof. Meru as a sacred building usually has a roof with 11 levels that represents the eleven layers of the universe, they are: Sekala, Niskala, Cunya, Taya, Nirbana, Moksa, Suksmataya, Turnyanta, Ghoryanta, Acintyataya, Cayen. In Hindu belief that ten of the universe has a soul of the sacred letter (sa, ba, ta, a, i, na, ma, si, wa, ya) and is located in the ten directions of the universe, then ten of them are united by a sacred letter which is provide of the most sacred symbol of God “Om” or “Omkara”, which is appointed by the top level of the roof Meru itself. “Meru Tumpang Sebelas” can be found in the complex of Penataran Agung Besakih Temple. Meru Tumpang Sebelas in this area is the place to build vertical relationship between human with God in the context of balancing the spiritual strength and human spirit itself. While beside Meru Tumpang Sebelas, located Meru Tumpang Sembilan which has a meaning of eight sacred letters soul in denoting the eight layers of nature and united as well by the sacred characters of God “Om” on which emphasizing by level 9 of the roof. Meru Tumpang Sembilan give a meaning to the building on how a human build horizontal relationship with the surrounding, in order to balancing the harmony of people activity and nature. Both forms of “Meru Tumpang” located at Penataran Agung Besakih Temple could be as a mirror of human’s introspection in every process of self balancing verticaly and horizontaly. Balance layer of universe symbolized by the building of Meru was also afford a breath of harmony life on the island of Bali, so the sensation of a comfort moment during the holidays can be interpreted as a lifetime of comfort that will keep you looking to visit Bali again and again. Are you going to dismiss a holiness touch of Meru architecture?

Kama Jaya and Ratih, All Together in Sang Hyang Semara’s

Bumblebee Dance--courtesy of Neka Art Museum by Anak Agung Gede SobratThroughout the history of human civilization, along with the age of the universe in achieving modernization, Love is being well known for all the creatures on the planet earth. Universally meaning for all human beings, even Love could transforming the simplest desire into the deepest feeling of resignation. Love might be a form of reason for all occurrences which sometimes could not describe logically or mathematically.  If Love placed as a word with its limited meaning, then she will said as a tenderly deep feeling of caring somebody or something.  But none of those strands word could be boundaries to prison Love. Every place in this world has different way and manner to express love and affection. Love sometimes could answer to many questions which ended with one main reason; what reason would you imagine when you do something, what is your reason pointed when you start dislike something, or when you are stuck in a thinking to re-find the cause of reasons why you decided to release something, then Love in the form of power could forced you doing something, Love against something provoke you to understand every detail of it then you might be able to find out the things you don’t like and raise boredom and hate, and love will bring you to learn on how to release something you’d really like. Those are a deep speculation about love because she can not be limited and confined in a special sense.

One day on February known as day to reflected Love and affection meaning, that day called Valentine’s Day, as said before that every part in this green planet has time to written Love power. Bali as a unique civilization with many history and culture of the Hinduism since ancient times has the day to reflect love and affection as well. According to a source, Wuku Saniscara Kliwon Krulut or commonly referred to as Tumpek Krulut is used as a ceremony of Taksu. In this case, Taksu is a person or object that could cause a pleasure of others nearby, and from this joyful affection could raise Love. God with the form as Sang Hyang Semara Jaya and Sang Hyang Semara Ratih in Balinese Hindu communities is as a symbolic worship used in ceremonies such as marriage, manhood, or potong gigi. Symbols of Sang Hyang Semara Jaya and Ratih are always a facilities and infrastructure in providing a sense of affection through all the ritual; it is more about vertically connection between humans and The Creator and horizontally dealings among humans. Sang Hyang Semara Jaya and Ratih is a symbol of God’s fusion deploying to every human being and able to give the history of the love and affection formation between humans. Dance procession called Oleg Tambulilingan is a form love of art that has managed to describe the form of how Sang Hyang Semara Jaya and Sang Hyang Semara Ratih meet each other in every soul of man and a woman. Originally, Oleg Tambulilingan only perform by woman dancer but later in their development then add male dancer to give more meaning to the reunification of Sang Hyang Semara Jaya and Sang Hyang Semara Ratih.

These realism of  Love in culture and social life has lead Bali as a small island filled with glorious cultural heritage of his ancestors and proving that Love and Compassion in the realm of cultural preservation reiterated that Love couldn’t be limited only by having understanding of the words itself but rather about Love limitless.