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?

Triad to a peaceful mind; to Brahma I feel life, to Vishnu I feel safe, to Shiva I feel surrender

What makes human life is so beautiful?, this would bring different answers in human beings themselves. It is amazing to see so many different mindsets in a form called human. Humans, a form being created by The Subject, has the excess level or even a few levels higher than any other living creatures in this world and all that is known in this universe. Power of a muscle is not more a weapons to win, but the power of mind that it was setting as the center for the field of life strategies.

In the Balinese Hindu community, especially in dealing with human life itself, believed the concept that the Creator has divided to be the source of all sources, protector of all the protective and destructive for all destruction of all human themselves. A concept that originated came from Kurma Purana clearly states that human firstly feel the breath of life comes from the creation of Sang Hyang Brahma as a function of The Creator’s first triad, to feel the breath of life in the universe as the most noble creatures created with the power to think, human beings are capable find a way to determine the choice to continue living or not at all. During the wheel of life, not just one or two obstacles that must be faced by the people, but thousands of problems and makes life of a man thought to live in it and this is the second triad functions Sang Hyang Vishnu to protect human life  defense and maintaining the defense of life. When in the process of life appreciation, human will find so-called end of life and there is no other way to avoid this situation and will surrendering all the life process to the universe, this submission will controlled by the third triad, Sang Hyang Shiva.

Three segments of human life can be a fact that The Subject has done such an excellent job in the process of human creation, maintenance and protection, destruction of human. Time is a means to provide a limit for the Triad in carrying out their duties respectively. Back to the man himself, get a breath of life, through life, and surrender to what life will give after the hard struggle is a beauty of life trilogy.

At the end people will start to realize that God is the source of life, protection, and a sense of self-surrender.

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?

Movements of Sacred Beauty

Bali Painting - Solo DancerDistance and time in dynamic motion of the universe, build a space for living things to move in pursuing natural movement. Inspiration of natural movement has given participation for the creation of art movements in the human world and poured into a form of popular dance. The art of dance is a form of real information that living things were artistically capitalized in their respective lives. Civilization has taught living things to create communication, either verbally or without words which must be understood by both parties by using non-verbal body movements only. In the art of dance, the dancers must be able to give dance meaning to the recipients, so the audience can interpret the story of the dance movement itself. The scope of the art of dance not only as an entertainment, but has a broad scope in terms of its implementation and usage. In some countries, a dance has been known before the existence of cultural civilization, but maybe only giving a meaning to the application of a religious life of mythology and for healing treatment, up to those reasons even now are still found in some countries and regions, the existence of dance that originated from ancient times are still preserved as one of the cultural heritage of ancestors.

Dance means a body movement in time with the music and used to show expression, social interaction, spiritual expression and an entertainment show. Expression of the body and face movements of dancers able to give meaning to a soul of dances. Expression in dance can also be used as a forum for public social interaction to a connoisseur of art. A dance can also display a particular spiritual expression which is really spiritually purified. Speaking of spiritual issues and dances, once again will be introduced how to see art and spiritual so unified in the blood and breath of life of the Balinese society. Cultural heritage from prehistoric times until it was introduced civilization in Bali by the newcomers seemed increasingly makes Bali so well known. Art and spiritual life of the Balinese people are not separated from the norms and the preservation of its entire cultural heritage. In addition to spatial layout, motion was always filled with the values of art and high culture and usually closely related to religion Hindu community in Bali, art and culture originated from God, dedicated and shall return to the glory of the Creator.

When relation between the spatial structure of all forms of religious art and culture is a sacred thing, and dance forms called “Tarian Wali” such as Berutuk dance, Rejang dance, Sang Hyang Dedari dance, Baris Gede dance. Dance usually using sacred infrastructure and Temple as a place to perform, at least the dancers who dancing must still virgin or must obtain prior purification procession known as “Pasupati”, this sacred procession could maintain vertical relation between human with the Creator, so the dance included in this “Tarian Wali” contain magical powers. Tarian Wali is sacred offerings of the dancers to God with the firm notes that the dance is not perform commercially. Unlike the other categories of Balinese dance, some dances are includes into “Bebali”, they are Gambuh, Topeng Pajegan, Wayang Wong. This dance is perform at Temple and could also be shown to the public outside of religious environment, of course, magic sense is still guarded. Dance intended as a show for the public area classified into dance called “Balih-balihan”, such as Legong dance, Parwa, Arja, Joged, and dances with modern choreography. Many kinds of Balinese dances classified in three categories and all of this dance is not easy for dancers to be able to master it and to hold the high proficiency level in the expression of magic and religy, body movements that has to be adjust to the pace and rhythm of music and soul of this art is not easy to learn and needs special training. Time and strata or levels must pass from an early age. One or two years is not the time required for a dancer to be able to understand every movement of Balinese dance in expressing the soul of the art and it is not an understable things in a short time, but it may take from an early age until reach ten years even more . Basic level, an intermediate (Madya) and full stratum (Purna) is the strata for a dancer to successfully assuming the power of art and culture of Balinese dance. The beauty of motion in the sacred task of maintaining the relationship with God and in the preservation of this cultural heritage is taken locally by various efforts including the existence of special schools where conservation and development of Balinese dances taking place, there are also many dance workshops which provides early instruction on how to master Balinese dance.

High dedication in keeping the arts and cultural heritage of Bali is expected to become the beauty and harmony in dynamic motion of Balinese people. Space and time in beauty of movement will bring you for joining the magical sense of art and culture in Balinese dance.

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?