Enjoying 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?
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RANGDA AS BALINESE MYSTICAL FOLKLORE
Javanese ancient mention that “Rangda” came from the word “Randa” = Widow. Rangda usually use by noble to mention a widow which is no longer a wife to a husband. Written in Mpu Baradah Sanskrit, once upon a time there was a young pretty girl named Nyi Sadya who able to attract King Erlangga, King of Daha. Erlangga brought Nyi Sadya to the palace and became wife of Erlangga. When pregnant, Nyi Sadya wants to be provided with seven human hearts from various classes of dynasty. Because of this impossibility request, then Erlangga decided to banish Nyi Sadya to the forest of Girah. Then officially, Rangda Girah became a widower of King Erlangga.
Nyi Sadya’s magic figure was came from the studied of Pragolan bible, from this bible, Nyi Sadya also got her black magic knowledge. Because revenge sense due to being isolated by the King of Daha, then Nyi Sadya began to spread a terror and disaster to people all around Kingdom of Daha. Nyi Sadya’s magic was very known to mention her as a witch lady and the queen of black magic, and she was titled as Rangda Girah or Rangda Dirah which is meant a widow from Girah. Terror and disaster caused by magic of Rangda Dirah was annoying King Erlangga, and he was try looking for ways to stop his peoples night mare.
When Rangda Girah daughter, Ni Diah Ratna Menggali, grown up into a beautiful girl. Many boys were trying to attract her, but fearing of Rangda Dirah magic was made them scared to purpose Ratna Menggali. Peoples also react to isolated Ratna Menggali, which was made Rangda Dirah revenge sense and angriness became stronger, Rangda Dirah raised the intensity spread of terror and disaster to peoples of King Daha. However, the effort of blocking all black magic from Rangda Dirah was begun to found when Mpu Baradah, spiritual and religious leader, dispatch his student, Mpu Bahulu to attracted Ratna Menggali. Ratna Menggali falls in love with Mpu Bahulu, then all the black magic secret of Rangda Dirah being known by Mpu Baradah which caused Rangda Dirah being surrendered by Mpu Baradah.
Rangda Dirah folklore is very famous among Balinese people. Story contain of a mystic is being transform into mystical beliefs in ancient and modern Bali. Rangda Dirah as a queen of black magic was illustrated as scary woman who has a long hair like shown in this article pictures.
In Balinese Hindu society, mystical beliefs are still remaining until now, proved by Rangda’s attribute which is found in the temple all over Bali. In particular period will be performing Rangda & Barong dance as media to give spiritual understanding to Rangda’s folklore. Rangda Dirah figure that will continue to spread a terror and disaster to people will be destroying by Barong as a figure of Mpu Baradah, the embodiment of goodness.
BALI PAINTING AS A CULTURES REFLECTION
A process of drawing something in a flat form using paint or ink is called a painting. Have a closer meaning with aesthetic and art makes a painting as an object fully contain with creativity implementation. A painting can represent someone imaginer feeling to amused art curator or a person who loves painting or just to eyes sight seeing. Naturalism and representative is a way of painting creativity, these two themes can be a painter narrative act to pour a story of everything at their painting.
Firstly, a history of painting is detected through cave paintings which were found in several countries such as in French, Spain, Portugal, China, Australia, India etc. Cave painting is a reflection of life in prehistoric era and will be a record for modern era. When a man start to recognizing a cultures, then painting development is not just using cave wall as media to paint but its already use other media; canvas, fabric, board etc. Natural color from a charcoal and limestone are also turning to a modern media use such as paint or ink which is vary in type. Spiritual motif giving a big influences for all development history of a painting in both Western and Eastern country, other motifs also derive from painter creativity.
When culture began to touch Bali, especially in ancient of Hinduism era, painting is being introduced as an art. Proved that in Bali’s Sanskrit is a form of hand painting brushed at a stone, most of these painting are depiction of Kingdom or spiritual leader on that year, so their movement and their history could be detected on Bali’s heritage. First Bali’s painting was found at Kemasan (Klungkung regency) as form of a puppet painting, this painting was purposes as a gift to procession of proposing King’s Banyuwangi (a region in Eastern Java) daughter. First puppet painting is being inspired by stories of Ramayana epic. Simple character of painting combined with natural media giving a new era in Balinese painting. Then painting was developed and began spreading to other places until founded some painting style in accordance of a place where it began to make. Kemasan, Batuan, Ubud are native region in painting style and be direction style to Bali’s painter on their painting. Uniformity style of two dimension painting is also affected by traditional Bali’s culture of ancient Hinduism.
Since inclusion of Western culture in Bali’s life in year 1926 and 1928, Bali began to introduce with painting in three dimension look. This style had been brought by Walter Spies and Rudolf Bonnet. Lighting, coloring, and arrangement of space in Bali’s painting are begun to modernize. Painting object orientation is lead to become freedom choice in a painting. Effort in earning standard and quality of Bali’s paintings is about to find its way.
How far does standard and quality being developed? We could find the answer by exhibited on Bali’s paintings.
BALINESE DECORATIVE DOUBLE DOOR
Connection between inside and outside world is very common known as “door”. Has a meaning as a flat movable barrier that is fitted into and closes the entrance to a building, room, cupboard, car, etc., door is a primary function in all building interior. Besides protecting a privacy of other inside interior, generally door is the first building interior that touched by a human to enter the advance world.
Design and use of the door was first discovered at the ancient Egypt tomb. In general, door has many variety of types depends on its shape, mechanism, function, and even on a culture of what region where it’s founded. Because door became a part of a building then it has a component that has to proper with design interior of the house. Attached at the doorway, a door must have a hinges to connect a doorway with the door, so the door can move freely when opened and closed. The door has several components such as light and air ventilation (top rail), door handle and key as middle rail, and supported bottom panel as a bottom rail. Along with development era and modernization, technology of door’s design already modified to meet a demand of human who want simple design for an easier life. But infrequently, still there is ancient design hunted to meet with the esthetic of home beauty and interior building.
Bali a place where always keep the harmonization between culture and modernization also has a concept in building architecture and interior design. Mentioned on several Hindu Sanskrit that universally conceptual of “Tri Hita Karana” and “Tri Mandala” always apply in developing a building as well as in the interior design, these universal concept can’t separated with Balinese community and still applied until now. Tri Mandala is a concept of a house geographical landscape divides into Main Mandala (a sacred landscape), Madya Mandala (a residential landscape), and Nista Mandala (a landscape of disposal area; e.g. toilet). The door is an equipment to separated these three area and be a bridge to harmonized them. Tri Hita Karana is a concept to emphasize a relationship between a human with God, with a Man, and with the Environment. Door which attached and be a part of “Penyengker” is also an application of Tri Hita Karana concept, shows a relationship between a human and the non biotic Environment. Wood material and its natural color is a form of relationship between human and biotic Environment. The door carving and decoration is the form of spiritual dealing between human and God as a creator of Universe.
Everything which is explained Balinese decorative door could providing the answer to a question; why Bali always contain of cultural and Mystical touch on every details? A comprehension of Bali’s decorative door will turn to be useless if you never touch the carved panel as a sensation taste of Balinese culture, and be prepared to the unique greatness of Bali interior inside.
CHRYSANTEMUM, AN ORNAMENTAL BEAUTY FROM BEDUGUL
Travelling to Bedugul will provide a distinctive satisfaction; the way of natural treatment of an attractive view and a blush of a windy valley, could contribute calmness. Good weather and climate which supported by fertile ground condition, giving this land with agriculture commodity value and beauty sight for Bali tourism. Various kinds of vegetables, leaves, and flowers that essential factor of plants is definitely could turned by a nature for doing something glamour to a visitors. And Chrysantemum is one of so many beautiful plants in Bedugul that will be a theme of this article. Having itself as a perennial herb plant, Chrysantemums could be growing in perennial land with tropical till subtropical climate. Sometimes people called this plant as Mums only. Include in family of Asteraceae, Chrysantemums are native to Asia and Northern Europe country. China is a country of Chrysantemum nativity and a land where this plant had founded for the first time. Then on its history, Chrysantemum had brought to Japan and became inspiring a Festival of Happiness in Japan. Been adopted to Europe make this plant having a name as Chrysantemum (“Chrysous” = gold as a first colour from first variety, and “Antemon” = flower).
Generally, Chrysantemum is flower plant that could reach about 150 cm height, with deeply lobe leaves and decorated with varieties of shape and coloring flowers. Chrysantemum has a perfect florets called disk florets, contained with female and male reproductive organ, and imperfect florets called ray florets which is only has one reproductive organ. Reproduction organ in Chrysantemum could give this plant being cultivated by a seeds, and stem stake will be other choice of cultivation.
Variation in color and shape of Chrysantemum flower is able to attract insects and became an enemy to a Chrysantemum farmers other then stem and leaves fungus. In addition to use as a reduces of polluted air and insect repellent, Chrysantemum also has a medical uses as antibacterial and increases body’s immune in the form of an herbal tea.
Chrysantemum willing to give positive and cheerful excitement for plants lovers, each petals, color and shape of florets could give symbols meaning to some places around the world. If fogy begins to thin Bedugul valley and the weather became bright, then Chrysantemum will display beauty ornament and will provide positive energy to a visitor’s sight.