Balinese Hinduism- The Religion in Bali

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The majority of Indonesia is Muslim, but the Religion in Bali is strongly rooted in Balinese Hinduism, representing a distinct form of Hinduism incorporating local animism, ancestor worship, and reverence for Buddhism. 

About 87% of Balinese people identify themselves as Hindus and that is about 1.7% of the total Indonesian population. Hinduism in Bali is based on the belief of Agama Tirtha Dharma roughly meaning Holy water. Most religions of the world use water and fire as purifying elements. Water cleans, soothes and fertilises, while fire heats, destroys, and hence cleans too. An important belief of Balinese Hinduism is that every element in nature is influenced by spirit. Worshipping their ancestors and the lands that they have inherited, the Balinese possess a rich culture that merges traditions, wisdom, nature and aesthetics.

Balinese Hinduism: An Amalgamation of God, Religion and Ceremonies

• Brahma
• Wisnu or Vishnu
• Siwa or Shiva

In the local language, some Gods are also called Sang Hyang Embang or Sang Hyang Parama Kawi. Bali also sees a lot of worship to nature Gods such as Dewi, the rice Goddess, and Saraswati, the water Goddess, as well as mountain and river Gods which are part of their ancient tradition. 

Temples in Bali serve as a medium for this connection between Gods and the spiritual realm with humans(bhuwa) and gives tourists an opportunity to witness the cultural side of Bali at its best.

One of the key rituals of Balinese Hinduism is the daily offerings to spirits and ancestors.

According to the Religion in Bali, they believe in dharma, which means one’s life path or one’s duty. If followed, life is in order and in harmony, whereas when it is not followed, it creates an imbalance. The opposite of dharma then is adharma, which brings disorientation and chaos.

The Balinese always strive to maintain a balance between these two aspects of their life. They offer daily offerings in the temples and shrines for the lower spirits and Gods alike, as they clearly understand that both forces are part of their existence and can appear in diverse experiences. 

By transcending the notion of good or bad, the Balinese people strive to find harmony and balance in every situation and ultimately emotional freedom, that is moksha meaning liberation from external circumstances and the endless cycle of birth and death, that is samsara( World).

Suggested Read: Pura Tirta Empul In Bali