Tuesday, February 15, 2011

THE MEANING OF “NYEPI” VIEWED FROM PHILOSOPHY CORNER

For Balinese Hindu New Year always begins after Tilem Caka Kesanga (IX), so Hari Raya Nyepi is a new year. Why the turn of the year begins after the expiration month kesanga( IX) ?, But one year there were 12 months according to calendar calculations. Besides Bali calendar recognizes one year there were 12 months ie Kedasa, Jiyestha, Sada, Kasa, Karo, katiga, Kapat, Kalima, Kenem, Kepitu, Kaulu, Kesanga. Why Caka year  begins from kedasa?.
This is because the notion of numbers.
 Hindus especially in Bali admitted that the highest number is the number 9 (sanga). While the number ten is actually a repetition rate which consists of the numbers 1 and 0 (number ten letters of Bali). Similarly, the number eleven is the number of replications 1 and 1, as well as the number twelve (12) and so forth. It's all repetition rates again. While the number nine said to be a number of mystical (magic) because the only numbers when multiplied by the number, except zero or fractional numbers, the numbers will show abnormalities of the other figures. Because one number among the numbers one to nine when multiplied by the number nine, the result of multiplication is then added together would produce nine  for example:

9 X 4 = 36 (3 +6 = 9)
9 X 5 = 45 (4 +5 = 9)

9 X 6 = 54 (5 + 4= 9) and so on
Then compare with:
7 x 7 = 49 (4 +9 = 13)
7 x 8 = 56 (5 +6 = 11) and so on.
Then the number Nine is also revered by Hindus in conjunction with Dewata Nawa Sanga is the god who controls the nine directions of the compass that is the god Iswara (east), the god Mahesora (southeast), Brahma (south), the god Rudra (Southwest), Dewayne Mahadeva (west), the god Sangkara (northwest), Vishnu (north), the god Sambu (northeast), Lord Shiva (the middle)
Besides, the number nine is also associated with a number of holes which are owned by the human body that is 7 in the head and 2 in the bottom, while the navel (pungsed not a hole).
 That's why we know the name dwara (9 holes in our body.) 

Then if it is connected sasih Kesanga with sun position and circumstances seasons in Indonesia, is a blend of understanding and a very complex calculation. Kesanga according to the calculation of Bali will fall in March, the calculation of AD, where this month we are especially in Indonesia will see the sun right in the middle of the equator for the next go or move to Northern latitude. Hindus believe that the North direction is upstream (sacred). Therefore, at times the sun is on the north latitude, ritual ceremony is held. In the story Bhismaparwa where Bhagawan Bhishma after collapsing on the battlefield by Heroine yet also want to exhale her last breath, because waiting until the sun was in northern latitudes (Utarayana). Besides the North, the East is also the direction of the sacred, because that blend East and North direction is called Airsanya (northeast) is the holiest direction so that the building Padmasana (the shrine of Ida Sang Hyang Widhi(God)) took the position direction Northeast (Airsanya). Calculation of Hindus, especially in Bali is so completely and cover various aspects, both aspects of number, amount, direction, and also the god of seasons. As we all know that in Bali, especially known for two (2) The dominant season is summer and rainy season. With the shifting of the sun to the northern verge, then the spring and summer would be welcome, where the rainy season and the hurricane has passed. Of the twelve (12) months which is owned balinese Hindus in Bali, distributed over two parts, namely kedasa months until the kalima are "month to the god", while starting from keenem until Kesanga are the "months to bhuta", where kedasa months until the fifth month the sun is on the verge of north , while from the moon keenem until Kesanga the sun is in the southern equator. The longer the wild air is getting dirty, due to human activities and other creatures that live in this world so the world becomes soiled by human toxins and other creatures. So with the start of the New Year which starts from the month Caka kedasa as if we stepped on the new nature with an atmosphere that is clean, but month after month air this universe more and more polluted, so there should be clean by using mecaru ritual. (Caru ). Caru meaning it is clean or harmonize. From the kedasa until kalima our natural is still clean, but starting from keenem,we have to be classified dirty, and more and more dirty by the end of Kesanga which is the culmination of this defilement. Therefore from the start of the month keenem we have started vigilant because starting from this month's challenges and temptations will be increasingly getting bigger. First of all will be marked with the transition periode of summer and then rain, when the sun floating to north latitude is the start of the nangluk merana ceremonies (misery destroyer)  for the safety of the plants from dangers and disasters. Then we increased the sasih kepitu, where the darkmoon at month Tilem kepitu  is the  darkest moon. Balinese Hindu must strengthen the faith of the coming disaster and the temptations. In Tilem kepitu people are encouraged to do yoga meditation, and we are familiar with the ceremony Ciwa Ratri. Sasih kaulu we already hit by heavy rain, wind seized, lightning and so forth, the more sick people, and finally the culmination of everything that falls in the month Kesanga. So from the  months keenem with nanglukmerana ceremony, we have started to be aware of the consequences of dirty air by holding Mecaru ceremonies,On the month kepitu Balinese Hindu pray The Lord Shiva for the human race safety and welfare.And with the coming sasih kaulu and Kesanga which is a bigger disaster on humans, plants and animals that we have. The effect of this dirty air before Kesanga will be marked by strife, conflict, disease and physical passions ablaze, the rapid rise of blood in recent months, even the lust dog which it periodically in the months of this horrible howling chilling as a sign of longing for her lover. In this Kesanga Tilem tawur or Caru ceremony held simultaneously in all corners of the island of Bali, to neutralize the forces of nature, to become calm again.
The next day or the day after pengerupukan mecaru, then came time for holiday Nyepi where it outwardly, one should not satisfying desires
In accordance with Sundarigama scripture, during Nyepi day person must do Catur Brata Penyepian namely:
Amati geni,not light fire
in this context fire also means electric current,so on this day Bali should be with no lamp and no rice cooking.
 Fire also means  sexual libido, so On The Nyepi day Balinese should not think about sexual desire
Amati Karya, not do the work (no work)

Amati lelungan (no travel)
Amati lelanguan (no indulgence)
Nyepi or Sipeng spiritually means meditating or silence of thoughts and feelings to stop all activities (clearing all memories good and bad), evaluate yourself how much good deeds we can proceed, and how much error (bad deeds) which need to be improved and corrected in the new year to come. Because the next day Ngembak Geni (Start lighting fire), we have to fill with new activities and new attitude at the beginning of the new year.
 Because without starting from a blank we will not be able to make calculations and planning as well as the new program. So the essence of  Nyepi is that we start everything with zero as if we start a new life at the beginning of the new year.


Notes

Nyepi : silence
   Nanggluk merana : Balinese hindu ritual for destroy  calamity
  Tilem : darkmooon
  Saka.: Balinese solar calendar system
  Bhuta :negative energy
  Sasih : month in Saka Balinese calendar system
Kasa : the firsth month
Karo : the second month
Katiga : the third month
Kapat : the fourth month
Kalima : the fifth month
Kenem : the sixth month
Kapitu : the seventh month
Kaulu : the eight month
Kasanga : the nineth month
Kadasa : the tenth month
Jiyestha ; The eleventh month
Sadha : the tvelveth month

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