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BaliGuide.me Offerings Guide

Religious

Offerings

as respect and gratitude to the gods

Last update: 03/04/2024 22:18

overview

Offerings in small bowls of various shapes made of banana leaves with scented sticks can be found almost everywhere you look in Bali. You will see them in front of houses on the street, in front of temples, at intersections, besides statues, near the rivers, and inside homes and restaurants. Offerings in Bali are an integral part of the local people's religion and daily life; they are given every day, and there are several types of them. They vary primarily in their purpose and for whom they are intended. This affects not only their size but also their content. They are an offering to the God Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wasa for his past blessings of life, safety, health, and prosperity while expressing gratitude.

 

This Guide is divided into the following sections:

offerings Purpose

Balinese prepare offerings every day as a central part of Balinese Hinduism. Offerings have multiple meanings for the locals, and they complement each other.

 

For the Gods

 

The offerings symbolize the gratitude of Hindus to the primary almighty God, Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, for life, grace, and all protection to this world to maintain harmony and balance in nature. In addition, offerings can also balance the universe, which is meant the natural world, with the invisible realm inhabited by Bhuta Kala (evil spirits). These are to be prevented from interfering with ordinary life. This world is created out of a philosophy of cause and effect, which can be described as good and evil, black and white as a form of balance. Offerings are meant to balance this philosophy and create a harmonious life.

But it is not only Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa to whom the offerings are addressed. For example, farmers often prepare offerings for the fertility goddess Dewi Sri Sedana and merchants for the goddess of prosperity Rambut Sedana.

 

For Themselves

 

The Balinese also take offerings as a form of self-realization. By worshiping the gods and giving offerings to them, they achieve self-satisfaction and, thus, a happy life. Making offerings is a religious ritual often done in a community with other people they associate with.

 

For the Common Good

Offerings consist primarily of flowers and fruits, so they increase the demand for these products. Therefore they sustain their cultivation and increase sales, which leads to prosperity for the people who sell and grow them.

 

For the Environment

 

The increased extraction of raw materials from the offerings (see point above) maintains the agricultural land, thanks to which it is being kept as producing, and plants consume more carbon dioxide and produce more oxygen through photosynthesis.

Offerings content

Offerings in Bali may contain various "gifts" for deities. The content of religious offerings varies depending on the type and importance of the ceremony, and the ingredients can be divided into the following three elements:

Mataya: Parts derived from plants, i.e., flowers, leaves, and fruits. These elements are part of most daily offerings.

 

Maharya: Elements from born animals such as pigs, cows, buffaloes, goats, and dogs. They are mainly used in important ceremonies like Mecaru etc.

 

Mantiga: Elements from animals that come from eggs. Chickens and hens, ducks, geese, etc. Again they are used in essential ceremonies like Odalan, Galungan, etc.

Chicken sacrifice offering, Bali

Chicken which will be sacrificed as an offering

Offerings Types

Offerings to the gods are generally called Banten. They can also be called Upakara, a compound of Upa and Kara, meaning "something made with hands." All types of offerings below fall under the term Banten.

 

💡 Interesting fact: Offerings in Bali are prepared exclusively by women and can only be given to the gods once a day. The skill of making offerings is called Mejejaitan.

Segehan

 

A type of offering that is given every day and is meant for the spirits of Bhuta Kala so that they do not disturb the earthly life and incite the human mind to negative thoughts. The Sagehan is intended to neutralize adverse influences and keep people and all other beings created by the gods, including those we cannot see, in harmony. On regular days, Segehan Kepel Putih is used, and it is just a little cooked rice on a leaf. It is placed on the ground in front of the entrance of the house or yard. On more significant days, such as the full moon, Segehan Manca Warna is used, which is larger and contains white, yellow, red, and brown rice.

Bali offerings Segehan Kepel Putih

Segehan Kepel Putih is smallest offering usually for Bhúta Kala

Canang Sari

 

This is the most common type of offering in Bali, and it is also used every day, and each day, a new offering replaces the one from the previous day. In addition, it is also used on top of other bigger offerings.

 

It is a bowl made from banana leaves in the shape of a square, triangle, circle, or flower, and it is an offering to the almighty God. Canang is a compound of two words Can = "beautiful," Nang = "intention." Sari is the "source."

 

Canang Sari contains flowers of different colors, each with its meaning. The white flowers are meant to face east to honor Shiva, the red flowers face south to worship Brahma, and the yellow flowers face west to honor Mahadevi, the embodiment of Shiva with three eyes. The blue flowers point north to worship Vishnu, described as the blue being with four arms. This offering also includes cut pandanus leaves (for aroma symbolizing wisdom) and cut sugar cane, bananas, or other sweet Balinese delicacies for the Gods' favors.

Bali offerings Canang Sari

Canang Sari is the most common form of offering in Bali

Pejati

 

It is already the larger and main offering, used only on special occasions such as larger ceremonies where the use of Pejati is required. It is considered a complete offering to the almighty God and includes fruits, flowers, and Canang Sari.

Bali offerings Pejati

Pejati offering for Odalan ceremony

Sodaan

 

A type of offering containing fruits, flowers, a bag of rice, duck eggs, coconuts, Canang Sari, and other sacred objects. It is mainly meant for ancestors and used in temples only during important Hindu festivals like Galungan, Kuningan, and Pagerwesi. In some cases, it is used in prominent directional temples.

Bali offerings Sodaan

Sodaan offering used for big ceremonies

Gebogan

 

The offering that is the largest and looks the most impressive, especially when it is carried into the temple by women on their heads. It is a 50cm to 150cm high tower of fruits, flowers, and Canang Sari on top. These large offerings are only used for the most significant ceremonies like Galungan or Odalan, the temple's anniversary.

Bali offerings Gebogan

Gebogan offering is the biggest form of offering

Babi Guling

 

An offering in the form of a whole grilled pig (often several) symbolizes fertility and prosperity. Again, it is only used in certain essential ceremonies. There is also one ceremony in Bali only about Babi Guling offerings - Ngusaba Guling.

Bali offerings Babi Guling

Babi Guling offering during Ngusaba Guling ceremony. Source: Edy Gautama

💡 Interesting fact: Offerings are brought to the Gods, who, according to the believers, take their essence from them. After the ceremony, the locals can use the raw materials from the offerings, i.e., to eat them. 

 

There are also several additions to the offerings that are used in ceremonies. For example:

 

Lamak

 

A decorative hanging mat made of textile or palm leaves that usually decorates the shrine below the place designated for offerings.

 

Sampian

 

A decoration for offerings made of palm leaves, usually accompanied by pink ribbons or flowers. It comes in many shapes, sizes, and colors.

Balinese Lemak shrine decoration

Lemak (4x) made from fabric decorating shrine

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