The Ritual of Melutak: Bali

In an article I posted yesterday about the holy springs of Tirta Empul in Tampaksaring, I mentioned a ceremony called Melutak - the cleansing of one's body and soul.

I mentioned that for pregnant women, bathing in the holy waters of Tirta Empul is significant. It is one of three places they must bathe for the special ritual called Melukat. This ritual involves the total immersion in the holy waters. Besides Tirta Empul there are two other places and they are Tirta Bungkah and Tirta Selukat.

I remembered having an article in my collection written by I Wayan Juniartha on the Balinese ritual of Melutak. The ritual that aims at cleansing the devotee's body and soul from both self-inflicted impurities and negative influences from outside sources.

The ritual of 'Melukat': Recharging spiritual enthusiasm

Morning had just arrived in Griya Taman, a beautiful Brahmin compound in the quiet village of Sanur. The soft yellowish light of the dawning sun mingled with the sweet fragrance of burning incense creating a calming ambience of tranquility.

Amid the colorful offering of fresh flowers and fruits on the Bale Pawedan, an elevated open pavilion in the compound's temple, the high priest Ida Pedanda Ketut Sidemen sat in a deep meditative state. His white clothes and handsomely wrinkled face along with the sacred hand-gestures of Mudra, made him look like a figure from island's majestic past.

In a deep guttural voice the high priest began to address Surya, the Lord of the Sun, praising the deity for the compassionate grace he had extended to the earth and mankind. His invocation to the sun was accompanied by a monotonic tinkling sound from the Bajra bell on his left hand.

A few minutes later, he finished his daily, morning sun-ritual of Surya Sewana. He then shifted and rotated his body a bit before addressing three people who had waited in silence next to the pavilion.

"Now we can commence the Melukat" he said softly.

The three individuals - poetess Mas Ruscitadewi, social activist Yacintha Daisy and popular radio host Putu Tara - immediately took their upper outer garments off and assumed the traditional position for receiving a blessing.

In the next half-hour the high priest conducted the ritual of Melukat on them. Balinese Hindus underwent this ritual on a regular basis. Generally Melukat is held on the day before the religious festival of Kuningan, which falls on May 12.

"The ritual aims at cleansing the devotee's body and soul from both self-inflicted impurities and negative influences from outside sources. To some extent the ritual also recharges a person's spiritual strength and enthusiasm" the high priest said.

The ritual consisted mainly of the recitation of a special mantra by the high priest. The mantra had elements of an exorcism invoked by the high priest to cleanse the devotee's body and soul from various evil forces including black magic. The final parts of the mantra were devoted to the adoration of the deities' mighty powers. The high priest closed the recitation by imploring the gods to bestow their grace and protection on the devotee.

Grace was symbolized in the ritual by the sprinkling of holy water and the consumption of the consecrated rice of Bija. Protection was granted through the Karawista, a head band made of strips of Ilalang grass, a green leaf and a red flower.

"Karawista is a symbol of Omkara, the most sacred and powerful letter and sound in the teachings of Balinese Hinduism. The Omkara stands for Almighty God's powers of creation, preservation and annihilation" the high priest said.

Ilalang grass is said to be the only earthly object that has experienced direct contact with Amrta, the Elixir of Eternal Life. The contact has given Ilalang grass immortality and ultimate power against dark forces.

For Yacintha Daisy the ritual had indeed refreshed her soul. She lightly touched the beautiful Karawista on her head, smiled, and then described her experience.

"I have been in a dark emotional abyss lately. The ritual has changed that. Now I feel light at heart and am ready to face the coming days" she said.

A Catholic by birth, Daisy has an open attitude toward spirituality. She idolizes Jesus as well as Gautama, the Buddha, and she embraced Balinese Hinduism's colorful rituals with child-like enthusiasm.

For the charismatic Ida Pedanda Ketut Sidemen who is well-known for his unique spiritual method of Mencar (using the act of repeatedly casting a fishing net into the open sea as a yoga breathing exercise), religious denomination is irrelevant to a person's enlightenment.

"It is not about whether you are a Hindu or a Christian. It is about whether your heart is pure and filled with love and devotion to God" he said.