Balinese Animism
Bali is for the most part a Hindu island with the form of that religion being known as Agama Hindu. The original inhabitants of Bali, the Bali Aga practiced animist beliefs and when Hinduism arrived in 1343, it was fitted onto the existing belief system. Balinese Hinduism differs greatly from Indian Hinduism in the ceremonies, the offerings and mostly with the strong influences from the older beliefs that refused to go away.
Bill Dalton talks about this in the Indonesia Handbook. Bill says, "The Balinese are scared witless of ghosts, goblins and the like, which disguise themselves as black cats, a naked woman, crows. Spirits dominate everything they do and their lives are constantly taken up with offering fruit and flowers to appease angry deities. If put in our society, a Balinese would show all the classic symptoms of paranoid and neurotic disorders, but on Bali these traits are ritualized and institutionalized."
There are actually 2 types of goblins and ghosts. The first type bhuta and kala are invisibles ghosts, the second type is leyak, which are the kind that transform themselves. Looking back I think that some of my ex-girlfriends must of been leyaks. In my neighborhood, Seminyak I see many dogs hanging around at night. These creatures are mangy and half of them look ready to die. Balinese people think dogs can spot ghosts and keep them away from the house, so its great to have a pack of barking dogs around. Bali can sometimes seem like a nuthouse, but there is something behind it.
By Nick | Permalink
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Comments
Hi Barrie-I like my Insight Guide and the nice map that can be purchased with it, although some of the roads on it haven’t been built yet! Heh Barrie could you do a word of the day about Cat Ovens, please? Thanks–Cathleen
Hi Cathleen C,
Thanks for your input. To be honest, I actually haven’t had a browse of the Insight Bali guide but most certainly intend to. Periplus put out a fantastic collection of guide books on every island back in the 1990’s. These are generalised books but still fantadstic value. If you can get hold of any of them, check ‘em out.
Okay, you got me here - Cat Ovens? - but, yeah, explain more and I will do it for you.
G’Day Nick,
Bill Dalton explains everything in a down-to-earth manner and so easily understood.
In my opinion, I would take his guidebook on Bali over LP or Rough Guides if I was embarking on my first visit to Bali. Although, RG is very detailed and more comprehensive.
Now there’s an interesting point. Out of the 3 guidebooks (Bali Handbook - Bill Dalton, Lonely Planet and Rough Guides), which do you prefer?.
Let’s hear it folks!