Bali week specials : Tumpek Landep : Revering the Machine

[Guest guest]

Tumpek Landep is one of Balinese Hindu most unique practices. So

indigenous is this ritual that no parallel can be found, not even

with Hindu celebrations in India.

 

Tumpek rituals come from the belief that each single thing, animate

or inanimate, has a soul and therefore needs spiritual nourishment.

Making offering to an object does not mean that they are praying to

the object being honoured. In their everyday life, Balinese make

offerings not only to please themselves but also as an expression of

gratitude. It is an appreciation to the one being honoured, with the

hope that if one is properly cared, it will never disturb others.

Balinese are driven by the spirit of giving and sharing, and not

taking and receiving. Their basic general principle is dharma and

adharma. If you give, you will receive, if you share you belongings

with others, they will share their own with you. Basically it also

means if you hurt someone, he will hurt you in return.

 

On the basis of these beliefs that Balinese make offerings to almost

single entity in the world, not only to the dewi/dewa

(goddesses/gods) or the positive element but also to the demons or

butakala ( the negetive elements). By making offering to both these

negetive elements its not to say that they are praying to them, but

more of to appease these entities so that they will not interfere

with human beings. As there are men and women, day and night, dark

and bright, black and white, left and right, Balinese believe that

the universe is governed by two axes of power : the bad and good,

neither of which should be stronger than the other so that harmony

can be maintained.

 

In the Balinese rituals, there are six major practices and these

rituals are often associated with the elements of the environments

which support human/Balinese life. The six are :

1. Kuningan : Celebration for goddesses/gods

2. Kandang : Animals

3. Uduh : Plants

4. Wayang : puppets

5. Krulut : gamelan musical instruments and dance costume.

6. Landep : means sharp.

 

Landep is a ritual dedicated to kris, knives and other metallic

objects such as swords etc. a practice in the ancient times, but with

the introduction of modern tools, it include all the modern

instruments that are being used by Balinese in their daily living.

These tools are being revered especially sharp instruments because

they have the capability of injuring others. The ritual express

appreciation to these tools and blesses them so that they will not

harm or injure the owners. These tools include aircrafts,

helicopters, cars, motorbikes, buses, electrical instruments such as

computers, televisions, telephones, fax machines etc.

 

During Tumpek Landep festivals these tools are being cleaned and

decorated with young plaited coconut leaves and flowers. Cars and

motorcycles are cleaned and parked in the house yard. Plaited coconut

leaves are being hung on the wind shield wipers, rear views minors

and grills. Offerings of fruits, flowers, rice, cakes, leaves,

incense and holy water are placed nearby and a priest is called to

minister the ritual and sprinkle the holy water.