29/01/2014
Smart Morning Journeyer, today people in Bali is celebrating Siwaratri day....it is come once a year
Siwaratri, often referred to as the ‘night of Siwa’, is an auspicious time for introspection and meditation during which the Hindus of Bali pray for forgiveness of their earthly sins and for support and strength from Siwa in order to reach their higher selves.
Siwaratri is a time for introspection and meditation during which the Hindus of Bali pray for forgiveness of their earthly sins. Its believe that op this important day of Siwa, due to their Siwaratri activities they will get more support, guidance, protection and strength from Siwa. During this Siwaratri ceremony most of Hindhu peoples will going to the temple for praying and they will also doing three kinds of brata which famous as “Brata Siwaratri” as follows:
Siwaratri ceremonies and activities
Siwaratri starts with an opening ceremony of prayers and offerings which is performed at the kawiten, the family’s house temple. This preliminary ceremony should be finished before daybreak and is at 6am followed by,
1. Upawasa/ Fasting (not eating),
is a method to reach self-control in respect with not to be selfish and greedy.
2. Monabrata/ Silence (not speaking)
is a method to learn one should never speak impulsively but instead to carefully weigh one’s words before reacting to one’s experiences in life, to always speak fair and honest words, to never lie, slander, speak evil or swear.
3. Mejagra/ meditation (Not sleeping),
staying awake, is a method to learn to be always ‘awake’, meaning aware of one’s not only in physical life but also in spiritual mind, which should be done with a conduct of insight and wisdom. People must know and be careful in doing something, they must able to see things from many dimentions. This methode is also to learn one’s to be always care and respect to the other peoples.
Each of these (non-) activities are methods to learn to be self-conscious at all times, to have self control in all circumstances. When finished each of them is closed with prayers and offerings in the house temple.
