In Bali there is a strong cultural belief in spiritual powers and many people strengthen their ties through spiritual ceremonies and rituals. Spiritual power is considered by many Balinese people to have a strong influence on human life, providing good fortune, safety, and protection. This is also the foundation of every Hindu ceremony carried out by Amisewaka-DLCC.
To bring more harmony to the staff and students of Amisewaka-DLCC, the management team, as well as our priest, Jero Mangku Lingga Anyar, requested an audience with a religious specialist to ask what the best action plan should be. After several visits, it was decided that a Taru Sakti (Sacred Wood) should be installed in the lobby, where it could deflect negative energy. Traditional Balinese homes have an aling aling, also known as a false wall, at the entrance for this purpose.
We procured the Taru Sakti in early April but had to find an appropriate stand for it. We then had to decide whether it would be made out of stone or wood; with the center being constructed out of concrete, we determined that a warmer tone could be achieved by choosing wood. The Taru Sakti would be formed from Intaran, or Neem, a sacred tree in many parts of the world. Our priest found an Intaran tree trunk a few villages away, which had already been cut down, and only the trunk remained. It took six men, a pulley, and a truck two days to extract it from the ground. A new road had to be made for the truck to pull the 700-kilogram trunk out of the forest, followed by several men and a pulley system to unload it!
The day after it was installed, the management and staff of Amisewaka-DLCC also carried out a ceremony held on the full moon, which has a significant meaning as a moment of purity and enlightenment, for providing a sacred space for our Taru Sakti Wrksagra Kalpa Druma (tree of hope and eternity in Sanskrit). In Bali, this tree is also known as majegau/cempaga (a highly effective medicinal plant).
The main stages of this ceremony were the purification of the wood as a base, followed by the invoking of Wrksagra Kalpa Druma with the spiritual power of the god Wisnu within it. According to Hindu mythology, Dewa Wisnu is the god who maintains the universe and is believed to have great power in sustaining life on Earth. By being invoked by the god Wisnu, this becomes a symbol that the blessings and protection obtained are derived from the tree itself and the greater sustaining power of god.
In addition to the above ceremony, a Melaspas (purification) ceremony was also carried out for the shrine of Ratu Gede Penungun Karang as a holy place, or altar, that holds significant meaning in Bali’s belief and culture. Penungun Karang means “guardian of the coral/yard,” literally. This ceremony symbolizes respect for the spiritual power believed to protect and maintain security in the Amisewaka-DLCC area.
The staff all came together to pray at the shrine and the Taru Sakti; one staff member was so overcome by emotion that he cried. This shows that this is not just a “piece of wood” but something that holds power that can be felt.
