Tri Dhatu Philosophy

Seeing people wearing red, white, and black string on their wrist here in Bali was considered as something commons. What do the colors means by the Balinese People? Certainly the answer will variable, but in philosophy, in Bali the color becomes a necessity in symbolize the religion elements or ritual relations to God. If the color associated with the arts, the art of the Balinese is the breath of life. The whole life of the Balinese can’t be separated with the arts.

This unique philosophy and ritual is very rich with artwork and symbolism, which makes Hindu religion in Bali, is different from the Hinduism origin in India. In Bali the mixing of various philosophies (such as Taoism, Confuciusism, Buddhism, Tantric, Animism, Dynamism, etc) makes Balinese Hindu religion getting rich with the philosophy, implemented by a unique ritual manifestation. Associated with the use of color, The Balinese using colors as symbols in all religious ritual that held, this proves that the Balinese people reached high level of public awareness in art.

Many Balinese Hindu religious rituals or religious teaching is represented with an interesting implementation which using color as symbolism. So in Bali the color treats as a media/symbol to learning the philosophy of Balinese Hindu Religion.

So what is it with the three colors string on their wrist?

In Bali, there are Tri dhatu and Panca Dhatu. It is having same meaning, as something that makes (as elements) into the human body's structure or building will give power of life to human or a building. Tri dhatu is the force that consists of three elements they are utpatti or the creation of Brahma. Sthiti is symbol of Lord Vishnu and pralina, or destruction symbol of God Iswara. This power is manifested in the form of yarn or scratches on the building with red, white, and black. This yarn will wear around the wrist. Anyone who wear this bracelet after the ceremony, believed to be able to resist all kinds of dangers that will threat the soul. This bracelet is a symbol of disaster.
Using the tri dhatu bracelet on our wrist will feel secure our mind at ease, more confident. The three yarns consist of 3 parts of wool Woven the color is red, white and black and symbol of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. These three God are Trimurti, a symbol of birth (utpatti), growth (stithi) and return (chocolates), also symbolizes the power of fire, water, and wind. Birth-death-life which all are at the mercy of God. By wrapping yarn tri dhatu on the wrist would protect human life can also be installed in certain places as home d home and yard guard against evil or negative forces that want to disrupt peace prosperity, and happiness of the human population.

Tri Murthi is the God trinity concept of Balinese Hindu Religion. This concept was made by Danghyang Dwijendra at the Samuan Tiga Temple -Gianyar, when he unites all sects in Bali into Balinese Hinduism nowadays. Tri Murthi means ‘Tri’ = “three” and ‘Murthi’ = “realization of God”, so Tri Murthi means Three manifestations of God Almighty in accordance with his duties. Brahma as the Creator of life, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva as destroyer. In fact the whole (desa pekraman) village in Bali must have 3 temples are embracing the concept. Brahma worshiped at Bale Agung Temple, Vishnu at Puseh temple and Shiva at Dalem Temple.

Relation to Brahma, symbolized by red, Vishnu by black and Shiva with white color. A combination of three colors is called ‘Tri Datu’, is used in every religious ceremonies, buildings, and even used as a talisman for safety. Usually when used for amulets shaped bracelet made of yarn called ‘Benang Tri Datu’ yarn.

Tri Datu is not only attached to buildings or on religion ceremonies, but occasionally, the Balinese attach the threads to their bodies. Around the right wrist – a red thread, around the ankle – a black, and attached to the ear – the white. The use of the Tri Datu is to calm the mind so that it will not be influenced by negative thoughts. The threads can also be wound together around the right wrist or placed on the crown of the head. No matter how the Tri Datu is worn, the threads were placed or attached with prayers to endow the recipient with power, strength, and Longevity.

Those who still have full faith in the power of Tri Datu, use it to cure wounds. The colored threads being wrapped around the open wound directly on the skin as one would use a bandage. For the cremation ceremony (Ngaben), Tri Datu threads take on a new name when they become part of the ritual of ceremonial equipment, being then called (among other possible names) “long-lost” meaning long and lost, possibly because they are consumed in the fire.

Apart from the uses mentioned, on specific occasions Tri Datu is featured in the form of cloth and is worn as clothing by the original male inhabitants of a village. The black being worn as a shirt, the white as an under-skirt sarongs, and the red as an over-skirt. This dress is worn when a Villager is currently carrying out a ceremony at his own temple, or more generally, when the people celebrate “Hari Raya Nyepi” (a day when you must be quite, stay at home, not use any lights. Fires , machines, vehicles or electrical equipment.)

When the people wear dress Tri Datu, they are called “sambangan”. The word implies that they are awaiting a blessing or help from God. During the fifth and sixth months of the Balinese calendar, you are likely to see the Balinese Hindus wearing “Sikepan”.

This is just another form of Tri Datu, where the three colored threads are plaited tired and the ends together forming a necklace or bangle. Before it is worn it will have various items attached: old Chinese coins (the ones with the holes in the middle), small red onions, garlic cloves, ginger roots and other “Jangu” (medicinal plants and roots). Without the coins and “Jangu” mentioned, the plaited or entwined threads are not “Sikepan” and are, more often than not, merely intended as personal adornment. Sikepan is a symbolic marker of those asking God for a blessing and, more likely, protection from the bad spirits that infest the earth during the 5th and 6th months of the Balinese Calendar.

Each person seen wearing the “Sikepan” is also currently having a Cleans or Exorcism at his or her home to rid the area of bad spirits that cause problems. These exorcisms are called “Tilem” and will be held during the dangerous months.

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