Blessing by Varuna at The Sea

Water , one of the element in this nature that provides living to many lives. It is so important till we – human – won’t be able to survive many days without it. Our only planet or the macrocosmos consisting 70% of water. The same to human body mostly consist of fluid which supports the work of all the systems within the body .

However in Bali we take this idea of water that provides life more profoundly. The water is not just water anymore when you begin to recite sacred words that we called Mantra which turn each particles becoming more content – carrying the bless and healing to it . A purification ritual using water in Balinese tradition called Melukat from word Lukat which means to cleanse the impurity of mind body and spirit . Melukat can be done at several places and temple for example : at the family temple , at the beach / by the sea , at a Holy Water Temple or at the house of a High Priest. What’s important next is to know how to do and when is the best time to do Melukat

To begin Melukat ceremony , we’ll need to prepare some flower offerings that we called Canang. The basket or the base made of young coconut leaf that we need to cut and sew in such a way to make it round . On top of that just before the flowers , there is Porosan – litteraly means the core – made of 3 ingredients that is young coconut leaf, pamor ( looks like clay ) and bettel leaf. The Porosan represent the core of this universe – God the Omnipotent through His manifestation as a Creator ( Brahma ) a preserver ( Wisnu ) and a transformer ( Siva ) while the basket represents the universe itself. Next is the flowers . The flowers used for offerings must be clean, fragrance pure. Meaning that we use only fresh flowers , not using the flowers that has fallen to the ground or using the flowers which we’ve scent. Red flower is placed on the bottom side on the basket, white is on the right side , yellow is on the left side , purple or dark color is on top and in the middle we use green color. Canang is a simple form of offering to the God at anytime needed. Before Melukat , we do offering to whoever we wish them to guide and bless us throughout the process, for example our ancestors.

The day before Newmoon or Fullmoon is considered as one of the good moment to do Melukat . As we purifiying ourselves before receiving the enlightening blessing from God Surya ( during Fullmoon ) and Goddess Chandra ( during Newmoon ). Another time is during our Balinese Birthday , the day after Saraswati Ceremony or whenever you feel loaded with negativity.

This time I choose to do Melukat at the beach or Segara . In Bali , Segara is perceived as a sacred site to get rid or to wash away of illness both physical and emotional. The illness appears as a result that we are not being aligned with our core – that is our soul. To begin melukat at the beach , I start by doing offering at the temple by the beach. Here we say our praying to the Power who lives in the sea – Shang Hyang Varuna. Along with His guidance I surrender myself for a deep cleansing and purification and ready to receive the blessing to my soul, mind and body.