Water is the source of life, and therefore it is to be respected. The Balinese take this a step further by venerating water, known as the ritual of "Melukat". If Usher can do it, so can you!
A water purification ceremony held at the island’s many water temples is a must-do when visiting Bali – after all, American R&B superstar, Usher, was recently spotted at the ever-famous Tirtha Empul Water Temple, and it is something a visitor or an expat can do to bond themselves with the island. Unlike partying in Canggu, or sunbathing at beach clubs, the locals visit water temples to purify themselves through the ritual of “Melukat”. It is therefore an authentic Balinese practice that lies deep within their culture and religion.
So, we asked Dr. Ravinjay Kuckreja – a Religious Studies lecturer and expert in ancient Balinese and Indian scriptures – to explain the origins and processes of the ritual of Melukat. Dr. Ravinjay is also the host of the Being Bali podcast, which is dedicated to explaining all about Balinese culture, history and religion. Take a listen, and read on to learn all about Melukat in Bali!
Words by Dr. Ravinjay Kuckreja: The origins of Balinese traditions
Most Balinese adhere to Hinduism, an ancient Indian religion that made its way to the Indonesian archipelago back in the 7th century CE. It initially met with the Javanese who adopted Hinduism, and later Buddhism, and blended it in with their indigenous beliefs. Initially, Bali was merely a part of the great Javanese kingdoms. Later, however, the Hindu-Buddhist powers moved further East into Bali, where it was then adapted into Bali’s own indigenous traditions.
Balinese traditions emphasise balance, and how us humans are key to this. Our bodies are a reflection of the world around us – thus being healthy, both physically and spiritually, is key! And just as we can seek help and support from fellow humankind, we can also heal from nature.
Unlike most Western ontologies, Eastern religions see nature as alive, as possessing a soul. Humans are not meant to exploit nature, but simply live in harmony with it. So, if our bodies and this universe are alike, we can also find our solutions in the nature that surrounds us, to replace or complete those parts within us.
So, what is “Melukat”?
Water is a great transmitter of energy. Call this a divine energy, or simply hydrogen and oxygen, water nourishes and gives life. But water can also clean! A water purification ceremony is thus essentially a shower, but with a deeper intention. Similar to how we have Ghusl and Wudhu in Islamic traditions, and Mikveh in Judaism, the Balinese “ Melukat” is also meant to provide ritual purity: a great bathing ceremony to cleanse our physical body before prayer or any other significant endeavour. Thus, the Balinese would do a melukat before a graduation, a marriage, or an auspicious event.
The word “lukat”, however, is of greater significance. It means “to purify”, both the body and beyond – it’s also meant to rid us of negative energy. Interestingly enough, we can learn more about what “lukat” is from the Balinese Bhūta-yajña, or sacrifices for the demons (yep, you read that right!). The Balinese believe in lower entities, separate from the human realm. They are not ghosts or spirits of the dead, but the Bhūta Kāla are a whole species altogether, which includes malicious, and sometimes ludicrous, creatures that we cannot see. They are subtle forms of the elements (Bhūta) and of time (Kāla) and they need to be “lukat” or purified.
This might sound scary and superstitious, but it is not an exorcism. We all can agree that this world is full of its vices, and this is simply part of nature. So what we need to do is neutralise them, not see them as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, but as simply life. Thus, the lukat done for the demons transform them into the essence of life itself—the pure spirit soul. The same stuff that is in us, the birds and the trees. We see them as part of nature, not something to be feared or expelled. In the same way, a melukat does not rid ourselves of bad juju but transforms them back into part of nature. Think of it as recycling – we are not disposing of the bad energies as if it’s trash, but we are recycling it back to energy itself to later be used again by the universe.
Hinduism in India similarly takes to the water to purify, like bathing in the sacred Ganges, or in sacred ponds and shores. However, the role of water is even more central to the Balinese indigenous religion. Initially known as “Gama Tirtha” (the way of holy water), the Balinese religion later met with Hinduism and blended with it. Both religions, just like water, are able to mix and merge, creating their own unique flavour and form. The Balinese then later coronate the Hindu god Nārāyaṇa or Viṣṇu as the god presiding over waters. Initially in India, the deity Nārāyaṇa is seen as a water god, as He lays on a serpent bed in the causal waters. This water deity was later identified as a form of the Vedic God Viṣṇu, the preserver. Lord Viṣṇu’s energy of preservation is imbued in water. Thus, many Balinese would tell you that water temples are dedicated to Lord Viṣṇu.
Melukat in short:
Melukat is simply put a dramatic bathing that’s done to ensure we are clean before a significant event, and to restore the energies of our bodies by recycling the negative forces within us. It’s done by the Balinese as part of longer ceremonies in the homes and temples, as rites of passage (such as puberty, birthdays, and weddings) and to cleanse oneself (of black magic, bad luck, residual energies, and past traumas). These are usually done in natural sources of water, such as springs, rivers, and the sea, or done with purified water (also coconut water) that has been blessed by a priest. Melukat is not used to convert one’s faith or religion, like the case of baptism in Christianity. It is also not just for Hindus, and definitely not exclusive for the Balinese. It is therefore an inclusive and universal practice of us human beings restoring the balance within us, by transforming it back into its status quo.
