Saying it with flowers (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)
It is the best way to please anyone, discovered Priti Agrawal in Bali, where she saw people place baskets of flowers all around as sacred offering to the gods
The Bali Islands in Indonesia is an abode of the gods, with cultural and spiritual practices very similar to those in the Indic tradition. On arrival, my husband and I were greeted with flowers by our hosts as they see guests as God. I was reminded of the Sanskrit saying, Atithi Devo Bhava that the Incredible India campaign uses in its promos!
The Balinese people believe in good karma. Everywhere I could see happy, smiling faces, with not a trace of sadness. En route to the hotel, I could spot small flower baskets perched almost everywhere on the street, in front of every home, shop and temple. Our guide informed us that a small, square tray woven out of coconut leaves is filled with flowers, specially the red fuchsia along with leaves and fruits, and offered daily to God. It's called canang sari. A flower bucket is offered to God thrice a day. First thing in the morning, the previous day's offerings are swept up to make room for the new. Devotees decorate their fingers, hair and ears with flowers, making a pretty picture indeed.
Bali itself means 'sacrifice', or 'offering'. The Balinese believe that offering flowers is the best way to show their devotion and love. Though God does not look for gifts, it is believed that divinity accepts anything offered from the heart — as Krishna tells Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita: "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it...." (9.26).
A devotee said, "We offer a bucket which includes flowers, fruits and holy water. Flowers are to be considered as pure heart, free of all evil, lust, anger and pride; fruit is a mind full of goodness; holy water is pure soul which is continuously flowing with joy as water from one body to another. The bucket itself is the body, a container of hallowed mind and soul. The ritual is thanksgiving - expressing gratitude for the gifts we receive from God."
Hindus in Bali are influenced by animism and naturalism, believing that the spirit's power resides in all objects and elements of life. A shopkeeper at Bali says, "We place this small flower tribute — to appease evil spirits and ancestors — in front of temples, family temples, cross roads, houses, sacred statues, shops or other places that are considered sacred. If the spirits are pacified by these offerings, businesses prosper as does everything else. We do it as a natural practice to maintain a good relationship with spirits and gods."
Bali has more than 10,000 temples. At almost every courtyard of Hindu homes, there is a separate temple for the 'Trinity' — Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. A Balinese priest says: "We believe that God is everywhere; there is no designated space for Him. There are no idols inside the temples; we just give space and feel the presence of God all around."
The gods were indeed lucky here, in Bali, I thought, as I let my spirit soak in the fruit-and-flower fragrance that seemed to infuse the air wherever one went. Taking a deep breath, it was most reluctantly that I said goodbye to what can only be described as a heavenly experience. I'll be back, Bali!
The Bali Islands in Indonesia is an abode of the gods, with cultural and spiritual practices very similar to those in the Indic tradition. On arrival, my husband and I were greeted with flowers by our hosts as they see guests as God. I was reminded of the Sanskrit saying, Atithi Devo Bhava that the Incredible India campaign uses in its promos!
The Balinese people believe in good karma. Everywhere I could see happy, smiling faces, with not a trace of sadness. En route to the hotel, I could spot small flower baskets perched almost everywhere on the street, in front of every home, shop and temple. Our guide informed us that a small, square tray woven out of coconut leaves is filled with flowers, specially the red fuchsia along with leaves and fruits, and offered daily to God. It's called canang sari. A flower bucket is offered to God thrice a day. First thing in the morning, the previous day's offerings are swept up to make room for the new. Devotees decorate their fingers, hair and ears with flowers, making a pretty picture indeed.
Bali itself means 'sacrifice', or 'offering'. The Balinese believe that offering flowers is the best way to show their devotion and love. Though God does not look for gifts, it is believed that divinity accepts anything offered from the heart — as Krishna tells Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita: "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it...." (9.26).
A devotee said, "We offer a bucket which includes flowers, fruits and holy water. Flowers are to be considered as pure heart, free of all evil, lust, anger and pride; fruit is a mind full of goodness; holy water is pure soul which is continuously flowing with joy as water from one body to another. The bucket itself is the body, a container of hallowed mind and soul. The ritual is thanksgiving - expressing gratitude for the gifts we receive from God."
Hindus in Bali are influenced by animism and naturalism, believing that the spirit's power resides in all objects and elements of life. A shopkeeper at Bali says, "We place this small flower tribute — to appease evil spirits and ancestors — in front of temples, family temples, cross roads, houses, sacred statues, shops or other places that are considered sacred. If the spirits are pacified by these offerings, businesses prosper as does everything else. We do it as a natural practice to maintain a good relationship with spirits and gods."
Bali has more than 10,000 temples. At almost every courtyard of Hindu homes, there is a separate temple for the 'Trinity' — Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. A Balinese priest says: "We believe that God is everywhere; there is no designated space for Him. There are no idols inside the temples; we just give space and feel the presence of God all around."
The gods were indeed lucky here, in Bali, I thought, as I let my spirit soak in the fruit-and-flower fragrance that seemed to infuse the air wherever one went. Taking a deep breath, it was most reluctantly that I said goodbye to what can only be described as a heavenly experience. I'll be back, Bali!
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