Holiday In Ubud Tour And Travel: Februari 2011

Senin, 28 Februari 2011

WHY IS THE MONKEY FOREST OF PADANGTEGAL CONSIDERED TO BE SACRED ?

The Monkey Forest of Padangtegal represents a sacred Balinese Hindu site. In trying to understand Balinese Hinduism it is important to keep in mind that Balinese Hinduism is unlike Hinduism practiced in other parts of the world today. Balinese Hinduism combines aspects of Animism, Ancestor Worship, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

Animism and Ancestor Worship
Some of the first evidence of extensive human inhabitation on Bali dates back to approximately 2,500 B.C. The religion of the Bali Aga (original Balinese) centered around both Animism and Ancestor Worship. Ancestor Worship represents the belief that prosperity is associated with a relationship that exists between the living and the dead (prosperity is something that can only be achieved through intense worship and obtainment of blessings from ancestors). Animism represents the belief that inanimate objects and other elements of the natural landscape can possess souls which can help as well as hinder human efforts on Earth.

It remains a mystery as to whether or not the Bali Aga ever inhabited the site that is now known as the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal. Currently, there are only a few remaining Bali Aga villages on Bali and none of them are located in the vicinity of the Sacred Monkey Forest. However, today many Balinese believe that ravines and forested areas are particularly notorious for harboring human and animal spirits. These beliefs probably originated from the Bali Aga and suggest that the Bali Aga may have considered sites like the Monkey Forest of Padangtegal to be sacred.

Hinduism and Buddhism
Around A.D. 500, Hindu and Buddhist priests began arriving on Bali (having traveled aboard Indian trade ships). In addition, between A.D. 732 and A.D. 1478, Bali was conquered by several Javanese Hindu kingdoms. An analysis of the Pura Purana (a holy lontar book which is a historical record for temples) indicates that a temple was built on the site of the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal during the mid-14th century. It is possible that this temple was built by the Pejeng Dynasty (the Pejeng Dynasty was centered on Bali in the vicinity of Ubud and was conquered by the Majapahit empire in A.D. 1343) or it is possible that it was built by the Majapahit empire. The Majapahit empire was based on Java, extended throughout the Indonesian archipelago, and during the 1400s was attacked and eventually conquered by Islamic military forces. Today, most Balinese claim to be descendants of Majapahit nobility that exiled from Java to Bali (Majapahit nobility exiled to Bali until A.D. 1478).

Other than the Pura Purana, unfortunately there is very little data indicating when structures were historically built within the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal. It is possible that there have been a number of temples and shrines within the Sacred Monkey Forest that were destroyed. In addition, the existing temple structures contain a large number of historical renovations. Tourists are often surprised to learn that many structures within the Sacred Monkey Forest which appear to be very old, are in reality only several years old. Wenara Wana staff members do not replace temple structures to confuse or trick tourists. Structures are usually replaced because the soft volcanic rock, which has historically been utilized in temple construction, tends to rapidly deteriorate in Bali's tropical climate. Also, temples are maintained and utilized for important religious ceremonies.

The fundamental doctrine of Hinduism involves the concept of reincarnation or transferability of the soul. All living things are believed to be able to take part in reincarnation. After death, how an individual is reincarnated, in terms of body or form, is determined by a social caste system representing steps on a universal ladder and whether or not the individual behaved 'badly' or 'well'. Today, there are 3 primary Balinese Hindu castes (Brahmans or Priests, Kshatriya or Nobles, and Sudra or Commoners). The Balinese caste system further divides the Brahman into the Saiwite Brahman (Brahmana-Siwa) and Buddhist Mahayana Brahmana (Brahmana-Buddha). The Balinese Hindu caste system is not nearly as rigid as its Indian counterpart. One reason for this is that Sudra (lower caste Balinese ) outnumber higher caste Balinese by nearly 10 to 1.

Buddhism was founded by Gautama (the Buddha), in northeastern India, around 560 B.C. Like Hinduism, the fundamental doctrine of Buddhism involves reincarnation. However, Gautama founded Buddhism primarily as a protest to the Indian caste system. Gautama taught his followers that humans can be liberated from the ceaseless cycle of reincarnation, by abandoning desires that create misery in the world and by removing spiritual ignorance.

Pura Puseh, Pura Desa, and Pura Dalem
Today, most Balinese villages have 3 major pura (temple) sites. Pura Puseh (temples of origin) tend to be located towards the kaja (upstream) end of villages, are associated with the God Wisnu, and are dedicated to remembering the founders of villages. Dewa Wisnu is also known as 'the sustainer of life' because he has the ability to incarnate as an avatar (God-Man), move freely between the heaven of the Gods and the Earth of humans, and he often appears to save the world by realigning it to the divine.

Pura Desa (village temples) tend to be located in the middle of villages, are associated with the God Brahma, and are places where community councils meet to pray and govern. Dewa Brahma is also known as 'the creator' because he is a reflection of the creative consciousness upon which both artistic creativity (which is a very important part of Balinese villages) and creation itself are founded. Pura Dalem (temples of the dead) tend to be located towards the kelod (downstream) end of villages, are associated with the God Siwa, and have graveyards. Dewa Siwa is also known as 'the destroyer' because his spiritual function is to destroy negativity in the world. Dewa Siwa prepares dead people for reincarnation by judging whether or not a person's karma (actions) have been bad or good. Dewa Siwa destroys negativity by punishing people who behaved badly. The Sacred Monkey Forest is the location of Padangtegal's Pura Dalem

Ubud Tours

Ubud is one of popular village in Bali, Ubud village is the center of Balinese art. On this Bali Tours package we will visit Ubud in a half day trips. Our driver will pick up you at 09.00 AM at your hotel lobby, and then we will go to visit Tohpati Batik Center, the traditional Balinese hand made batik and continue to Celuk village the Gold and Silver Smith and direct to Mas Village the village of balinese famouse wood carving after Mas village we will go to visit Ceking Tegallalang rice terrace and Ubud Monkey forest, after Ubud monkey forest we will continue our trips to Ubud art market and then we will visit Ubud Palace, traditional Balinese palace architecture and after Ubud palace we will direct to Batubulan Stone carving the most popular stone art in Bali, after finish the driver will send you back to your hotel.

The Monkey

The monkeys within the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal are commonly called long-tailed macaques. Their scientific name is Macaca fascicuiaris. Macaques are found throughout Southeast Asia and many species of macaques live successfully in areas that are heavily utilized by humans. On Bali, there are Balinese long-tailed macaque troops (populations) that live in areas where they have little to no contact with humans and troops that come into contact with humans on a regular basis. However, despite the fact that many species of macaques thrive in areas that are heavily utilized by humans, there is evidence that the viability of Balinese long-tailed macaques (the ability of macaques to continue to thrive) may be dependent upon the conservation of Bali's forested areas.

Within long-tailed macaque societies, females are typically born into and remain with a single troop for life. In contrast, adult and sub-adult males may migrate between troops (young adult males typically leave their natal troop between the ages of 4 to 8 years). In order for a migrating adult or sub-adult male to be accepted into a new troop, migrating males must align themselves with a troops' females and be accepted by those females. Therefore, long-tailed macaque societies or troops are made up of 'matrilines' ('matri' is a root word that means 'mother').

Currently, there are approximately 340 (32 adult males, 19 male sub adult, 77 adult females, 122 juvenile and 54 infants) Balinese long-tailed macaques that inhabit the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal. However, these long-tailed macaques do not belong to the same troop. In fact, within the Sacred Monkey Forest, there are 4 distinct troops. Tourists tend to have a difficult time identifying the Sacred Monkey Forest's long-tailed macaque troops. One reason for this is that the area(s) that each of the troops primarily occupy within the boundaries of the Sacred Monkey Forest changes over time. Changes in the range of each troop is dependent in part upon variations that occur in the number of individuals within each troop and changes that occur in each of the troops' composition (the age and sex of individuals within a troop). Finally, tourists have a difficult time identifying each of the Sacred Monkey Forest's long-tailed macaque troops because there can be extensive overlap between the ranges of all the Sacred Monkey Forest's troops. This overlap in ranges occasionally causes inter-troop conflicts to break out (conflicts break out between 2 or all 3 of the Sacred Monkey Forest's macaque troops). As a result of these conflicts, it is not uncommon for troops to engage in violent physical clashes. Although it is rare for individual macaques to sustain life-threatening wounds as a result of taking part in an inter-troop clash, it is not uncommon for macaques to sustain wounds that leave permanent scars.

Throughout Bali, Balinese long-tailed macaques tend to stay within forested areas. However, Balinese long-tailed macaques, including those within the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal, occasionally wander into rice fields or even village areas that are adjacent to the forest. Outside of forested areas, monkeys can become pests and the Balinese tend to apply whatever means necessary to protect their crops and other property. The Sacred Monkey Forest's long-tailed macaques are the subject of an ongoing resarch project that is being conducted by the Balinese Macaque Project. The Balinese Macaque Project involves researchers from the United States, Guam, and the University of Udayana (Bali, Indonesia). To date, the Balinese Macaque Project has conducted research to determine the mating strategies, migration and range patterns, dominance ralationships, and habitat use of Balinese long-tailed macaques. The Balinese Macaque Project hopes that such research will facilitate the development of conservation strategies for Balinese long-tailed macaques and sites like the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
Within Balinese Hinduism, monkeys can be the embodiment of both positive and negative forces. The dual nature of monkeys is especially reflected in the Ramayana (a very popular Indian epic poem). Within the Ramayana, Sita (the beloved bride of Rama) is abducted by Rawana (an evil king). Rama (an incarnation of Dewa Wisnu) calls upon Sugriwa (king of the monkeys) and Hanuman (Sugriwa's General) to help him retrieve Sita. However, within the Ramayana, there are also antagonist monkeys like Subali that attempt to assist Rawana. In the end, Hanuman, along with his monkey army, defeats Rawana's evil forces and helps Rama to retrieve Sita.

Because monkeys can embody both positive and negative forces, the Balinese both loathe and revere monkeys. Monkeys that occupy sacred Balinese Hindu temple sites (like the Sacred Monkey Forest) tend to be revered and protected by the Balinese. One reason for this is that monkeys, in the form of a Barong, are believed to be capable of guarding temple sites against evil spirits (for additional discussion on Barongs, see the chapter titled "GODS, GODDESSES, AND DEMONS"). However, the Balinese belief that monkeys can be negative in nature is reinforced when, for example, they raid rice fields or snatch items from souvenier shops.

MACAQUE FAMILIES
Adult male and female Balinese long-tailed macaques have distinguishable physical characteristics. Males tend to be larger then females. Male Balinese long-tailed macaqes can weigh up to 10 kilograms (approximately 18 pounds). Males, in comparison to females, have broader shoulders and larger canine teeth. In addition, females have facial hair that resembles a 'bear' whereas males have more pronounced 'mustaches'.

Compared with adult males, sub-adult males have smaller bodies, smaller canine teeth, shorter back/shoulder hair and narrower shoulders. Compared with adult females, sub-adult females typically have shorter nipples. This is because female macaques do not reach adult status until after they have given birth.

Young macaques are split into 3 age groups. Young macaques that are between the age of 0-6 months old and have predominantly black hair color are called 'Infant 1'. Young macaques that are between the age of 6-12 months old and have black hair only on their head are called 'Infant 2'. Finally, young macaques that are between 1-3.5 years in age are called 'Juveniles'. Mother macaques can be very protective and tourists should always be cautious when approaching infant macaques.

Holiday In Ubud Tour And Travel

Senin, 28 Februari 2011

WHY IS THE MONKEY FOREST OF PADANGTEGAL CONSIDERED TO BE SACRED ?

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