The Captivating of 8 Differences Between Balinese and Indian Hinduism

At first, glance, if you ever heard about Hinduism, your mind will run through the greatest of deity as their god. In Indonesia, you will see many Hinduism live there. That is because the facts of Hinduism in Bali which become the place that has the most Hindus in Indonesia.

People believe that Hinduism in Bali comes from the Indian Hindus for the first time a long time ago. But, have you ever wonder if both Hinduism in India and Bali have the same specific things?

Even though Balinese Hinduism comes from India, it has a big difference. That because in Bali, people have been acculturating Hinduism from India with their local culture.

Now, let us tell you some differences between Balinese Hinduism and Indian Hinduism that you should know. To get more understood about them, let’s see them below!

1. Hinduism Faith

Balinese Hinduism put their faith in their existence god calls as the Acintya or Sang Hyang Widhi. They believe that Acintya is the symbol of their only greatest god, Brahma.

Indian Hinduism put their faith in more than one god such the polytheism fundamental. Even though Balinese Hinduism believe in Shiva and Vishnu as their god, but the greatest god is only one, Acintya.

2. Hinduism Caste

Hinduism in Bali has four castes without subcastes since the Indonesian government prohibits any form of caste. But, Hinduism castes are well known until now such as Brahmana (priest), Kshatriya (warriors), Vaisya (skilled traders, merchants, and minor officials), and Sudra (unskilled workers).

Hinduism in India still using the caste system until now. There are the highest caste and lowest caste there. Both of them are living separately because the highest one doesn’t want to share anything with the lowest caste. It includes sharing food, water, and many more.

3. Hinduism Names

In Indonesia, Balinese Hinduism has a specific name that Indian doesn’t have it. Everyone will know someone is Hindu only from their names. That’s because for Balinese Hinduism keep remaining their Hinduism culture for giving a name to someone.

The unique thing is that Balinese Hinduism still using the caste system to giving a name. But, they have some modifies with the local cultures such as listed below.

According To The Caste

Brahmana     : Ida Ayu for girl, Ida Bagus for boy

Kshatriya       : Anak Agung, Cokorda, Desak, Gusti, Dewa, Dewa Ayu

Vaisya            : Ngakan, Kompyan, Sang, Si

Sudra             : no specific name

According To The Order Of Birth

First born       : Wayan, Putu, Gede

Secondborn  : Made, Nengah

Third born      : Nyoman, Komang

Fourth born   : Ketut

So, if you are a Balinese Hinduism as a boy with the firstborn in your Brahmanis family, your name may sound like, Ida Bagus Gede Chandra.

4. Hinduism Practices

Balinese Hinduism believes the Hindhu Dharma which practices the Caturwarna. It also comes from Balinese tribes to keep their cultures from extinction. The Catur Warna remains the caste of Hinduism in Bali. They are Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaisya, and Sudra.

It is a bit different from Hinduism in India which has practices the Pancawarna. They are Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaisya, Sudra, and Paria. As they believe in the polytheism of gods, that is why their faith put on more practices.

5. Hinduism Pray

The way of praying in Balinese Hinduism has big differences with Indian Hinduism. Balinese will pray in silence in most of the things, includes silence the lamp, and even the business. On their new year of Nyepi days, Balinese will celebrate the day with shut every windows, lamp, and even business things.

In India, the new year of Hinduism celebrates in a great way. People will come out of the house and celebrate the new year loudly. It’s so different with Nyepi days on Bali that become the most advantageous of going to Bali at that time. Open the business on Nyepi days is one of the examples things that you should never do in Bali.

6. Hinduism Holidays

Balinese Hinduism has some holidays such as Nyepi, Galungan, Kuningan, Saraswati Puja, Siwaratri, and Pagerwesi. All of them have a unique tradition in their way to give some offerings to God that been modified with the local cultures.

Indian Hinduism also has some holidays such as Holi, Deepavali, Siwaratri, Saraswati Puja, Durga Puja, Chath Puja, and Guru Punima. They have more holidays than Balinese Hinduism as they believe in some Hinduism gods.

7. Hinduism Calendar

The new year becomes the sign of the holiest day in both Balinese and Indian Hinduism. The difference is about the calendar they use to count the days. Balinese Hinduism uses the Saka and Wewaran calendar as the most things you can only find in Bali. Both of them are made by a traditional culture that comes from Balinese ancestors.

On the other hand, Indian Hinduism using the ancient Hindu calendar. They commonly call it the Indian calendars which only use by the Indian. Such as in Bali, there also no regions except Bali that use the Saka calendar.

8. Hinduism Places of Pray

Pura is the most iconic temple in Balinese Hinduism as their place to give their offerings to the god. Pura is a simple temple which describes a peaceful place to pray. The Relief on its also builts in a simple way with a pursed of building type.

In Indian Hinduism, the temple becomes the most louder place to worship their god. They build with some of the sculptures of their deities full of idolatry.

So, there are some differences between Balinese Hinduism and Indian Hinduism that you should know. Becomes difference is captivating, that is why even both Indian and Balinese Hinduism has some differences, the religion keeps the concept of believing in god beautifully.