For almost any ritual, the enormous number and variety of offerings required is quite a astounding. There are literally hundreds of different kinds - the names, forms, sizes an ingredients of which differ greatly. Further more, there is considerable variation fro region to region, and even from village to village. The basic form of most offerings is quite similar, however. Rice, fruits, cookies, meat and vegetables are arranged on a palm leaf base and crowned with a palm leaf decoration, called a sampian, which serves also as a container for betel nut and flowers.
Certain offerings are used in many rituals, whereas others are specific to a particular ceremony. Basic offerings form groups (soroh) around a core offering, and since most rituals can be performed with varying degrees of elaboration depending upon the occasion and the means and social status of the participants, the size and content of these offering groups vary also according to the elaborateness of the ritual.
The size of an offering may be scaled up or down to match the occasion. For example, an ordinary pula gembal contains, among other things, dozens of different rice dough figurines in a palm leaf basket. In more elaborate rituals, this becomes a spectacular construction of brightly-colored cookies, measuring several meters from top to bottom.
Besides the major communal offerings associated with a particular ritual, each family brings its own large and colorful offering to a temple festival. It is a spectacular sight when women of a neighborhood together carry offerings in procession to a temple.
At the temple offerings are placed according to their destination and function. Offerings to gods and ancestors are placed on high altars, whereas demons receive theirs on the ground. An important difference is that offerings to demons may contain raw meat, while those for the gods and ancestors may not. Specific offerings required for a ritual are Placed in a pavilion or temporary platform.
During the ceremony, a priest purifies the offerings by sprinkling them with holy water and intoning prayers or mantras. The smoke of incense then wafts the essence of the offerings to their intended destination. The daily Presentation of offerings at home takes place In a similar way, through the use of holy water and fire. After the ritual is over and their "essence" has been consumed, the offerings may be taken home and eaten by the worshippers.
0 Response to "Ritual Uses"
Post a Comment