Jagadhita Ya Caiti Dharma

Moksartham Jagadhita Ya Citi Dharma is the goal of life for Hinduism.

Hindu Dharma or Agama Hindu is the name of the religion followed by 95% of the 3.5 million people of Bali. The remaining 5% practice a mixture of faiths: Islam, Catholic, Protestant, Buddhism, and Kong Hu Cu.

The aim of the Hindu Dharma is “to reach peace of spirit and harmony in the material life”. (Moksartham Jagadhita Ya Caiti Dharma - The goal of life is liberation from material attachment) In practicing their faith, Hindu communities try to achieve a spiritual balance of worship between:

Tattwa (Philosophy), Susila (Etiquette), and Upacara (ritual).

In Bali religion is taught in many forms the most popular if these are the Purana, or morality plays, and the Ramayana and the Mahabrata. The many theatre forms – the wayang shadow puppet plays, the masked drama, the opera and ballets are also vehicles of religious teaching.

The island of Bali is full of spirituality and love, the love that spends an hour making an offering of woven palm leaves and flowers, the love that finds the time everyday to think of their spirituality, and the whispering of a mantra with sacred movements.

On this island there is a link to enlightenment, The Balinese feel themselves to be a blessed people, a feeling continually reinforced by the wealth of their everyday life, and strengthened by the splendor of their religion. It is almost as if the Balinese people are living the art of continually worshiping. To the Balinese, Bali is the only “real” world and the sacred mountain Gunug Agung is the “navel of the world”.

The Pedanda, (high priest), selected from the Brahmana castel, officiates at large ceremonies. The Pemangku, or village temple priest, looks after the temple and leads the holy rituals.

As well there is an important code of Hindu Dharma called Tat Twam Asi – “You are as I am” and I as you, in other words, “to feel the feeling of one’s fellow beings”. This teaches to treat others as you would treat yourself.