The existence of mothers groups in Bali is supremely exceptional. They are not only predestined to give birth to the offspring but also to bear considerable tasks and responsibilities for the custom or tradition that inspired by Hinduism. Apart from extending full love in looking after their children from babyhood, including breast feeding, they are also assigned to care for the home, make oblations for the rites and even help their husbands to earn a living or become a career woman.
Today, due to government programs to restrict the birth of babies, mothers in Bali have maximally three children. In certain cases there are more than three, which is only a matter of failure in using contraceptive devices. Today is different from former times, where mothers in Bali were use to giving birth to six to twelve children, Just imagine how difficult it would be to take care of so many children, while at the same time having to complete the household work. Uniquely, they were able to raise their children successfully and household jobs weres settled smoothly.
The phenomena above ultimately yields the legend “Men Brayut” (literally, Mrs. Brayut) who is so exhausted in giving birth and looking after so many children. Afterwards, the sculptors immortalized Men Brayut who is being ‘crowded around’ by her children through the depiction of a sculpture.
The Holy Scripture Sarasamuccaya describes the nature of a mother that is far heavier than the earth, while the weight of a father is also far more over weight than that of the sky. In looking after and bringing up her children, a mother is never discriminative. Bhagawan Manu in the scripture Manawa Dharmasastra says that to become a mother, a woman is created and to become a father, a man is born. Women are predestined to carry the fetus as a blessing reward that is worth venerating and its dwelling should be made glowing. (Manawa Dharmasastra IX: 26, 27, 96)
A mother, as a consequence, for the Balinese is an honored figur on this earth. Born children will be taken care of affectionately and without discrimination. Therefore, the Balinese deeply honor their mothers, both while they are alive and after death.
By giving birth to children, the chain of human cycles continues turning perfectly. We who are alive today are on account of mother’s extraordinatry merit, starting from inside the womb, till we are able to stand up. Thus, the Balinese believe that the good and bad of human’s futures lie on the shoulder of our mothers.
At venerating place of Hindu families in Bali, aside from sanggah kemulan (shine of the origin), is pelinggih ibu (mother’s shrine), which is a place to honor the ancestral souls who have been spiritually purified. Meanwhile, to honor the earth that has extended prosperity to human beings, the Balinese call this earth ‘Ibu Pertiwi’ (Mother Earth). To persistently maintain the safety of Mother Earth a concept is taught called Tri Hita Karana, namely three elements that inflict prosperity on earth. One of the elements is palemahan that accounts for the importance of harmonious relations between humans and their physical environment.
News by International Bali Post
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