Scenting fragrance of insence sticks and assorted colorful flowers are filling up the atmosphere of Bali everyday. It enables the Hindus to concentratetheir minds on their work and worship. When you go on a trip throughout this island, you will encounter many Balinese people presenting oblations on varied shrines and places where they do activities. This represents their devotion to God.
AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada says (niti-sastra: 28): “If you want spiritual progress, you should think that in few minutes the demise will come. However, if you desire material happiness, you should think that you will never die.” This verse to remind us that the demise spreads in front of us at all times. Therefore, before it comes, make time to know ourselves and the Creator. By this, we will find no fear in facing any obstacles, including the demise itself. When one has determined to choose a spiritual path he will get enlightened during his lifetime. Amongst the many ways to arrive there, one may choose the yajna or holy sacrifice path that is underlying the Vedic philosophy. This enables the material and spiritual lives to go hand in hand.
By and large, this yajna performed by the Hindus falls into two categories, namely the nitya yajna (daily) and naimitika yajna (occasionally). Daily or personal worship at home, like saiban and regular worship, keeps them God-conscious and their home holy. Saiban or naivaidya is performed everyday withour exception after cooking in the morning. It represents their daily gratitude for the given endowment and presented to the Creator before they consume together. On the countrary, occasional worship consisting of that celebrated in particular periods of time like the temple annyversary, Galungan & Kuningan, Pagerwesi and Saraswati which fall every pawukon year (210 days), while those celebrated Annually include Nyepi and Mahashivalaratri.
Daily worship through the presentation of canang, on the other hand, results in an opportunity to provide this paraphernalia through small businesses. Canang vendors can be easily found at traditional markets or city corners daily, in the mornings or evenings. Volumes of canang ‘sale’ increase depending on the ‘rerainan’ or days of ritual like the Tuesday Kliwon, Wednesday Kliwon, Kajeng Kliwon, Saturday Kliwon, full moon and new moon. Even, on the anniversary of some public temples, some canang vendors are available in front of those temples, making it convenient for devotees to obtain the canang for worship at ease.
Due to daily activities outside of their home, one may have no time or only limited time to prepare this simple regular oblation. That’s why he or she will purchase some pieces of canang for daily needs.
News by International Bali Post
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