OFFERINGS FOR BHUTA KALA (JAVANESE TERM SO CALLED COK BAKAL)

OFFERINGS FOR BHUTA KALA (JAVANESE TERM SO CALLED COK BAKAL)

Note: All items to be arranged on the big leaf tray, and the last one is to put the 5 mountain-like rice as topping.

AIM:

So that human and creatures around the environment will not follow the wishes of Bhuta kala.

TERM:

"Redeem" as it is a tribute/gift for Bhuta Kala who is such kind of demanding Lord.

Please do not call it as offerings.

DURING REDEEM:

To put it on the ground, it can be in the gate, in front of the entrance, the water well side, river side, beach, bridge, public junction, occasion room, bath room, bed room.

Commonly Javanese people redeem 3 days prior to the D-Day.

ITEMS:

1. Main tray made from leaf. All items are natural so that they will unite with the nature.

2. Smal container filled with 1 pair of coconut sugar blocks and rice. It symbolises Akasha and Prtivi (Father Sky and Mother Earth)

3. Small container filled with various items of cooking spices: salt, pepper, coriander, chili, onion, garlic, etc

4. Small container filled with various beans: green beans, red beans, sesame, nutmeg, soy bean, etc

5. Small container filled with Tri Murti symbol (areca nut and its latex as Brahma, betel leaf and tobacco leaf as Vishnu and limestone as Shiva)

6. Small container filled with pieces of cutted fruits

7. Small container filled with Tri Murti flowers (red rose as Brahma, kenanga as Vishnu, jasmine as Shiva)

8. Small container filled with herbal roots: ginger, turmeric, galangal, etc

9. Coin.

10. Betel leaf hand rolled and tied with cotton thread. In the past history the spiiritualist use it with mantra for reveal the camouflaging person.

11. Mini mountain-liked rice, symbolise 4 directions refer to the Devata Nava Sanga

- black glutinuous rice in the north (Vishnu)

- white rice in the east (Ishvara)

- brown/red rice in the south (Brahma)

- glutinuous rice coloured with turmeric in the west (Mahadeva)

- mixed of all of them in the centre (Shiva)

12. Water can be splashed on to it or prepare it on the cone shaped leave.

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I am Ahimsa practicioner, so all items are without any animal body parts. I did not have chance to but the mini mirror and mini comb, but it is fine as long as majority are fulfilled. Javanese upakara is very quick and easy to made. You may replace all items above as long as similar kind, it is flexible and you do not have to fulfill all items.

The main point of making the upakara are:

1. Sukhla (clean, pure, fresh and not used items)

2. Sincere.

3. Relevant mantra.

English:

Javanese upakara is based on the good thought of holy rshis (spiritualists who were of course had very wide spiritual knowledge). One of the Sanatan Dharma teachings is "To Respect The Ancestors" it also means using their heritage/legacy. That is why we wear our own tribe costume when we pray, we do not wear other tribe's costume. Javanese wears Javanese costume, not wearing Japanese or European costumes. Although no terms in Veda which arrange the costume to wear in prayer.

by : Nandito Negeri Seribu Candi