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Old 13th May 2009, 11:25 AM   #10
A. G. Maisey
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Based upon what I can see in these images, it believe it is probable that all of those curls at the corner of the mouths of the figures pictured, are representative of fangs. The qualifications I have included here are intentional, as it is always possible that I could form a different opinion if I had these hilts in my hand.

I feel that I should write a little more on the nature of the raksasa or buta.

There is a whole range of various evil beings in Balinese belief, but the generic raksasa or buta is something other than a specific being that does specific evil and has a specific name.

In the Balinese context these generic beings are not demons such as the Christian demons. A Christian demon is a personification of evil that is an actual being.

The Balinese raksasa or buta is a natural force that has exceeded its normal intensity.

It can be a personal natural force such as greed, or envy, or it can be a natural force such as flood or fire.

When this natural force exceeds its normal power and intensity, it becomes a buta, which is a horror, and something to be feared.

To avoid the occurrence of an excess of a natural force, and thus the creation of a buta, an image representative of the buta can be made, and offerings made to it. Similarly, if the buta sees the personification of himself already extant, there is a hope that he will will be fooled into thinking that he is already there, so cannot come into the space already occupied by his personification.

In Bali on the eve of Hari Nyepi figures representing the fears and horrors of the people are paraded around the towns and villages and finish up down at the edge of the sea. The hope is that the unseen forces will see that they have already visited this space, and have seen the offerings made to them, and will not return during the coming year.

You can find a number of differing explanations for the Hari Nyepi ceremonies and the parade of the ogoh-ogohs, but what I have given here is what I have been told by family members and close friends over a number of years.

Jawa is not Bali, but I am inclined to believe that in pre-Islamic Jawa a similar belief system may have been in place. Perhaps this belief system was still in place amongst adherents to original Javanese beliefs long after Islam had gained a foothold.

This link will take you to some photos I took a couple of years ago in Bali on the eve of Hari Nyepi:-

http://www.kerisattosanaji.com/harinyepi2007.html
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