Do certain animals carry spiritual significance in Balinese
society?
As in most cultures, the belief in the spiritual powers
of certain animals is widespread amongst the Balinese. There
are a number of general beliefs adhered to, some of which
are the same or similar to Western superstitions, but a few
are unique to Indonesia.
As in the West, to the Balinese a black cat seen crossing
one’s path is an ill omen, giving off general ‘bad
vibes’. So too does the presence of a raven signify
death.
A lizard falling on you or if you are peed or defecated on
by one, forewarns of bad luck. This, however, can be remedied
by a quick soap-up or shampoo, apparently! ‘Aerial top
dressing’ from a bird, on the contrary, is viewed as
an extremely fortunate occurrence, as it is in other cultures.
Running over certain animals, can carry bad karma if not dealt
with accordingly. Whilst the poor dogs of Bali seem to be
immune to this belief, running over cats or geese is not taken
lightly – the death of such animals under the wheel
demands a hasty burial with special offerings.
Killing certain animals when one’s wife or partner is
pregnant is believed to have dire consequences. Allegedly,
such acts can cause horrible defects in newborn babies.
To the Balinese, snakes carry special spiritual significance.
The presence of unusually large snakes in temples signifies
the presence of a guardian deity, and must not be ostracized
or disposed of. Snakes in dreams may mean a number of things,
depending on the context. A snake chasing you signifies that
someone is infatuated with you; being bitten by a snake, on
the other hand, reveals that something bad is going to happen
to you.
Large sea creatures such as giant turtles or whales constantly
beaching themselves may serve as a warning to the local people
that they have not been caring for their physical or spiritual
environment properly.
On a positive note, if a white or colourful butterfly comes
in to your house, it means that someone important is going
to visit you or that something good is going to happen. So
open all your house doors and windows and keep your eye out
for those friendly butterflies, folks!
Copyright@ Kulture Kid 2006
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