Balinese intently believe in the power of holy water (tirta). This is perhaps the reason why Hinduism in Bali has historically been referred to as “agama tirta”, the religion of holy water. Water that is considered suitable for making holy water may be sourced from any clean water source: springs, rivers, streams, lakes, the sea, and these days even from a faucet. A faucet refers to only those close to the kitchen or a temple, never to those found in the bathroom. People usually collect holy water in a clay pot or metal urn (sangku), then bless it in the intended holy place. Normally a priest or family head (if the holy water is for the family temple) blesses the water by reciting a prayer or a mantra to ensure its purity. Now the tirta is ready to use.
Tirta serves a number of functions. At a ceremony you may see people entering the inner sanctum of the temple and sprinkling themselves with water from a large vassal—this is a type of holy water used to purify worshippers called tirta pengelukatan. Then, after praying the worshippers are blessed by priests with water from a small metal urn—this type of holy water is called tirta wangsuhpada and serves to purify and heal. This type of tirta is only used for humans and you may see large groups of people being sprinkled with it. However, if inanimate objects are blessed, the holy water is called tirta pembersih karang.
There is even a special type of holy water reserved for corpses. A sprinkling of tirta pengentas will ensure that the spirit is cut off from the material world and carried forth peacefully into the spiritual realm.
Basically, the lives of the Balinese would not be complete without tirta. This is a particularly good reason why Balinese need to protect their precious water resources.
