Dressed in our ceremonial gear, we headed for the temple...
Como Shambhala had recently employed a small group of guides who joined the Activities Department managed by Patti…
As part of their training, the guides needed to experience the many activities offered at the resort, so they could confidently lead, and interact with any guests who might request to go on outings such as hikes and walks through local villages; cycling tours, volcano climbs; and trips to experience local ceremonies and culture which may be on offer at the time…
While Mikaela was still visiting, Patti invited us to accompany the new guides, as well as others in the activity department to visit the Tirta Empul Temple north of Ubud, so that we could experience the Water Cleansing Ceremony…
The ceremony is performed by the Balinese throughout the year, and many thousands of people visit the temple whose waters are believed to contain special powers of healing and blessing…
The water originate from a number of underground springs, and bubble to the surface through vents in the earths crust… From a large pool which contains these vents, water flows into a series of pools from where they feed a number of fountains, each one dedicated for a specific purpose…
Led by Mudra and Warnata, the guides begin the ceremony at the first of many fountains...
Patricia begins her journey through the fountains...
And I begin mine...
After an initial round of prayers and offerings outside the temple, we were led into the temple grounds and down to the first of the two pools we would need to enter for the ceremony…
First Mudra, one of the senior guides entered the pool to place a small offering at each of the fountains we would be using as part of our cleansing ceremony… We would be avoiding those fountains dedicated to pregnant women, and the one associated with a recent bereavment…
Senior guide and all round good guy, Mudra, moved from fountain to fountain distributing our offerings before we engaged in the ritual water cleansing... (Photo: Philip Bowen)
Then led by Warnata, we entered the pool and began the symbolic cleansing ritual… We were shown how we should first we dipped our heads under the gushing water that exited from large stone spigots built into the wall of the pool. Then cupping our hands under the fountain, we splashed water over our heads three time, then washed our faces three times and finally held the water to our lips three times. Before leaving the fountain and moving on to the next one, we dipped our heads under the water again…
Warnata explains the next part of the ritual to Krista and Mikaela...
The schools of fish in the pool nibbled at the hair on my legs as I moved from fountain to fountain, a total of seven in all in the first pool… At first, the fish made concentration a little difficult, but I soon forgot all about them as I tried to immerse myself in the meaning of the ceremony…
"You can open your eyes now, Patti...!! Or you can keep them closed and risk falling headfirst into a fountain...!!"
Hedi, GB, Mikaela and Krista are led forward by Warnata... (Photo by Philip Bowen)
In the final pool, Patti experiences the waters of the Master Cleanser, the final fountain in the series... (Photo by Philip Bowen)
The initial shock of the cold water was also soon forgotten as we moved from fountain to fountain… I felt a huge sense of peace and well-being come over me as I went through the ritual in the first pool… Apart from the constant sound of gushing water, and the occasional murmuring from Warnata as he explained about the next fountain in line, all other sound seemed to be blocked out…
It reminded me of the times when I was on the bike, riding on a particularly winding or difficult stretch of road… Totally focused and “in the zone”… Nothing else mattering, just being fully in the moment, with the feeling that you are part of everything you are experiencing; the bike, the road, the weather, and the scenery you are riding through…
Wishing away the negativity that had plagued me for months... (Photo by Philip Bowen)
The first fountain is associated with our ancestors and the karma passed down to us from them. The second fountain is to purify your future karma and the relationship you might have with your children and other members of your family and friends…
Another of the fountains is associated with the cleansing of bad dreams and anxieties. There is also one that is said to increase and cleanse your aura… The final fountain in the first pool is the Master Cleanser, capable of healing and the granting of wishes if you ask with good intention and true devotion…
The priest who officiated at our final prayer ceremony...
The second large pool we entered houses the Tirtu Empul fountain itself… It is one of a short series of fountains that prayers are made at to alleviate both physical and psychological stress that might be bothering you… The water that washes over you here should cleanse your mind of the stuff we burden ourselves with…
After changing into dry clothes, we were led to the nearby temple where a priest performed a ritual ceremony over our little group, while our guides made offerings to the temple…
Bruno, Mudra and Warnata, pose with Como's new guides, while Mikaela and Krista make up the "Roses among the Thorns"...
Mikaela and Patricia stand before one of the many shrines that dot the complex...
Loaded with fruit and other offerings, this Balinese lady heads for the temple... (Photo by Philip Bowen)
Experiencing this very special ceremony with Patricia had been one of the highlights of my stay in Bali...
With the final part of the ceremony over, we wandered around the complex, visiting some of the shrines erected there and seeing the pool where the mineral rich waters bubbled up from underground…
We were thankful that we had arrived at Tirta Empul as early as we did, as a huge gathering of Balinese were entering the grounds as we were leaving…
Our ceremony had taken about two hours, but on special holidays, the same ceremony can take up to eight hours… I could not imagine standing in a cold water pool for hours at a time, waiting in line for your turn at any specific fountain…!!
Near the entrance to the temple stands a massive Banyan tree, said to house a large white python, who is rarely seen… A sighting of this snake is said to herald good fortune for the island and it’s people…
Judging by the long silences in the car on the way back to Ubud, the ceremony we had just undertaken had had a calming effect on all of us… While all my companions went back to work at Como, I went home and lay down to think about the ceremony and the thoughts that went through my head while I went from fountain to fountain… I fell into a deep sleep and woke s few hours later, feeling more refreshed than I had for some time…
And perhaps I was imagining it, but over the next few days, my knees and shoulders were free of the aches and pains that usually bothered them… Yoga became a pleasure rather than the gentle form of torture I had begun to associate it with, and Patti and I signed up for a week long meditation course at the centre a short walk from her villa…
Bali has certainly opened my eyes and mind to a culture that is strongly connected to the earth and all the living (and inanimate) things that it is made up of… I am beginning to see how much time and effort I have wasted in dwelling on the past, and instead am now looking forward to a brighter and even more exciting future on this amazing planet we all call home…
©GBWT 2011
Oh dear – hope the young lady is okay! Let us know how she is please.
Looks like an interesting ceremony.
I told you that country would change you It is a very special place and i think you know what I mean.
We entered back into canada yesterday but are putting off arriving home until saturday so we just have some time to enjoy our country we have been in the mountains for the past few days and I must say I am very fortunate to live in this great place.
See you soon for a ride to Alaska.
Trev