Filing of the teeth in Bali

The Hindouisme has existed for more than three thousand years. More precisely, it goes back to the writing of the Upanishads . Apart from India, Bali is the greatest community hindouist. However, this religion developed differently, so that this insular hindouism comprises rather single rites of passage. Besides the Balineses use the term Agama Tirtal (which means “Science of water bénite”) to indicate their religion. This one is a mixture of the religious principles coming from China, India and Java. The Balineses test very a great fear vis-a-vis the imps, with the spirits and the demons. It is this fear which justifies a ritual to which all the Balineses - boys and girls - must subject themselves to the pubescent age: filing of the teeth .

During the operation, a Brahman (member of the sacerdotal Hindu caste, the highest caste) file with three recoveries four incisors and two canines of the upper jaw. That is carried out by means of a file and of a hammer, without any anesthesia. The girl or the boy who is made file the teeth must be well equipped, because the ceremony is in their honor. Often a white clothing is worn to symbolize the purity. When the work of the priest is completed, the parents of the teenager have a duty to check if the result corresponds to their waitings. The ceremony proceeds in a festive atmosphere, with the sound of the Gamelan, and ends in a traditional meal. One collects dental waste in a coconut, which one buries thereafter behind the sanctuary of the family.

The filing of the teeth is before a a whole modification of a spiritual nature. Indeed, although the fact of equalizing the teeth of the upper jaw embellishes the smile, the original intention of this ritual is to remove the animal forces from the body in order to allow the passage towards the world of the adults. The six filed teeth correspond to six bad spirits which must be driven out: intemperance, jealousy, anger, cupidity, lust and the madness. With these defects in less and the well filed teeth upper, the teenager got rid of all that there was of animal in him: to equalize these teeth corresponds to move away from the animal world to enter the adult world while being less likely to make errors. Moreover, the filing of the teeth is obligatory if one wishes to marry. Often, the teenager achieves it the year preceding his marriage. Also, the meal which follows the ceremony called upon six known savors: bitter, sweetened, salted, acid, spiced and burned.

Like, in the religion hindouist, one fears réincarner in animal, the filing of the teeth is probably a way of entreating this fear. This ceremony is also practiced at noble families of Java, in Yogyakarta and Solo.

Sources

Human being , Montreal, Encyclopedia universelle/ERPI, 2005,512 p.
BALI TRADITION. “Bali, island of the gods”, Bali Tradition , Editions Internet, line. (February 29th, 2007).
BALI DIFFERENTLY. “Principal religious holidays and events in Bali”, Bali Differently , Editions Internet, line. (February 29th, 2007).
OASIS. “Filing of the teeth”, the network of the captain, Editions Internet, line. (February 29th, 2007).
ROUTARD. “Bali, principal ceremonies”, Routard , Editions Internet, line. (February 29th, 2007).
RICHARD, Élisabet and Antoinette VICART. Indonesia , Paris, Arthaud Editions, 1991,449 p.

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