Acintya
Encyclopedia
Acintya, also Atintya also Tunggal (Balinese
: "Unity") is the supreme god of Hinduism
as practiced in Indonesia
(formally known as Agama Hindu Dharma), and most of all in the island of Bali
, equivalent to the concept of Brahman
. He is also the Supreme God in the traditional wayang
theater of shadow puppets. He is also known to most modern Balinese as Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, also Sanghyang Widi Wasa (the "All-In-One God"), a term invented in the 1930s by Christian
missionaries to describe the Christian god to the Balinese.
He is often associated to the sun god, and depicted in human form with flames around him. His nakedness expresses that "his consciousness is no longer carried away by his sense-faculties".
Prayers and offering are not made directly to Acintya, but only to the other manifestations of the deity.
Acintya is often not even represented, in which case he is only evoked by an empty throne on top of a pillar (the "Padmasana", lit. "Lotus Throne"), inside Balinese temples.
The introduction of the Padmasana as an altar to the Supreme God, was the result of a 16th century Hindu reformation mouvement, led by Dang Hyang Nirartha
, the priest of the Gelgel
King Batu Renggong (also Waturenggong), at the time when Islam
was spreading from the west through Java. Dang Hyang Nirartha built temples in Bali, and added the Padmasana shrines to the temples he visited.
and the Indonesian War of Independence, the Republic of Indonesia has adopted political rules called Pancasila (lit. "The five principles") which allow for freedom of religion within Indonesia, provided the religion in question is monotheistic, i.e. based upon the belief in a one, all-powerful God. Under these rules, five religions are recognized: Islam
, Buddhism
, Catholicism
, Protestantism
and Hinduism
. Balinese Hindus have thus felt the need to reinforce the monotheistic component of Bali Hunduism, and looked for a more obvious name than that of Acintya. They selected the expression Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa ("God almighty"), which, although forged in the 1930s by Protestant missionaries to describe the Christian God, was thought to be well-adapted to describe the Hindu supreme deity. This is thus the name which is now more commonly used by modern Balinese.
Balinese language
Balinese or simply Bali is a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken by 3.3 million people on the Indonesian island of Bali, as well as northern Nusa Penida, western Lombok and eastern Java...
: "Unity") is the supreme god of Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
as practiced in Indonesia
Hinduism in Indonesia
Hinduism in Indonesia, also known by its formal Indonesian name Agama Hindu Dharma, refers to Hinduism as practised in Indonesia. According to the 2000 census Hindus consisted 1.79% of the total population with 88.05% in Bali and 5.89% in Central Kalimantan...
(formally known as Agama Hindu Dharma), and most of all in the island of Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
, equivalent to the concept of Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
. He is also the Supreme God in the traditional wayang
Wayang
Wayang is a Javanese word for theatre . When the term is used to refer to kinds of puppet theatre, sometimes the puppet itself is referred to as wayang...
theater of shadow puppets. He is also known to most modern Balinese as Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, also Sanghyang Widi Wasa (the "All-In-One God"), a term invented in the 1930s by Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
missionaries to describe the Christian god to the Balinese.
Role
Acintya corresponds to a rather recent trend towards monotheism in Bali, according to which there is one supreme god, and that the other gods are only manifestations of him. Acinthya is emptiness, and considered as the origin of the Universe, all other divinities emanating from him.He is often associated to the sun god, and depicted in human form with flames around him. His nakedness expresses that "his consciousness is no longer carried away by his sense-faculties".
Prayers and offering are not made directly to Acintya, but only to the other manifestations of the deity.
Acintya is often not even represented, in which case he is only evoked by an empty throne on top of a pillar (the "Padmasana", lit. "Lotus Throne"), inside Balinese temples.
The introduction of the Padmasana as an altar to the Supreme God, was the result of a 16th century Hindu reformation mouvement, led by Dang Hyang Nirartha
Dang Hyang Nirartha
Danghyang Nirartha also known as Pedanda Shakti Wawu Rauh was a Saivite religious figure in Bali and a Hindu traveler during the 16th century C.E.. He was the founder of the Shaivite priesthood in Bali.- Early life :...
, the priest of the Gelgel
Gelgel, Indonesia
Gelgel is a village that is situated in the regency of Klungkung, on the Island of Bali, Indonesia. The village, which lies four kilometers south of the regency capital Semarapura, not far from the coast, contains a number of culturally interesting structures. It is known for its pottery and...
King Batu Renggong (also Waturenggong), at the time when Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
was spreading from the west through Java. Dang Hyang Nirartha built temples in Bali, and added the Padmasana shrines to the temples he visited.
Modern characterization
Since the end of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Indonesian War of Independence, the Republic of Indonesia has adopted political rules called Pancasila (lit. "The five principles") which allow for freedom of religion within Indonesia, provided the religion in question is monotheistic, i.e. based upon the belief in a one, all-powerful God. Under these rules, five religions are recognized: Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
, Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
and Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
. Balinese Hindus have thus felt the need to reinforce the monotheistic component of Bali Hunduism, and looked for a more obvious name than that of Acintya. They selected the expression Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa ("God almighty"), which, although forged in the 1930s by Protestant missionaries to describe the Christian God, was thought to be well-adapted to describe the Hindu supreme deity. This is thus the name which is now more commonly used by modern Balinese.