Balinese Kshatriya
Encyclopedia
Balinese Kshatriya is a Hindu
Kshatriya
community which exists in the island of Bali
in Indonesia
. During the second half of the sixth century, Bali had a strong Kshatriya ruling dynasty. The rulers were mostly indigenous Balinese with some India
n blood. These clans mostly belonged to the Nāgavanshi
dynasty. However in due time, these indigenous Kshatriyas became extinct and were replaced by the Javanese Kshatriya
s who immigrated to Bali. Most of the Kshatriyas now living in Bali are claimed to be the descendants of the King Dewa Agung, who immigrated to Bali from Java
. However there are also a few other Kshatriya clans who were elevated to the Kshatriya
status from the Vaishya
varna. All together, Kshatriyas constitute around 4% of the total Balinese Hindu population.
Dewa Agung is believed to have been crossed over to Bali from Java many centuries ago, along with his half brother Arya Damar and six other Kshatriyas. However only Dewa Agung retained his Kshatriya status, as the descendants of the other seven were degraded to the status of Vaishya
. Most of the Kshatriyas belonging to the Dewa Agung clan are located in Badong, Tabanan, Mengui and Karang-Assem. However in Badong, there is another Kshatriya clan named Gusti Pam'chuttan, who are descended from the Raja
Ngrurah Sakti Pamecutan. Kshatriyas are also found in Klungkung, Bangli and Gianyar. The Kshatriya clan which lived in Buleleng has now shifted their location to Badung. Other Kshatriya clans who live in Bali like Desak, Pradeva and Pungakan are of questionable origin.
The word Kshatriya, which is of Sanskrit origin is pronounced as Satria in Balinese language
.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
community which exists 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...
in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. During the second half of the sixth century, Bali had a strong Kshatriya ruling dynasty. The rulers were mostly indigenous Balinese with some India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n blood. These clans mostly belonged to the Nāgavanshi
Nagavanshi
The Nagavanshi dynasty is one of the ancient Kshatriya dynasties of India. The Vedas do not mention Kshatriyas of either Suryavanshi, Chandravanshi, Nagavanshi, Agnivanshi or such Vanshas or lineages. The Puranas, of debatable dating, constructed such genealogies. The Puranas were supposedly...
dynasty. However in due time, these indigenous Kshatriyas became extinct and were replaced by the Javanese Kshatriya
Javanese Kshatriya
Javanese Kshatriya is a Hindu Kshatriya community which originally existed in the island of Java in Indonesia. According to the ancient Hindu law, the Kshatriyas are alone having the rights to bear arms in order to defend the country...
s who immigrated to Bali. Most of the Kshatriyas now living in Bali are claimed to be the descendants of the King Dewa Agung, who immigrated to Bali from Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
. However there are also a few other Kshatriya clans who were elevated to the Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
status from the Vaishya
Vaishya
Vaishya is one of the four varnas of the Hindu social order. According to Vedic tradition, this caste primarily comprises merchants, farmers, cattle-herders and artisans.-Duties of Vaishyas:...
varna. All together, Kshatriyas constitute around 4% of the total Balinese Hindu population.
Dewa Agung is believed to have been crossed over to Bali from Java many centuries ago, along with his half brother Arya Damar and six other Kshatriyas. However only Dewa Agung retained his Kshatriya status, as the descendants of the other seven were degraded to the status of Vaishya
Vaishya
Vaishya is one of the four varnas of the Hindu social order. According to Vedic tradition, this caste primarily comprises merchants, farmers, cattle-herders and artisans.-Duties of Vaishyas:...
. Most of the Kshatriyas belonging to the Dewa Agung clan are located in Badong, Tabanan, Mengui and Karang-Assem. However in Badong, there is another Kshatriya clan named Gusti Pam'chuttan, who are descended from the Raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
Ngrurah Sakti Pamecutan. Kshatriyas are also found in Klungkung, Bangli and Gianyar. The Kshatriya clan which lived in Buleleng has now shifted their location to Badung. Other Kshatriya clans who live in Bali like Desak, Pradeva and Pungakan are of questionable origin.
The word Kshatriya, which is of Sanskrit origin is pronounced as Satria in Balinese language
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...
.