Trunyan Village, Bali unique burial tradition !!!

There are many good and interesting tours in Bali, the place has been a favorite place for domestic and foreign tourists. Tourist attractions in Bali almost offer their own charms such as Pandawa Beach, Kuta Beach, and Dreamland Beach. yesterday I learned about the village of Panglipuran. Well, now I will share a unique village in Bali, Trunyan Village. the village itself has its own uniqueness where only the burial of the human remains is placed under a tree. What ?? However, that's the tradition of seeing history and its origin.

History of the Origin of Trunyan Village

This unique way of burial of the Trunyan Village community is inseparable from the history of the founding of the village located east of the lips of Lake Batur, Kintamani, Bangli Regency, North Bali. Narrated, a long time ago in the Kingdom of Surakarta on the island of Java, there was a sweet smell that attracted the attention of 4 brothers, princes and princesses of the kingdom of Surakarta. The four of them then wandered to find the source of the sound, they consisted of 3 princes and one daughter.

In the middle of the trip, namely to the south of the foot of Mount Batur, the youngest Princess was attracted to the place and decided to stay there. That desire was also approved by his brothers. Then the Princess moved to the slopes of Mount Batur to the east and had the title Ratu Ayu Mas Marketeg. The three princes continued their journey. Then when they arrived in the plain called Kedisan, they heard the sound of a very melodious bird. Hearing the sound of this bird, the third prince felt happy and shouted with joy. This turned out not to be liked by the first prince. Then he ordered the third prince to remain silent in that place. When the third prince refused, the eldest prince was angry and kicked him to fall into a cross-legged position and turned into a statue. At this time we can still find Stone Bathara Dewa Statues in sitting cross-legged conditions in the Kedisan area.

After that, the remaining two princes continued their journey to a plain, where they met two beautiful girls. The second prince then greeted them, seeing this, the eldest prince was angry again and ordered him to stay in that place. When it was rejected again, the eldest prince then kicked his sister until he fell face down and then left behind. It was said that the younger brother then became the village head in that place and the village was later called the Abang Dukuh Village. Hamlet's own word is a term in the local language which means face down.

After continuing the journey alone, the Eldest Prince finally found the Taru Menyan tree which was the source of the fragrance. Below him, he saw a very beautiful Goddess. The prince falls in love and intends to propose to the Goddess. The Prince's application was accepted by the Goddess's older brother, on condition that the Prince must become the village leader.

The Prince was given the title Ratu Sakti Pancering Jagat, while his wife was given the title Ratu Ayu Pingit Dalam Dasar. Since then, Trunyan village has developed into a small kingdom. Then to protect the work of outsiders who came because they were attracted by the fragrant smell of the Taru Menyan tree, Ratu Sakti Pancering Jagat ordered the population not to bury the deceased but was placed under the Taru Menyan tree until it decomposed. From that moment on, the smell of the tree was no longer smelling, while the bodies also did not produce a bad smell. And the funeral tradition called Menpahasa is still maintained and preserved to this day.

"Trunyan" Name of a Funeral

Trunyan is a unique funeral name in Trunyan Village, where funerals are always identified with coffins, but different from the cemeteries in Trunyan Village.

The dead body is left alone lying on the ground, while the family members simply give a fence from the bamboo and offerings next to the body.

The bodies buried here do not smell

Logically, the corpse that was buried openly and placed just like that would have a long-lasting odor, but in contrast to Trunyan Village, it did not smell bad at all.

Why? this happened because of the Trunyan tree, which is a large tree that stood in the middle of the cemetery.

The tree's original name is Taru Menyan, wherein the local language "Taru" means tree and "Menyan" means fragrant. So if combined can be interpreted as fragrant trees.

 Trunyan Tree is estimated to be thousands of years old

Apparently, the Trunyan tree is estimated to be thousands of years old, but strangely, the size of the tree doesn't change much. Under this tree, the cemetery is located, and the local community believes this tree can absorb the stench of dead bodies buried here.

So far there has been no research that can reveal how this tree can absorb the foul smell of human corpses buried here.

Based on the stories of the local people, the villagers were suddenly approached by confusion because of the strong smell in the whole village, and even so many residents experienced colds.

After tracing, it turns out, the stinging smell comes from a large tree, then so that the smell of the sting does not disturb the villagers anymore, it was decided that the place was used as a burial place.

There is a requirement to be buried here

Local residents have their own terms and conditions in the case of the funeral, where the number of bodies on the ground close to the Trunyan tree should not be more than 11 bodies.

In addition, the bodies that can be placed here are those who died naturally and were married.

For bodies that have become bones, they will be collected with the others near the root of the tree, so that the place can be used for new bodies. Another uniqueness, the body will be covered with "Ancak" which is a bamboo cage.

There is also "Sema Bantas" Funeral Place for Those Who Died Unreasonably

How to die unnaturally is like an accident, suicide or killing people, now the body is not allowed to be placed near the Trunyan tree, there is another place called "Sema Bantas" specifically for those who die unnaturally.

"Sema Muda" Cemetery for Babies or Children

In addition to Sema Bantas, there are also "Sema Muda" namely burial places for those who are still babies or children and residents who are large and mature but not yet married. These burial places have been distinguished according to the rules that apply in Trunyan Village.

Well, that's some interesting facts about Trunyan Village. To get to this place is relatively easy, you can rent a boat at Kedisan Lake Batur Pier to go to Trunyan Village.

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