Why is Bali called the Island of Gods? This is both a simple and complex question and we need to take a deep dive into Balinese culture and history to get a clear picture.
At a surface level, of course, we could just say “it’s because there are a lot of temples in Bali” but there’s more to it than that.
So, let’s take a look at why Bali is the Island of Gods and what makes it so appealing to visitors and the Balinese people alike.
Balinese Culture And Balinese Hinduism
It begins not with Hinduism but with the ancient animism of Blai before the Hindu faith arrived in the region.
Animism is a form of ancestor worship, it allows the believer to feel connected to all living things and all things that have come before them through “ancestor spirits”.
This belief would have completely infused everyday life and in the villages of the Bali Aga, those villages where the original Balinese people still dwell, it still does.
At one point, Bali and the Lesser Sunda Islands that it is a part of would have been home to thousands of spirits, which could have been interpreted as “gods” by early visitors to the island.
It is Bali’s animist roots that sees places such as Mount Agung, Mount Batur and the lesser-known Mount Merbuk in Northwest Bali being seen as sacred. The main Gods of those times would have been the spirits of these places that are now considered sacred.
Hinduism
Hinduism arrived in Bali about 1,000 years ago. It came along with another major religion in Southeast Asia, Buddhism.
And while Buddhism would eventually win out in the hearts and minds of believers in Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos as well as to a lesser extent in Malaysia and Vietnam, it was in Bali that the Hindu faith predominated.
This saw the end of the ancient Balinese kingdom with its last king, King Sri Kesari Warmadewa. The era of “Bali Dwipa Jaya” was coming to a close. However, the name Bali Dwipa Jaya survives in the island’s anthem today and still means “Glorious Bali Island”.
And the reign of the Mataram and Majapahit Empires in Java had begun. The Island of the Gods wasn’t unduly burdened by its Javanese masters, and smaller kingdoms arose in Bali.
It was an era of great investment in faith and a thousand temples burst forth in the Balinese countryside, in Java and even on Lombok Island (though to a much lesser extent).
This tradition of temple building has lasted until the present day and much of the natural beauty of the Island of the Gods is enhanced by these ornate religious sites.
Hinduism and Buddhism were rarely destructive religions and this was true in Bali too, the animist traditions were simply absorbed into the new religions.
There’s a great deal of common ground between these two faiths even today and you can find traces of animism everywhere if you look hard enough.
The Myriad Sacred Sites Of Bali
The temples on the Island of the Gods were built to serve a purpose. They weren’t just for worship, as with the original animist faith – Gods in Bali were meant to assist their loyal followers in their quest for a better life.
The pristine beaches of the island were guarded by temples that were meant to appease the Goddess of the Sea.
The Mother Temple at Besakih was expected to help feed the people of the Island of the Gods and is, to this very day, an integral part of the Subak agricultural system.
The Philosophy Of Tri Hita Karana
The three causes of well-being, the underlying principles of Balinese life – the Tri Hita Karana – are derived from the relationship between the people of this island, the island itself and the Gods.
The philosophy considers the causes of well-being to be Harmony with God, Harmony with other people, and Harmony with your environment.
This principle is embedded into every facet of life on the island from the architecture, to the agriculture, to the beach clubs and beyond.
Harmony Among The Stunning Natural Beauty
This harmony is unique. The Subak system of agriculture ios one of the oldest and most established systems on Earth.
It was built to ensure the relationship between the people and the island was always in a healthy state.
It was one of the first truly sustainable sets of agricultural practices on Earth and it still exists today.
It may be at a certain amount of peril due to the development of the island for tourism, but for now on the Island of the Gods, the Gods still watch over the rice production.
Recent History On The Island Of The Gods
In more recent times, as the Hindu empires of Java fell, much of the Indonesian archipelago converted to Islam but Bali called the remaining Hindu faithful and it became a stronghold of the Hindu faith.
Then, the Dutch East Indies company arrived and began to colonize the archipelago, but Bali was one of the last places to fall to colonialism and barely had it begun when the Japanese occupation during World War 2 arrived and evicted the Duthc.
Thus the island was never converted to Christianity and the Japanese weren’t in the business of creating converts to Shinto.
After the Japanese left and colonialism was finally thwarted the nation of Indonesia chose to pursue a pattern of religious tolerance.
However, for the Island of the Gods, this was a problem. The new constitution required all recognized faiths to have a single god, not gods plural.
Fortunately, Balinese Hinduism is very adaptable and they simply opted to appoint the God Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa as the supreme god and declare all other gods to be the manifestation of aspects of this god.
Thus the Island of the Gods continues to provide a home for all the deities of the Balinese faith.
So Why Is Bali Called The Island Of Gods?
All of these individual threads are deeply rooted in the local culture from the canang sari that you see outside of every building on the island each day to the local priest ministering to his flock at the temples.
Warding off evil spirits to make sure the gods remain happy is the main focus of Nyepi, the island’s biggest festival, as the Ogoh-Ogoh parades lure the demons to the land before a day of silence, fools them into leaving the Island of the Gods and ensures the prosperity of the Balinese folk for another year.
You can see the influence of the gods everywhere here from the Capital Denpasar, to the active volcanoes, in the traditional dances, at every popular destination on the island and more.
Bali is the Island of the Gods because it welcomes the Gods and sees them as part of the long history of the land and local traditions are meant to enhance and sustain that relationship f for the future.
FAQs
Why Is Bali The Only Hindu Island?
Bali is the only Hindu island in Indonesia partly due to the history of the island, Bali learned this religion from traders during the time of the Majapahit Empire and as with much of Southeast Asia both Buddhism and Hinduism arrived together.
However, it’s also because of the geography of Bali. When Islam arrived in Java, many of the senior figures from Java who were Hindu fled to Bali and the Island of the Gods remained predominantly Hindu as the majority of people on the archipelago took up Islam.
During the period of colonial rule, Bali was left well alone until very late in the day, so where other parts of Indonesia picked up Christianity from various colonial powers – Bali was free of that influence too.
Why Do We Give Bali To God?
This isn’t part of Balinese Culture but in certain parts of India, “Bali” is an animal sacrifice to the gods.
Those who worship in this way say that it is to show their gratitude for the things they have and to make a sacrifice to prevent others from being called upon to sacrifice.
However, this isn’t part of Indonesia’s cultural heritage at all.
What Is The Meaning Of The Island Of The Gods?
The term “Island of the Gods” is meant to help people visualize the rich cultural heritage of the Balinese people. The traditional Balinese dance performances, the religious ceremonies, lush rice terraces, the thousand temples, the Balinese language and Bali’s unique blend of all these things.
It’s a place that has been truly blessed by the Gods and it’s a major spiritual destination for many of the tourists who visit.
Who Is The God Of Bali, Indonesia?
When Indonesia gained independence it adopted freedom of religion in the constitution. However, after much haggling with the various parties involved it was decided that each official religion had to be monotheistic.
The vibrant culture of Bali at that time didn’t have a single god it had gods. Bali is a practical place though and it was decided that there was a single supreme Hindu God – Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa and that all other gods in the pantheon were simply expressions of this god.
This ensured that the distinct culture that makes Bali so unique would stay that way and all of its numerous temples, wellness retreats, religious sites, etc. were protected against future encroachment by the law.
Final Thoughts On Why Is Bali Called The Island Of The Gods?
There’s more to Bali than beautiful beaches and the diverse culture of the island is one of the natural wonders of the Indonesian archipelago.
It became known as the “island of the Gods” because of its rich culture supports spiritual renewal and the stunning landscapes draw many people to the shores of Bali to seek the many Gods that have made their home here.
Also read:
Balinese Culture: What Makes The Island And The Balinese People So Unique?
