The first of the three relationships that make up the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, Parhyangan is the basis for all religious ceremonies that make up a majority of Balinese life. Through ceremonies, the Balinese show gratitude to the Creator and many gods and goddess in the Hindu pantheon, who in return will guide the Balinese through life.
Balinese society, being mainly religious, believes that all life comes from Sang Hyang Widhi, or the Creator. The life that we have been granted is a gift and thus, we should be thankful for that gift. Showing gratitude is often done through ceremonies. The plethora of Balinese ceremonies, while differing in practice, are all based on this fundamental philosophy.
Unlike Abrahamic faiths, where God resides far above in the heavens and watches over humans, Balinese Hinduism believes that gods and goddess live in close proximity with humans. While they may reside in the divine realm (svah) somewhere in the heavens, they often manifest in the “middle world” (bvah) to guide humans. When they do arrive, major celebrations are held to welcome and appease them. For example, every six months, on a special Saturday, the goddess Sarasvati is said to descend and bring the gift of knowledge to humans. To show gratitude for the knowledge, ceremonies are held to honour the goddess. Every six months, the Balinese celebrate Galungan day, or the day when good wins a battle against evil. As a token of appreciation for their valour, the Balinese celebrate three days of Galungan with festivities. A much larger example would be the massive ceremonies held at the mother temple of Besakih. Held annually, the Betara Turun Kabeh (lit. “many gods descending”) is a massive occasion where it is believed that all the gods descend from heaven to “mingle” and provide blessings to humans. It is a festive occasion where people converge at the mother temple and show their gratitude to the many gods that are present. Such are examples of the implementation of Parhyangan as a philosophy of life.
Maintaining good relations with the gods and goddesses is seen as one way to achieve balance in life. Thus, you can think of all the ceremonies that celebrate the gods and goddesses as labours of love to keep a healthy, balanced, and happy life!