The uniqueness of Trunyan Village lies in the funeral tradition that differs from other villages in Bali, where the body is placed on the ground and surrounded by taru menyan trees that produce a fragrant aroma, eliminating the smell of decay.
Bali is famous for its complete variety of attractions. Starting from beaches, mountains, lakes, culinary to tourist villages. On the island of Bali, especially the Kintamani area, there is a well-known tourist village. The name is Trunyan Village.
Trunyan Village is a village in Kintamani District, Bangli Regency that has a unique funeral tradition. People who die there are not buried or cremated, but only placed under the Taru Menyan tree. This tree will be able to eliminate the bad smell of the corpse that is there.
The origin of Trunyan Village
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In the beginning, there lived a King of Surakarta. He had four children which are three boys and one girl. Once, his four children sniffed a fragrant odor from nowhere. The youngest child, a girl, said that the odor came from the east.
They asked the King of Surakarta for permission to look for the smell. The King gave his permission. Then, they set off towards the east. After days of traveling, they arrived in Bali. The more fragrant the smell, the more curious they became.
The journey continued until it stopped at Mount Batur. The youngest begged his three older brothers for permission to settle there. He felt safe and comfortable. His three older brothers gave their permission. The youngest, who then settled there, received the title Ratu Ayu Mas Maketeg.
Long story short, the three men continued their journey. However, on the way a dispute occurred between the first child and the third child. The first son kicked the third son because he was annoyed at the behavior of the third son who was too excited. This was because the third child heard the sound of a bird that was really melodious.
The incident resulted in the third child falling in the sitting cross-legged position. The pose can be seen when stepping into Kedisan Village, Pura Dalem Pingit. Then, the third child was given the title Ratu Sakti Sang Hyang Jero.
The journey continued, leaving only the first and second children. On the way, and arriving at Lake Batur, they saw two beautiful women. The second child wanted to greet her but was prevented by the first child. As a result, an argument ensued which caused the first child to act as before. He kicked the second child until he fell down. Later, the place was named Abang Dukuh Village.
The first child stayed alone. He took another step towards the fragrant smell until he reached the Taru Menyan Tree. There was a beautiful and charming woman. The first son was mesmerized and had the desire to have her.
She agreed and they got married. Then, to become a leader there, the first child was given the title Ratu Sakti Pancering Jagat. Later, he became the highest god in Trunyan Village. Meanwhile, the wife received the title Ratu Ayu Pingit Dalam Dasar. Later, she became the protector of Lake Batur.
Ratu Sakti Pancering Jagat wants to secure his area from external threats. Therefore, when someone dies, the body is not buried but placed near the Taru Menyan Tree. The tree obscures the smell of the corpse and gives off a fragrant odor. Taru means tree and Menyan means fragrant.
Unique Funeral Traditions in Trunyan Village
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There is something interesting about the funeral tradition there where the number of bodies placed under Taru Menyan cannot be more than eleven people. In addition, there are several conditions that must be met including:
1. Died naturally
2. Has been married
3. Complete limbs
Those who die with the above conditions will be buried in Mepasah (placed under Taru Menyan tree). The burial area is referred to as Sema Wayah.
However, there are two other areas for those who do not meet the above conditions. They will also be buried. First, Sema Muda for young children or unmarried adults. Second, Sema Bantas for those who died unnaturally or whose limbs were incomplete due to illness.
Rules in Trunyan Village
There are some rules that need to be obeyed when visiting Trunyan Village. For example, respect not to talk dirty and not to take any items that are in Taru Menyan.
Points of Interest Around Trunyan Village
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1. Pancering Jagat Temple
In this place, visitors will find interesting attractions. The attraction is in the form of traditional art called Barong Brutuk. For the surrounding community, Barong Brutuk is the incarnation of the ruler in Trunyan Village.
There are Ratu Sakti Pancering Jagat and Ratu Ayu Pingit Dalem Dasar. The people who become Barong Brutuk are chosen. They must purify themselves or quarantine for 42 days. In addition, they may not have contact with women and the cast is usually male.
The Barong Brutuk‘s clothes come from dried banana leaves. As for the face cover using a mask. However, the masks used are different from most in Bali souvenirs centers.
Well, this art can only be witnessed by visitors once every two years. Barong Brutuk is performed during the Ngusaba Kabat ceremony at Pancering Jagat Temple.
2. Lake Batur
One of the interesting tourist attractions around Trunyan Village is the Lake Batur. Before you head to Trunyan Village, you will definitely pass the Lake Batur. This is one of the lakes in Bali that is famous for its beauty. In fact, its beauty was recognized by UNESCO by placing Lake Batur as a Global Geopark Network.
Located at an altitude of 1050 meters above sea level, you will see the beauty of the bluish-green lake. Moreover, you can also enjoy the beauty of the elongated hills. Lake Batur is the perfect place to relax and find peace.
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