Mysticism among the Pedandas of Bali
Religions November 5, 2020 June Mcdaniel 3 citations
On Bali, brahmin high priests (pedandas) achieve religious authority through mystical states that produce the most sacred holy water, essential for all rituals—a rare case where mysticism is vital to daily community life. These priests preserve ancient Indonesian Hinduism against Westernization, Islamization, and modernization. Little ethnographic research exists on them, with no Western-language books and few Indonesian biographies. This paper examines Shiva pedandas' lives and mystical experiences, comparing them with those of Buddhist priests, local healers (balians), and possession trance states.