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Nyapuh Leger Ritual Strengthens Spiritual Literacy and Cultural Identity in Bali
A collaborative community service project led by STKIP Agama Hindu Amlapura, the Parisadha Foundation, and Yadnya Prawerti Parisadha (YPP) Amlapura has shown that the traditional Nyapuh Leger ritual remains highly relevant for strengthening spiritual literacy and preserving Balinese cultural identity in modern society. Conducted in March 2026 in Karangasem Regency, Bali, the program involved 64 participants born during the Wayang Wuku period, a group traditionally believed in Balinese Hindu cosmology to require spiritual purification through the Nyapuh Leger ceremony.
The activity demonstrated that Nyapuh Leger is not only a ceremonial obligation but also an important medium for religious education, self-purification, and cultural preservation. The findings are especially important as younger generations increasingly experience disconnection from the philosophical meaning behind traditional rituals due to globalization, digitalization, and changing social values.
Traditional Ritual Faces Modern Challenges
Nyapuh Leger is one of the important purification rituals in Balinese Hindu tradition. It is specifically intended for individuals born during Wayang Wuku, a period associated with spiritual vulnerability to Bhuta Kala, negative cosmic influences believed to disrupt life balance.
The ritual functions as a form of spiritual cleansing or śuddhi, helping individuals restore harmony between the inner self (bhuana alit) and the universe (bhuana agung). It also reflects the Hindu philosophical concept of rwa bhineda, the balance between opposing forces in life.
However, researchers note that many younger people now view religious rituals only as formal ceremonies, without fully understanding their ethical and spiritual values. This creates risks of cultural disorientation and weakens local religious identity.
The research team emphasized that preserving intangible cultural heritage requires stronger religious literacy rooted in local wisdom.
Universities Play a Strategic Role
The project highlights the growing role of universities in preserving local traditions through the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, especially community service.
STKIP Agama Hindu Amlapura positioned itself not only as an academic institution but also as an active social partner connecting scholarship with community religious practices.
By working directly with local communities, lecturers and students helped strengthen understanding of the Nyapuh Leger ceremony while ensuring the ritual was conducted according to Hindu religious scriptures and Balinese tradition.
This collaboration also significantly reduced the financial burden for families. Private Nyapuh Leger ceremonies performed individually at home can cost between IDR 30 million and IDR 40 million. The mass implementation made the ritual much more accessible for the community.
Participatory Method Makes Community Active
The program used a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, which emphasizes collaboration between researchers and communities rather than treating people only as research subjects.
Preparation began with direct observation of how the community currently practiced Nyapuh Leger and how well participants understood its deeper meaning. Discussions were then held with traditional leaders, sulinggih (religious leaders), foundation administrators, and local residents.
This process revealed that many participants still understood the ritual mainly at a practical level and had not fully internalized its spiritual and philosophical values.
Together, the team designed a collaborative implementation plan that included ritual leaders such as Ida Dalang and Ida Pedanda, ensuring religious accuracy while strengthening educational impact.
Ritual Becomes a Form of Spiritual Education
The ceremony took place from March 8 to March 14, 2026, at the STKIP Agama Hindu Amlapura campus.
The ritual included:
- Opening educational sessions through sambrama wacana (welcome and explanation)
- Sapuh Leger wayang puppet performances
- Purification led by Dalang
- Melukat cleansing rituals based on participants’ birth dates
- Natab, ngayab tetebasan, and mejaya-jaya prayer ceremonies
- Communal prayers and final spiritual strengthening rituals
Researchers found that participants no longer viewed these steps as simple technical procedures. Many began to understand them as symbols of self-alignment with cosmic law and personal spiritual responsibility.
The melukat process, for example, was increasingly understood as a symbol of balancing thoughts, words, and actions, reflecting the Hindu teaching of Tri Kaya Parisudha.
As noted by the research team from STKIP Agama Hindu Amlapura, ritual participation became more sincere and reflective once participants understood the philosophical meaning behind each stage.
Stronger Cultural Identity and Social Solidarity
One of the most important outcomes was the strengthening of community cultural identity.
Participants reported that performing Nyapuh Leger collectively created a stronger sense of togetherness compared to individual family ceremonies. The shared ritual experience increased feelings of brotherhood, solidarity, and mutual support.
The researchers found that religious rituals serve not only spiritual functions but also important social functions.
The project also created a deeper awareness that rituals are not merely obligations but processes of personal development and ethical growth.
This aligns with the Hindu understanding that ceremonies are meaningful acts of purification and spiritual improvement rather than symbolic formalities.
A Model for Future Community Service
The study concludes that local wisdom-based community service can become an effective strategy for both preserving tradition and improving spiritual quality of life.
The researchers recommend several practical steps:
- integrating Nyapuh Leger values into Hindu education curricula
- using participatory spiritual education models in community development
- strengthening collaboration between universities, traditional villages, and religious institutions
- applying Tri Hita Karana values in daily life
- replicating similar community service programs in other regions
According to the authors, this model helps build a society that is not only religious in form but also spiritually mature and culturally grounded.
Author Profile
The research was conducted by academics and collaborators from STKIP Agama Hindu Amlapura in partnership with the Parisadha Foundation and Yadnya Prawerti Parisadha Amlapura.
The team focuses on Hindu religious education, local wisdom preservation, participatory community development, and cultural-based spiritual education. Their work emphasizes how traditional rituals can remain relevant in modern society through education, collaboration, and direct community involvement.
Their expertise combines Balinese Hindu philosophy, community empowerment, and implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education.
Source
Journal : Indonesian Journal of Society Development (IJSD)
Year : 2026
DOI : https://doi.org/10.55927/ijsd.v5i2.18
URL : https://journalijsd.my.id/index.php/ijsd/index
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