Tirta Empul temple

Melukat: Purifying Our Mind, Body & Soul

Melukat is derived from Sulukat. “Su” means good, and “lukat” means purification,“Melukat” means to cleanse or to purify. Melukat is a unique religious ritual and a holy sacrifice dedicated by a human being to cleanse and purify the human body and soul from havoc, bad luck, and illness. The ritual usually holds on a good day in a Balinese Calendar. Melukat Ritual is also known as a “spiritual maintenance”. It is done by taking a bath in a natural water source like rivers, waterfalls or the sea with a blessing of Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa (God Almighty) and with prayer by a priest.

The ceremony is carried out on a good day and it is a tradition, which have been done by Hindus in Bali generation to generation until now.Purifying spiritually means a process to remove bad influences or “klesa” in human.

Klesa means dirty. There are five klesa, they are “Awidya”, soul darkness because they perceive themselves as smart, rich, young, strong, noble, beautiful, or handsome. “Asmita” is egoist and the body only stress on releasing desire. “Dwesa” is hatred and revenge. “Abhiniwesa” is fear.

One of the most popular sites where Balinese people as well as visitors go to partake in melukat is Tirta Empul Temple in Tampaksiring. A large rectangular pool is fed by holy spring water that flows from of a series of 12 stone fountains. Worshippers first make an offering at the temple, and then climb into the main pool to bathe and pray. Many people collect the holy water in bottles to take home and use in their own family temple.