The Concept of Water Exaltation in The Subak

Abstract

Objective: A contribution to a better understanding of Balinese subak farming rituals through symbolic and mythological analysis of the water breeding and preservation concept. The symbolism and mythology in the concept of water exhalation in subak ritual as a visual communication of humans, God, and the environment will be examined in this qualitative descriptive study with an ethnographic approach. Method: The implementation of THK philosophy as the foundation for a high spirit of cooperation, as well as the existence of ritual activities as a unifying element for members of the subak organization, has the potential to sustain the subak existence. Meanwhile, in the Balinese people's cosmos, natural, religious, and cultural attributes are interconnected through the traditional and Subak systems, and their properties are still fully functional. They have even lasted for thousands of years. Result: Farming rituals in Subak are forms of nonverbal communication that have manifested as tangible symbolic actions involving interpretations and perspectives on the lives of the Balinese agricultural community. Balinese farmers perform several rituals during one rice planting cycle. Conclusion: The mapag Toya ritual is part of religious practice as a concept of exaltation and preserving water as a source of life, a symbol of purity, a means of cleaning, a means of expelling disease, and a means of communication that connects humans with the Creator and ancestors.

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