Tumpek Landep: Revitalising The
Tools
Saturday, November 15, 2003, is a special day to honour all
types of tools or machinery called Tumpek Landep. When you go
out to the street you will see gegantungan (an offering made
of coconut leaves and flowers) hanging on the cars or motorcycles.
At a Balinese home, the family conduct a prayer in their family
temple and also put offerings in the tools like knives, sickles,
daggers and spades.
Tumpek Landep is another pawukon-based ceremony that takes
place every 6 months (210 days). The word landep means "sharp"
as in knife or machete. In the old days, the offerings were
devoted to honour sharp sacred weapon, such as kris (traditional
wavy double-bladed dagger) and tombak (spear). The people believed
that those weapons had pasupati (a spiritual power that protects
the sacred weapon) and they especially honour the Hyang Pasupati,
a manifestation of God, which symbolises sharpness. They hoped
that Hyang Pasupati blessed them with sharpness in mind and
heart.
The Tumpek Landep concept has somehow extended to more modern
day tools. Their offerings are not limited to kris and tombak
but any other iron-based inanimate objects such as cars, buses,
rifles, television, computer, and digital camera. The messages,
however, are still the same that is to maintain the pasupati
power, so these tools can continue help people to work in their
daily life.
From Balibagus.com
