In a Balinese temple architecture, a Bhoma is a carved or formed grotesque which decorates certain parts in the Balinese temple complex. The statue is similar to the Javanese Kala, and was intended to protect the temple complex from malevolent spirits.
A representation of a Bhoma head guarding the top of the portal to a Balinese temple in Singapadu.
In Balinese mythology, Bhoma is the son of Dewa Wisnu and Dewi Pertiwi, the god of rain and the goddess of earth. One day, when Wisnu was digging the earth in the form of Varaha, his avatar in the form of a wild boar, he encountered a beautiful earth goddess named Dewi Pertiwi. The encounter leads to a union between Wisnu and Pertiwi, which produce a terrifying son named Bhoma.
The story of Wisnu as a wild boar digging up to the bottom of the earth to meet Pertiwi symbolizes torrents of stormy rainwater entering the earth. The figure of Bhoma that was produced by this union is seen as the growth of vegetation or forest (Vanaspati) as a result of the earth receiving the (rain) water. In Javanese and Balinese culture, Vanaspati is the king of the plant, not different with the European Green Man. The word Bhoma came from the Sanskrit word bhaumá, which means something that grows or is born from earth or something related to the earth.
Architecture
In the Padmasana, the central shrine of a Balinese temple complex, the Bhoma head is carved at the bottom of Padmasana shrine to symbolize the forest which surrounds the base of a mountain.
Bhoma is basically the Balinese kirtimukha. In Balinese temple architecture, Bhoma has the same function as the Javanese Kala which act as a guardian spirit of the temple complex. The head of Bhoma can be found carved at the temple gate which marks the entrance to the holiest part of the shrine (paduraksa) and at the base of the padmasana, the holiest and most central shrine in the Balinese temple.
The Padmasana is the holiest shrine in a Balinese temple complex. The padmasana is attributed to the Supreme God, the Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa). Like many religious constructions in Indonesia, the shrine padmasana is divided into three sections, from the base to the top, the bhur (world of demons), bhuwah (world of men), and swah (world of gods). The head figure of Bhoma normally added the base of the padmasana, together with other monstrous figures e.g. the Bedawang Nala, the world-supporting turtle, and the two snakes, Anantaboga, and Basuki, a symbol of man's earthly needs. In this context, the head of Bhoma at the base of the padmasana symbolizes the forest which surrounds the foot of a mountain (batur pepalihan).[1]
In some Balinese houses, the doorway to some enclosed pavilion (e.g. the bale meten) is decorated with ornaments to form ventilation grill which is sometimes paneled. This is usually topped with a decorative frieze, which is sometimes carved in the form of the Bhoma's head.[2]
Davison, Julian; Granquist, Bruce (2012). Balinese Architecture. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN9781462908684.
Eiseman, Fred B. (2011). Bali - Sekala & Niskala: Essays on religion, ritual, and art. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN9781462900923.
Slattum, Judy (2003). Balinese Masks: Spirits of an Ancient Drama. Periplus. ISBN9780794600754.
August 21, 2023
bhoma, balinese, temple, architecture, carved, formed, grotesque, which, decorates, certain, parts, balinese, temple, complex, statue, similar, javanese, kala, intended, protect, temple, complex, from, malevolent, spirits, representation, head, guarding, porta. In a Balinese temple architecture a Bhoma is a carved or formed grotesque which decorates certain parts in the Balinese temple complex The statue is similar to the Javanese Kala and was intended to protect the temple complex from malevolent spirits A representation of a Bhoma head guarding the top of the portal to a Balinese temple in Singapadu Contents 1 Mythology 2 Architecture 3 See also 4 References 5 Cited worksMythology EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed August 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The bhoma in a silver brooch In Balinese mythology Bhoma is the son of Dewa Wisnu and Dewi Pertiwi the god of rain and the goddess of earth One day when Wisnu was digging the earth in the form of Varaha his avatar in the form of a wild boar he encountered a beautiful earth goddess named Dewi Pertiwi The encounter leads to a union between Wisnu and Pertiwi which produce a terrifying son named Bhoma The story of Wisnu as a wild boar digging up to the bottom of the earth to meet Pertiwi symbolizes torrents of stormy rainwater entering the earth The figure of Bhoma that was produced by this union is seen as the growth of vegetation or forest Vanaspati as a result of the earth receiving the rain water In Javanese and Balinese culture Vanaspati is the king of the plant not different with the European Green Man The word Bhoma came from the Sanskrit word bhauma which means something that grows or is born from earth or something related to the earth Architecture Edit In the Padmasana the central shrine of a Balinese temple complex the Bhoma head is carved at the bottom of Padmasana shrine to symbolize the forest which surrounds the base of a mountain Bhoma is basically the Balinese kirtimukha In Balinese temple architecture Bhoma has the same function as the Javanese Kala which act as a guardian spirit of the temple complex The head of Bhoma can be found carved at the temple gate which marks the entrance to the holiest part of the shrine paduraksa and at the base of the padmasana the holiest and most central shrine in the Balinese temple The Padmasana is the holiest shrine in a Balinese temple complex The padmasana is attributed to the Supreme God the Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa Like many religious constructions in Indonesia the shrine padmasana is divided into three sections from the base to the top the bhur world of demons bhuwah world of men and swah world of gods The head figure of Bhoma normally added the base of the padmasana together with other monstrous figures e g the Bedawang Nala the world supporting turtle and the two snakes Anantaboga and Basuki a symbol of man s earthly needs In this context the head of Bhoma at the base of the padmasana symbolizes the forest which surrounds the foot of a mountain batur pepalihan 1 In some Balinese houses the doorway to some enclosed pavilion e g the bale meten is decorated with ornaments to form ventilation grill which is sometimes paneled This is usually topped with a decorative frieze which is sometimes carved in the form of the Bhoma s head 2 The head of Bhoma is also seen in the Balinese cremation towers 3 See also Edit Indonesia portalKirtimukha Batara KalaReferences Edit Eiseman 2011 Davison amp Granquist 2012 Slattum 2003 pp 100 1 Cited works EditDavison Julian Granquist Bruce 2012 Balinese Architecture Tuttle Publishing ISBN 9781462908684 Eiseman Fred B 2011 Bali Sekala amp Niskala Essays on religion ritual and art Tuttle Publishing ISBN 9781462900923 Slattum Judy 2003 Balinese Masks Spirits of an Ancient Drama Periplus ISBN 9780794600754 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bhoma amp oldid 1126915302, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
