Escorting the Chinese gods back to heaven

By Agnes Winarti 

Photos by Agnes Winarti 

Published in Bali Daily/The Jakarta Post, Tuesday, February 05 2013

Sturdy structure: The temple’s facade with one of its two pagodas on the right side.

On the seventh day prior to Chinese New Year, locally known as Imlek, Chinese-Indonesians, who still hold tight to their Confucian traditions, believe the Chinese gods and goddesses are making the journey home, ascending to heaven.

This day is called Sang Shin (in the Hokkien dialect) or Song Shen (in Mandarin).

As this fell precisely at midnight on Sunday night, some faithful Chinese Indonesians took the time amid their busy schedules to visit the temple, presenting prayers that may escort their gods and goddesses safely back to heaven.

Among these faithful Chinese-Indonesians were young couple Meta Herlina and Kenny, who visited Vihara Satya Dharma on Jl. Pelabuhan Benoa, Denpasar, last Sunday afternoon.

Praying for prosperity: A pair of visitors pray to Cu Seng Nian Nian, the goddess of birth.
“Tonight at midnight is Sang Shin. All the Chinese gods will be returning to heaven. That’s why we’ve come here to pray,” explained Lina, who is originally from Medan, North Sumatra, but has been living in Denpasar for over a year.

Her husband Kenny, who originates from Riau, has been working for a tour guide company in Bali for the past five years.

“We will not be returning to our hometown this year. Usually my husband is very busy entertaining the Chinese visitors who are holidaying in Bali during this period. Even now, the visitors have started coming in,” said Lina, when asked whether they would be gathering with their family back home.

A humble servant of the Vihara Satya Dharma, A. Kheng, 47, said that Sang Shin would mark a very busy week ahead for the temple as it must conduct its spring cleaning. “As the gods have left for heaven, we can start cleaning the whole temple and wipe the gods’ statues, as well as renewing the fruit offerings,” said A. Kheng, while pointing to a pack of some 5-meter-long bamboo brooms that would be used to dust the high ceiling of the temple.

The 8,000 square-meter Vihara Satya Dharma is home to 18 gods and goddesses, who include the temple’s main god, Na Cha, the great fighter of injustice. Na Cha is depicted as a youthful deity, flying in the sky, riding on wind fire wheels, holding the universe ring in his left hand, the red armillary sash around his shoulders and a fire-tipped spear in his right hand.

Meaningful symbols: A large wall inside the Vihara Satya Dharma, boasts paintings of dragons, a lion and a tiger.

Although the temple was just inaugurated in August last year, A Kheng said there had been hundreds of people coming to pray, especially during the first day (ce it) and the 15th day (cap goh) of every month of the Chinese calendar. The temple opens daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

“I believe there will be thousands of people coming here on Imlek, because we will also present a musical concert by Taiwanese singers to celebrate Chinese New Year here,” said A Kheng. At the entrance of the temple, a poster of the event was displayed, announcing four FTV superstar singers, namely Hsu Fu Kai, Tsai Chia Lin, Kuo Ting Yun and Chang Wen Chi would perform.

The 2564th Chinese New Year will fall on Feb. 10.