From India to Bali: The Evolution of Balinese Hinduism
By: Achutan Raghushri
In Southeast Asia, where Buddhism and Islam dominate, Bali remains the last stronghold of Hinduism in the region. The picturesque Indonesian island, westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands and east of the island of Java, is the last remnant of the rich cultural exchange between the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia that forever altered the trajectory of the region’s cultural identity. Known locally as Agama Hindu Dharma, Balinese Hinduism uniquely combines classical Hindu teachings from India with indigenous Balinese spiritual practices, creating a distinct religious identity that has endured for centuries.
The roots of Hinduism in Bali can be traced back to ancient trade routes between the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Indian traders, priests, and scholars arrived in the Indonesian archipelago, including Bali, as early as the first century CE, bringing Hinduism as they worked to establish new trade routes. Over time, Hinduism gained prominence in the archipelago as many local rulers adopted the religion, seeking to enhance their power and legitimacy. By the ninth century, Hindu culture heavily influenced Bali, shaping its art, language, and architecture. For instance, its language, Old Javanese, is mainly derived from Sanskrit, sharing common words and grammatical structures. However, Balinese Hinduism evolved from its Indian roots, adapting early Hindu practices to local animistic and ancestor-worshipping beliefs, creating a unique blend of Hindu-Balinese spirituality that differed from Indian Hinduism.
The most significant contributor to the evolution of Balinese Hinduism was the Majapahit Empire from the 14th to 16th centuries. Under the leadership of Gajah Mada, the Majapahit Empire in Java launched a series of conquests throughout the Indonesian archipelago, including Bali. In 1343, the Majapahit forces formally conquered Bali, bringing with them a more structured form of Hinduism. This conquest established Bali as a vassal state of the Majapahit Empire and led to increased immigration of Javanese Hindu nobles, priests, artists, and intellectuals to Bali. The spread of Islam throughout Java in the 14th and 15th centuries further amplified this migration, as Hindu elites fled to Bali to escape Islamic expansion. This migration solidified Bali as a stronghold of Hinduism in an increasingly Islamic region.
Closer to the modern era, the arrival of the Dutch in the 19th century marked another chapter in the history of Balinese Hinduism. While the Dutch overturned the local governments and economies, they preserved Bali’s religious and cultural traditions in order to advertise it as an “exotic paradise” to Western tourists. Following the independence of Indonesia in the mid-20th century, the Indonesian government posed a threat to the continuity of the religion, as the government only granted citizenship to inhabitants who practiced a monotheistic religion. To adapt to these constraints, Balinese leaders redefined Hinduism as Agama Hindu Dharma, presenting the religion as monotheistic by emphasizing that their supreme deity, Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, aligned with the concept of a singular God.
Today, Balinese Hinduism remains central to Bali’s identity, influencing its art, music, dance, and festivals. Despite modern influences and challenges posed by tourism and globalization, Balinese Hindus have proudly maintained their spiritual and cultural heritage, preserving their rich, cultural traditions across the centuries.
