overview
The caste system is mainly known in India, and from there, it has made its way to the island of Bali, where the castes are also found. Although their influence has been slowly declining over time, and they are often considered just a tradition, they still impact the local culture.
A caste is a group of people who are automatically placed in a specific class by birth and acquire a certain social status according to that class. Caste thus divides society and its inhabitants into the "worse" and the "better," but this is paradoxically a difference from Hinduism, which instead places all as equals.
This Guide is divided into the following sections:
Castes
The system (Catur Warna) in Bali is divided into the following four castes:
Brahmana: The highest caste, which includes religious leaders, priests, academics, aristocrats, and lawyers, represented by the color white
Satria: A caste of warriors, soldiers, nobles, and kings, represented by the color red
Wesia: A caste of officials and workers in state institutions, represented by the color yellow
Sudra: The lowest caste, primarily farmers and ordinary workers, represented by black
Priests are usually in highest caste
Those not in any caste are treated as outsiders (jaba). Some Balinese recognize the Triwangsa caste system, which disregards the Sudra caste and refers to all in that caste as outsiders of the jaba.
The representation of the Sudra caste in Bali is about 93 %.
Initially, people came together based on ordinary duties, joys, and worries, simply because they wanted to. But when social coexistence changed, and the caste system came to the fore, it began to influence just how and for what purpose people met.
Castes Influence
The caste system in Bali has a relatively significant impact on the socio-cultural events on the island, and it is the basis for ceremonies, language, weddings, and even the names of the inhabitants.
Language
Caste affects the language two people use to talk to each other. Balinese varies by caste and is divided into four levels: lower, middle, high, and sacred. Members of the lowest Sudra caste converse with members of the higher castes in high Balinese. They, in return, will respond in lower Balinese to show their superiority. Ironically, members of the three upper castes usually use Middle Balinese. When two strangers meet, they typically start with Middle Balinese, and once it is clear who belongs to which caste, they change the language to the correct one according to the corresponding caste. Nowadays, only some members of the Brahman caste can speak sacred Balinese.
Religion
Caste, of course, also influences religion. Although Hinduism makes no distinction between people and considers all as equals, some temples in Bali are only for worship by people from certain castes. For example, it is possible to find a temple with multiple separate areas for people from different castes not to pray together. Similarly, caste determines, for example, the coffin shape that the mourners can use for the deceased during the cremation and Ngaben ceremony.
Wedding
Last but not least, castes have an impact on wedding ceremonies. In earlier times, it was practically impossible for a man to marry a woman of a different caste. If this was done despite the family's disapproval, the couple was usually expelled from the village.
In modern times, the rules are flexible. If a man from a higher caste marries a woman from a lower caste, the woman's caste is elevated to the caste of the husband, and she is given the surname Jero before her name. If a man from a lower caste marries a woman from a higher caste, the woman's caste will be lowered to the caste of her husband, and she will be given the surname Nyerod meaning a lower caste, before her name. If the woman has children, they too will have a lower caste of the father, and the woman will not be able to pray in the temple of her upper-caste parents.
Today, however, these restrictions are more symbolic. Society prefers that two people who love each other and are willing to elevate their relationship to marriage and accept the social responsibility of marriage.
Names
The different castes also affect the civil names of the Balinese people. Thus, one can immediately determine which caste one belongs to based on one's name. More about names in Bali in the Balinese Names Guide.
Castes today
Nowadays, the caste system is mainly used in religion, where, for example, members of lower caste ask members of higher caste to conduct ceremonies, etc.
Since the social strata operate on a different principle than the caste system, the government is slowly banning differential treatment of people based on caste.
Thus their influence is declining and remains only for traditional and cultural reasons. According to the current thinking, anyone can be rich or make a successful career with the necessary motivation and skills.
The castes thus remain primarily as Bali's cultural heritage, which is very well guarded.
Further Division
The Balinese are further divided according to their origin. However, this is a less common way; nowadays, it is only a designation that carries no (dis)advantages.
Wong Majapahit: Balinese who descended from the Majapahit kingdom (c. 1293 to 1527, a powerful Hindu-Buddhist empire over much of Southeast Asia).
Bali Aga: The original inhabitants of Bali who lived here before the Majapahit Empire existed. They have a different accent and today live in remote mountainous areas of the island, including Lake Danau Batur in the village of Trunyan, which is interesting for its unique burial methods.
Pasek: The title Pasek came to be used by the Aga people for leaders. First for government leaders and later for religious and other leaders. This group of people used to have significant privileges. They were not subject to the death penalty, their properties could not be confiscated, their mistakes were treated more leniently, and they were often forgiven. Thus some descendants of these people are still referred to as Pasek or Ki Pasek in their names.
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