Chapter 76

           

           BaliisatinyHinduislandlocatedinthemiddleofthetwo-thousand-mile-longIndonesianarchipelagothatconstitutesthemostpopulousMuslimnationonearth.Baliisthereforeastrangeandwondrousthing;itshouldnotevenexist,yetdoes.Theisland’sHinduismwasanexportfromIndiabywayofJava.IndiantradersbroughtthereligioneastduringthefourthcenturyAD.TheJavanesekingsfoundedamightyHindudynasty,littleofwhichremainstodayexcepttheimpressivetempleruinsatBorobudur.Inthesixteenthcentury,aviolentIslamicuprisingsweptacrosstheregionandtheShiva-worshippingHinduroyaltyescapedJava,fleeingtoBaliindrovesduringwhatwouldberememberedastheMajapahitExodus.Thehigh-class,high-casteJavanesebroughtwiththemtoBalionlytheirroyalfamilies,theircraftsmenandtheirpriests-andsoitisnotawildexaggerationwhenpeoplesaythateveryoneinBaliisthedescendentofeitheraking,apriestoranartist,andthatthisiswhytheBalinesehavesuchprideandbrilliance.

           TheJavanesecolonistsbroughttheirHinducastesystemwiththemtoBali,thoughcastedivisionswereneverasbrutallyenforcedhereastheyoncewereinIndia.Still,theBalineserecognizeacomplexsocialhierarchy(therearefivedivisionsofBrahmansalone)andIwouldhavebetterluckpersonallydecodingthehumangenomethantryingtounderstandtheintricate,interlockingclansystemthatstillthriveshere.(ThewriterFredB.

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