Photo by Ashkan Shahrokh on Unsplash

Rerajahan: Sacred Art Combining Script and Cosmic Symbols

What is Rerajahan?

Rerajahan (or rajah) are sacred drawings in Balinese Hindu tradition combining Balinese script, geometric symbols, and cosmological figures — equivalent to yantra in Indian Hindu tradition.

Functions

• Protection — Protecting homes, villages, or individuals from evil spirits
• Healing — Used in traditional Balinese medicine (usada)
• Ceremonies — Used in special religious rituals
• Amulets — Written on cloth or paper to be carried as talismans

Script in Rerajahan

The most common script element is the sacred Ong (ᬒᬁ) — representing the cosmic sound AUM/OM.

Rerajahan and Lontar

Thousands of rerajahan are preserved in usada and tutur lontar manuscripts, accessible only to trained pemangku and balian.

This article was drafted with AI assistance and is reviewed over time. Check Balinese wording with a teacher or native speaker before using it for anything official, printed, or ceremonial.

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