Philosophy of Canang and Kwangen

Philosophy of Canang

The word canang is derived from Old Javanese vocabulary meaning betel presented to the highly respected guests. In earlier times, betel really had high value. After Hinduism developed in Bali, the betel then became an important element in religious rituals and other activities.
In Bali, one kind of the offerings is called canang because the basic element of each canang is the betel itself. It cannot be said to have a religious meaning without being equipped with porosan whose main ingredient is betel. Ingredients of canang are ceper or square base made of banana leaf and then on the base are respectively composed of foliage (plawa), porosan, urasari and various flowers.
Meaning of respective canang ingredient:

• Plawa is foliage. It has been mentioned in the Yajña Prakerti palm-leaf manuscript that plawa symbolizes the growing sacred and silent mind, so that it can counteract the bad influence of worldly passion.
• Porosan is made of areca nut and lime wrapped in betel leaves. In the Yajña Prakerti palm-leaf manuscript areca nut, betel leaf and lime are symbols of worshiping the Almighty God in its manifestation as Hindu Trinity. Areca nut symbolizes the worship of Lord Brahma; lime symbolizes the worship of Lord Shiva; and the betel symbolizes worship of Lord Vishnu.
• Urasari consisting of jejahitan, reringgitan, and tetuwasan are symbols of accuracy and longevity of mind and symbol of invocation to God in order our natural environment are in harmony and balance.
• Flower symbolizes sincerity. Whatever binding ourselves in this mundane world should be allowed because sooner or later we will even leave behind this world.

Therefore, canang signifies the struggle of human life by always asking for help and protection to Almighty God to be able to create, maintain and negate that should be created, maintained and removed for the success of ideals of human life namely happiness.
In terms of its use, shape and contents, canang can be classified into several types such as the Canang Genten, Canang Burat Wangi, Lenge Wangi, Canang Sari, Canang Meraka, and others.

Philosophy of Kwangen

Kwangen is derived from Old Javanese vocabulary wangi which means fragrant. After getting prefix ke- and suffix -an becomes kewangen and after undergoing phonetic assimilation becomes kwangen meaning fragrance that functions to scent the name of Supreme God.
Kwangen is used as a means in ritual as a complement of upakara or oblation. It is widely used in the worship. In addition, it is also used as a complement to the Panca Yajña ritual:

• Deva Yajña, as a complement of banten tetebasan, prayascita and various types of sesayut.
• Rishi Yajña, used to complement banten tetebasan.
• Pitri Yajña, used to symbolically revive the corpse consecrated by putting the kwangen on every joint of the dead body.
• Manusha Yajña, use in otonan or ‘real birthday’ based on pawukon calendar, tooth filing, marriage, and complementary offerings.
• Bhuta Yajña, used in ceremonies like memakuh and mecaru.

Ingredients used to make kwangen:

• Kojong, made from a sheet of banana leaf in triangular taper symbolizing the ardha candra (half-moon).
• Pelawa, a piece of foliage like cabbage palm leaf, screwpine, croton and other green foliage symbolizing peace.
• Porosan, made of two pieces of betel leaf rolled with an upturned and face down position, and then they are combined. It’s called porosan silih asih representing the mutual relationship between human devotion and affection of God.
• Kembang payas, in semi-circular shape made of a series of jaggy young coconut leaf arrangement. Semi-circular shape symbolizes tone, while the jaggy leaf arrangement symbolizes sincerity.
• Flowers, namely fresh and fragrant flower symbolizes the freshness and purity of mind in organizing sacrificial ritual.
• Two pieces of perforated coin symbolize two bindus (tone); the money symbolizes the essence of mind. Besides, the money also functions as compensation to all the existing shortcomings.

Types of Canang

Canang Genten
Canang genten has the simplest form describing God in its manifestation as Trinity. As the base, devotees can use taledan, ceper or square banana leaf. On the base is placed various ingredients such as: flowers and leaves, porosan consisting of one/two pieces of betel leaf and stuffed a little lime and areca nut, and then clamped with a piece of young coconut leaf. Meanwhile, the flowers covered with tangkih or kojong made of young coconut leaf. Kojong in round shape is called uras sari.
Canang genten, both in large and small size, is even always used to complement the other offerings. However, the ingredients and porosan in use are different.

Canang Lengawangi – Buratwangi
It has the same shape as canang genten but added with buratwangi and two kinds of lengawangi. The three elements above are put in a kojong or conical base. Buratwangi is made from rice, mashed turmeric and water mixed together with sandalwood or rosewood water. Sometimes it is blended with fragrant roots. White lengawangi (fragrant oil) is made of white agarwood and bees wax mixed with coconut oil. Meanwhile, the black lengawangi is made from coconut oil mixed with white beans and hyacinth bean fried until charred and crushed.
Sometimes, this mixture is also garnished with a mix of sweet potatoes and taro, which are also fried until being charred. By and large, to get a good mixture, the coconut oil should be heated first, and then blended with other supplies.
Canang buratwangi is used on particular days such as on full moon, black moon, Sarasvati day and complement to grandiose offerings.

Canang Sari
It has a shape of somewhat different from the canang genten. It is divided into two parts. Its lower part can be shaped like a round surface or square or taledan. Similarly, it is often embellished with triangle or plekir ornament on the edges. This part contains plawa, porosan, sugarcane, kekiping (a rice flour snack), gold banana or the like and yellow rice covered with tangkih. It can also be coupled with lengawangi and buratwangi as used in the canang buratwangi. As topping, it is filled with a variety of flowers arranged as beautifully as possible and covered with uras sari or sampian uras.
Canang sari comes with sesari in the form of banknotes, coins or perforated coins. It is also complemented with sugarcane, kekiping and golden banana called raka-raka. The raka-raka symbolizes the angels. Gold banana symbolizes Lord Mahadev, but all the bananas in general symbolize Lord Kumara, while sugar cane symbolizes Lord Brahma.
Canang sari is used to complement the other offerings or used on particular days such as: on Kliwon, full moon and black moon or praying in the shrine.

Canang Pesucian
This canang is also called canang pengraos consisting of two bases or ceper. At the bottom, it contains lime, areca nut, gambier and tobacco covered with conical wrap or kojong. It is composed of some betel leaves, while the base contains bija and fragrant oil covered with celemik or water lettuce and then fitted with fragrant flowers.

Canang Meraka
As the base of the canang meraka is used ceper or tamas, then it is filled with sugarcane, bananas, fruits, snacks and a few types of sampian called Srikakili made of young coconut leaf and then was filled with plawa, porosan and flowers.

As a matter of fact, there are still many other types of canang like the Canang Tubungan, Canang Gantal, Canang Yasa, Canang Pengraos and others.

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