Terunyan, a traditional village in Bali with a unique burial tradition

Terunyan the traditional village

Terunyan is a village located in the district of Kintamani, Bangli Regency, Bali, Indonesia. Terunyan located near Lake Batur.

Funeral traditions

Trunyan community has a tradition of burial where the body was buried on top of a large stone basin which has 7 pieces. The body just lined woven bamboo.

Indigenous Village Terunyan govern the procedures for its citizens to bury. In this village there are three grave (sema) that are intended for three different types of death. 

When one of the residents Terunyan died of natural causes, his body will be covered with a white cloth, consecrated, then placed no buried under a big tree called Taru incense, at a location called Sema Wayah. 

However, if the cause of unnatural death, such as accidents, suicide, or murdered, The body will be placed in a location called Sema Bantas. While to bury infants and young children, or people who have grown but not married, will be placed at Sema Nguda.

Explanation of why the bodies were placed neatly in sema was not cause odor naturally though, remains of degradation on the bodies is due Taru incense tree, which can release a fragrant smell and is able to neutralize the smell of rotting corpses. 

Taru means tree, meaning fragrant incense. Tarumenyan tree, only grows in this area. Tarumenyan which became known as Terunyan is believed to be the origin of the village name.

source ; wikipedia.org