Desire, although one of the goals of life,
must be exercised with caution and balanced by "dharma" or
virtue. This control of desire is best illustrated in the mesangih or
metatah toothfiling rite, which comes up at the time of adolescence,
when sexual desire is reaching its peak; the teeth symbolising the animal - the
uncontrolled aspect of the human being; Balinese demonic characters are always
represented with big canine teeth.
By
filing them , one symbolises the victory over one's six "intimate enemies"
(musuhing raga): kama - lust, lobha - greed, krodha
- anger, mada - intoxication, moha - confusion and matsarya
- jealousy.
Upon reaching adulthood, the Balinese man and woman are expected
to marry. |
