WALAKA GRIYA ROLE IN NGABEN TRADITION: A SUSTAINABLE STUDY OF ANCESTRAL HERITAGE IN BALI

Abstract

The Ngaben tradition is an important ritual in the lives of Balinese Hindus, reflecting not only spiritual values but also a means of preserving ancestral cultural heritage. The Ngaben tradition is not merely a death ritual, but also a symbolic process of spiritual purification, with profound philosophical and theological significance in Balinese Hinduism. Behind this ceremony, the Griya, as a spiritual institution, plays a crucial role, particularly the Walaka Griya—a group of people who do not live as Sulinggih (holy priests). This article analyses the role of the Walaka Griya in maintaining the continuity of the values, structure, and implementation of the Ngaben tradition amidst sociocultural changes. Using a qualitative-descriptive approach and field studies, the research results show that the Walaka Griya serve as guardians of ritual authority, knowledge of the palm leaves (lontar), and traditional kinship values, which continue to adapt in the modern era. Their role is vital in transforming traditional values into practices relevant to the current generation.