Balinese Hindu Religious Rituals as Practices of Religious Ecology

Abstract: Balinese Hindu religious rituals function not only as expressions of spiritual devotion but also as socio-cultural practices that embody ecological values. This article aims to analyze Balinese Hindu rituals as forms of religious ecology practices that regulate the relationship between humans and nature within the context of contemporary Balinese society. This study employs a qualitative approach using a literature review method by examining Hindu religious texts, scholarly works, and previous studies related to religion and environmental discourse. The findings indicate that Balinese Hindu rituals, such as subak rituals, Bhūta Yadnya, and Dewa Yadnya, play a significant role in internalizing religious-ecological values through the sacralization of nature, collective resource management, and the formation of environmental ethics rooted in Hindu cosmology. Subak rituals represent ecological wisdom in water and agricultural management, Bhūta Yadnya serves to maintain balance between humans and natural forces, while Dewa Yadnya reinforces the sacralization of natural spaces as part of the cosmic order. However, modernization, tourism, and changing lifestyles pose challenges to the effectiveness of these rituals as religious ecological practices. This article argues that Balinese Hindu religious rituals hold significant potential as sources of spiritually grounded environmental ethics and local wisdom that remain relevant in responding to the global ecological crisis.