Vaishnava Suvarnabhumi Nusantara

In one sense, we understood Bhutas as natural elements of this material world. They are also representing material forces, the subtle mundane energies permeates and constitutes this mayic (deluding) impermanent universe. We should consciously treat this world as manifestations of external energy emanating from The Supreme Lord Himself. By doing so, we can maintain this creations with feeling of total gratitude to Sri Bhagavan, as He gives them as His mercy for the conditioned souls. We show honor to these material creations, by which we can make offerings to please Sri Bhagavan in devotional loving service. Because of this thought, the Balinese can’t abandon the value of the Bhutas in their religious lives.

Other meaning of Bhuta is some kind of demonic or ghostly beings. They believed as malign negative spirits who can bring disharmony to the environment. They have subtle forms and can influence human’s subtle body, our minds, by their negative vibrations. They can create disturbance to the performance of sacrificial rites for the Devatas and other religious activities dedicated to God. Disagreement, quarrel, or mere tendencies for gossiping mundane topics in religious function supposed to the results of their negative influences. Some negative spirits also can do more disturbing activities such as haunting living quarters and make their inhabitants fell sick with unknown reason. All of these disturbances caused by the negative vibration of the Bhutas, when they were in improper place and circumstance.

They could be look like this...

Unlike the followers of Abrahamic religions who thoughts the Bhutas as agents and companions of Satan, thus became the enemies of The Lord and the believers, the Balinese Hindus don’t take exorcism ritual to deal with them. As Veda and the Vaishnavas don’t have conception about such a malicious being as Satan, who became a rival to The Supreme God, so do the Balinese Hindus. Sri Bhagavan is peerless Eternal Absolute Truth, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, how could be any being became His competitor or eternal enemy? So the Balinese treat these Bhutas with same attitude with other creations of The Lord.

Some food...

Everyday they make a simple Bhutabali offerings from rice, sometime coloured. Placed primarily at three places: the gateway of the house, the centre of living courtyard, and the courtyard of family shrine. At more elaborate form they also offered meat and liquor, as such beings are fond of these substances. Or even there are more complicated rituals of Bhutabali. But cooked rice on square of banana leaves, some flower petals, tamasic mixture of little pinch of ginger, onion, salt with soot, and grains were enough for them. Sometimes they also scattered coins for the Bhutas.
There is an interesting story in the Aitreya-brahmana that tells how rice became the substitute for the meat. "In the beginning the gods used human beings for sacrifice. Overtime the sap of life left the human being and entered the body of the horse. Thereafter, the horse became the object of sacrifice. In time this sap of life left the horse and entered the ox. The ox became the object of sacrifice. Then again when the sap of life left the ox and entered sheep, a sheep became the object of sacrifice. Soon this sap of life left the sheep and entered the goat, wherein the goat became the object of sacrifice. For a long time the goat remained the object of sacrifice. Eventually, the sap of life left the goat and entered the earth. Thereupon, the earth became rice and rice became the fit substitute for the sap of life." Here we get the history of the sacrificial animal and the relationship between rice and the sacrificial animal. So rice for meat is OK. Surprisingly, this also practiced in Bali.

... and some flowers, with some sweet words for friendship...

The prayer for this Bhuta offerings is very interesting for me. The language is in archaic Balinese translated as, “O You the Bhutas, Raksasas, and other ghostly beings. This is our offerings to you, please enjoy it. Please go back to your respective places, take your wife, sons, relatives, and servants with you. Don’t disturb our performance of holy rites, to please the ancestors, devatas, and The Supreme Lord. This is some grains and money; take it to buy your needs at the market (the phrase used in original prayer is a little funny. “Pasar Agung”, literally means something we know as Supermarket). Please be convenient and be happy. And let your happiness help us to bring harmonious relationship among us, so the Devatas will be please with us.” Friendship is better than enmity, and friendship may come from sweet words. Such is the humble way of a Balinese in build a relationship with even such a spiritually low beings. The same values that we always trying to develop in Vaishnava society.

We may think these offerings to the Bhutas as something superstitious. But let we see the morality behind this act. A deep appreciation towards any living entities. Veneration to The Lord’s creations and energies. A humble and loving attitude to the lesser one. Lives and let lives. Don’t you think this perfectly in accordance with Vaishnavism and true Vedic messages? And if the invisible Bhutas don’t actually need or accept the offering, at least the visible Bhutas will take it (dogs, cats, birds, or even ants).