The tooth filing ceremony, also known as mepandes, metatah, or mesangih, is a sacred ritual in Balinese Hindu tradition that marks the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
This ceremony holds deep spiritual, social, and cultural significance, symbolizing the purification and self-control expected of a mature individual.
The tradition of tooth filing has been passed down for generations in Balinese society. The word metatah comes from the Balinese word tatah, meaning “to chisel,” referring to the act of filing down six upper teeth—four incisors and two canines.
These teeth represent the six negative traits in humans, known as Sad Ripu: kama (lust), loba (greed), krodha (anger), mada (intoxication), moha (confusion), and matsarya (envy).
The ceremony is also a spiritual initiation symbolizing a person’s readiness to enter adult life and take on social responsibilities, including marriage.
The tooth filing ceremony includes several important stages:
Magumi Padangan – Performed in the kitchen, symbolizing readiness to take on domestic responsibilities.
Ngekeb – A period of seclusion where the participant remains in a room for self-reflection and spiritual cleansing from the Sad Ripu.
Mabyakala – A purification ritual to ward off evil spirits, held in the house courtyard.
Praying at the family temple – The participant seeks blessings from ancestors and deities for a smooth ceremony.
Tooth filing (Ngrajah Gigi) – The actual filing of the six upper teeth by a Hindu priest or pemangku.
Mejaya-jaya – A final purification rite where holy water is sprinkled, symbolizing rebirth into spiritual maturity.
The ceremony is typically conducted in the morning after sunrise, although some regions hold it at dawn. The day before, participants observe ngekeb or seclusion, during which they are not allowed to leave the house as a form of spiritual preparation.
Pregnant women are forbidden from participating in the ceremony, as unborn children are considered to be spiritually pure, whereas tooth filing is meant to purify those who are not yet spiritually refined.
In Balinese Hindu belief, individuals who have not undergone tooth filing are considered spiritually immature.
This may affect their social status and spiritual journey—especially in death rituals, where it is believed that a soul not purified through tooth filing may face obstacles in reaching the afterlife.
The tooth filing ceremony reflects the richness of Balinese cultural and spiritual values, emphasizing the balance of body, mind, and soul in navigating the path of life. (BT)
