while Purnama is a ceremony dedicated for the full and complete shape of the moon, there is also another one for the darkest form of the moon.
Commonly called Tilem. it is the ceremony day of the death of the old moon, and the birth of the newer moon, which is when the skies are dark without the light from the moon. Astonomically explaining, Tilem happens when the moon is directly between the middle of the sun and the earth itself, therefore makes the night darker than usual.
Tilem is carried out with the meaning to offer offerings and do prayers to the god of sun, Dewa Surya, through Yadnya. The hindus believes that in this very day, it has a primary meaning to purify one’s self and purge every mala (dirt) that exists in the human body, aswell as being in agreement with the god of sun, seeking salvation to Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, the god in the Hindu religion.
Rahina Tilem has a close and inseparable connection with the full moon. In the Purwa Gama lontar (palm leaf manuscripts) is mentioned at the full moon, adn the Tilem is for people to perform prayers and worship ceremonies to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa to seek purification, bleesing, and well-being. Through this cycle of full moon and Tilem, nature teaches mankind about evil and good, darkness and light. Both revolves around human life on a regular basis and will never stop the world from ending This full moon and the sun also teaches mankind that when in a state of happiness, they must not be easily fall and dissolve in the pleasures of that, and so is the same to the opposite, is when the human being in state of misery it must rise immediately because the presence of light will come.
The process of self purification, according to the guidance of the religious literature which emphasizes “Holy Exercise”. because in it’s implementataion contains very high meanings. In the practice of Catur Yoga, so that the power of Catur Yoga can purify Stula Sarira, gross bodies, and Saruca Sarira (subtle bodies), and also Antakarana Sarira (Atma), Which are present in human beings, especially Hindus.
This combination of Purnama and Tilem is the purification of the Sang Hyang Surya, the god of sun. During the eclipse of the moon, he was worshipped with Candrastawa, and during the solar eclipse, he was worshipped with Suryacakra Bhuwanasthawa. Both are manifestations of the Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, that serves as the melting pot of all impurities (mala). On these two days, there should be a prayer ceremony with a series of acts of yadnya.
There are also some major days for holding ceremonies of anient ceremonies of the same value as Purnama and Tilem. On Purnama, coincides with Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa. On such holy day, its the case of spiritualists and every mankind purifying themselves from the inward prayer by performing the ritual of worship and dedicating yadnya to the presence of Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa.
This state of birth and inner cleaaliness is very important, because in a pure soul, will come clean throughts, words, and deeds. cleanliness is also very important in creating happiness, especially in connetion with the worship Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa.