Calendar (tika) with Bhoma head

The Tika is a traditional Balinese calendar system that maps cosmic rhythms across cycles of time. Arranged as a grid of thirty columns and seven rows, it represents the 210-day Pawukon calendar, where each intersection marks a unique combination of wuku or weeks and saptawara or days. Through its intricate system of symbols and numerology, the Tika helps determine auspicious and inauspicious moments, guiding decisions on rituals, ceremonies, planting, and rest.

Beyond its practical function, the Tika reflects a philosophy of balance that shapes Balinese life. It speaks to the relationship between the human and the divine, the visible and the invisible, and the interplay between order and transformation. The symbols inscribed upon it, often triangles, circles, or celestial forms, vary from one maker to another, expressing personal interpretations of cosmic forces.

SAKA Museum holds five Tika pieces, each unique in form and ornamentation. Some are carefully painted on wood, while others are drawn on cloth or palm leaf. Despite their differences, all share the same purpose, which is to visualize the flow of sacred time in Balinese thought and to guide daily actions within a larger cosmic order.