Acintya

Acintya, also Atintya (Sanskrit: "the unthinkable", "the inconceivable", "he who cannot be imagined"), also Tunggal (Balinese: "Unity") is the supreme god of Indonesian Hinduism (formally known as Agama Hindu Dharma), especially on the island of Bali. He is equivalent to the concept of Brahman, and is the Supreme God in traditional wayang (shadow puppet) theatre. He is also known to most modern Balinese as Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, also Sanghyang Widi Wasa (the "All-In-One God"), a concept introduced by Dang Hyang Dwijendra.

Role

Acintya corresponds to a rather recent trend towards monism in Bali, according to which there is one supreme god, and that the other gods are only manifestations of him. Acinthya is emptiness, and considered as the origin of the Universe, all other divinities emanating from him.

He is often associated to the sun god, and depicted in human form with flames around him. His nakedness expresses that "his consciousness is no longer carried away by his sense-faculties".