A Semiotic Study of Penjor as a Representation of Balinese Hindu Cosmology in Public Space

Abstract

Penjor is a sacred symbol representing the Hindu Balinese cosmology, particularly during the Galungan festival, signifying the triumph of Dharma over Adharma. Beyond its ritualistic function, penjor has evolved into a system of signs in contemporary Balinese public space, reflecting the interplay between religious values, cultural identity, and commercial interests. This study analyzes penjor using the semiotic approaches of Charles Sanders Peirce and Roland Barthes to examine how meaning is constructed, communicated, and interpreted within a modern social context. The findings reveal that penjor holds multiple layers of meaning: as a cosmological representation of Mount Agung and the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, as a marker of Balinese cultural identity, and as an aesthetic-commercial object within the tourism industry. This transformation creates a dialectic between sacralization and commodification, where traditional meanings are often displaced by symbolic functions in public settings. Nevertheless, resistance to the reduction of sacred meaning persists among local communities, demonstrating collective efforts to preserve the authenticity of the symbol through contextual adaptation. These findings affirm that penjor functions not only as a religious expression but also as a form of visual communication that actively shapes cosmological narratives and cultural identity amidst modernization and tourism.