Working together: More than 50 Permas devotees of Samuan Tiga temple create thousands of offerings during ceremony preparations.

Ignoring the call of her gods could have cost her life, says Jero Permas Wayan as she deep fries rice cakes over a wood fire.

Like dozens of other women from the villages surrounding the Samuan Tiga temple in Bedulu, Gianyar, Bali, Jero Permas Wayan has dedicated her life to the temple in a healing sacrifice that goes back centuries.

Dressed in the black sarong and white kebaya that marks these women as Permas, or temple devotees, Permas Wayan says she struggled long and hard against answering the call of the temple, but in the end gave in to an obligation that had come down from her mother-in-law.

'€œWe can become Permas through illness and through our ancestry. My mother-in-law was Permas and when she died I had to take on her duties. But I held off a long time, until I got sick,'€ said the 40-year-old during last week'€™s Samuan Tiga temple anniversary ceremonies.

Her illness disappeared as soon as she answered the call of the gods, as did the disease afflicting Jero Permas Sugiani, who at 34 years of age is the youngest Permas at the temple.

'€œThis is my first experience as Permas. I had been sick for several years, I'€™d get better then the troubles kept coming back. The doctors could find nothing wrong with me, and I felt the answer was to dedicate myself to this temple,'€ says Sugiani of her decision to undertake the sacrifice that is specific to Samuan Tiga temple.

Togetherness: Dedicating their lives to the Samuan Tiga temple has brought new friendships and joy to the lives of these women, known as Permas.

She has found great joy in her new duties, which include cooking, cleaning, preparing offerings and dancing for the temple and the thousands that come every year to celebrate the ancient temple'€™s anniversary.

There is great camaraderie among the Permas. A half dozen women are sitting in the shade of the kitchens at the back of the temple, gossiping and laughing as they hands and fingers are on auto pilot folding and twisting coconut palm fronds into decorations and offerings for the temple. Most are well over 50 years of age and the 40 days they give each year to the temple are looked forward to as a time to catch up and share stories about grandchildren and to teach the new Permas, like Sugiani the rites of their office.

Myths and magic are believed to be inherent in the decision to become Permas, says Jero Permas Ketut Rai.

Bursting with energy and a light hearted approach to life, Rai tells of how her sight was restored when she gave herself over to the temple.

'€œMy child was still small, so it'€™s a long time ago. I was sick all over my body and blind. I dreamed I had to go to Samuan Tiga and the holy water. My eyes were bandaged and out of the holy water came a snake that tore away my bandages and then licked my eyes. God then asked if I wanted to follow as Permas, and since then my eyes have been good and I am never sick,'€ says Rai as she bustles throughout the temple kitchens preparing meals for the hundreds of temple workers that spend weeks in preparing for ceremonies each year.

There is little doubt in the minds of these women that if they had ignored the signs that they were needed by the temple, they would have died.

Salvation through sacrifice: These women are Permas, who have devoted their lives to Samuan Tiga temple in return for good health.

At 70 years of age, Jero Permas Ruki is an old hand at temple duties. Like her friends, she is never still, working on the many tasks that go into temple ceremonies. These obligations she has chosen to take on keep her young.

'€œIn the past I was sick; we were all once ill. Now we are well we are ready to be Permas and give our lives to the temple. Life as Permas is better and more comfortable, we are all one together. And we laugh as we work. I believe had I not followed the call to Permas, I may well be dead,'€ says Ruki, pointing out the importance of the companionship shared by these women of the temple.

Proud of her role, Ruki adds, Permas are found only in Samuan Tiga temple and are quite different to the helpers of other temples, such as the Sutri of Pajeng temple.

'€œOther temples do not have Permas, I don'€™t know why, but those temples are not allowed to have women who have been ill and healed by prayer, called by God, as we are,'€ says Ruki, who along with 52 other women have dedicated their lives to Samuan Tiga temple, and in the process found health and joy through their devotions.

Devotion: Dedication to Samuan Tiga temple saved the life of Jero Permas Wayan who prepares rice cakes for the temple'€™s anniversary.

'€” JP/Photos by J.B. Djwan