Reconstructing Hindu Premarital Education Through Smara Sādhanā Values: A Tantrāyāna Framework for Sustainable Family Ethics in Denpasar

Abstract

This study examines the integration of Smara Sādhanā values into Hindu premarital education through a philosophical reflection grounded in the Tantrāyāna framework in Denpasar. In contemporary society, discussions of sexuality often remain confined to biological and moralistic dimensions, while their spiritual and philosophical meanings receive limited attention. At the same time, the increasing exposure of youth to unfiltered digital content highlights the urgent need for a holistic and value-based approach to premarital education. Drawing on the teachings embedded in the Kama Tattwa tradition, Smara Sādhanā is understood not merely as sexual activity, but as a sacred spiritual discipline that integrates body, mind, and consciousness. This research employs a qualitative philosophical method based on textual analysis and library research. Primary sources include classical Balinese Hindu texts related to Kama Tattwa, while secondary sources consist of scholarly works on Tantrāyāna philosophy, Hindu ethics, and premarital education. The study positions sexuality within the broader framework of Catur Puruṣārtha, emphasizing kāma as a legitimate human aim that must be harmonized with dharma to ultimately support spiritual liberation (mokṣa). Through the Tantrāyāna perspective, sexuality is interpreted as a transformative path yoga that sacralizes human intimacy rather than reducing it to mere biological gratification. The findings suggest that integrating Smara Sādhanā values into Hindu premarital education can foster a deeper ethical awareness, spiritual responsibility, and sacred understanding of marital intimacy among young Hindus in Denpasar. Such integration reframes premarital education not only as moral instruction, but as a process of character formation rooted in spiritual consciousness and cultural wisdom. This philosophical approach contributes to the development of a holistic educational model that addresses contemporary challenges while preserving the sacred vision of sexuality within Hindu tradition.