Tengger's Yadnya Kasada Hindu ritual expresses cosmic harmony

Wahyoe Boediwardhana ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Probolinggo   |  Wed, 10/08/2008 10:29 AM  |  East Java

For the Tengger people of East Java, September 16, 2008, was a momentous day of annual ritual for the Hindu tribe.

At dawn the procession of Yadnya Kasada commenced, marking the 12th month of the Tenggerese calendar. A similar ritual took place within the large Balinese Hindu community.

At the Pura Luhur Poten Temple compound, situated 2,390 meters above sea level at the foot of Mt Bromo, the slow beat of Javanese drums blended with traditional hymns to create a mystical atmosphere while Tengger Hindu elders arrived wearing colorful attire. Thousands of local and foreign visitors, some of whom had arrived Monday evening, patiently waited for the unique event to begin.

Inside the temple goats, chickens and heaps of unhusked rice, fruit and vegetables were ready to be sacrificed. At the peak of the thanksgiving ceremony, the offerings were to be thrown into the crater of the mountain as stipulated by tradition.

Shamans representing all 37 Tenggerese villages opened the ceremony by sitting together on the temple floor and uttering magic words and prayers in thanks to the Creator for giving them long lives.

Once the thanksgiving ceremony was completed, a new shaman was officially sworn in. Supono, 45, was a resident and informal leader in Pandansari village, Sumber district, before being appointed to the new position.

Supoyo, member of the religious event's organizing committee and also head of Ngadisari village, said a new shaman was nominated by the community from which he or she came from.

"He (Supono) is a layman but also descendant of the previous senior shaman in the village," Supoyo said.

A newly inaugurated shaman is expected to assume new tasks in order to protect residents and lead by example through his behavior.

"His behavior must reflect his new status as a shaman, medical practitioner and informal leader," Supoyo said.

The number of shamans varies from one village to another depending on the territory's width and the number of people to be served.

"Their (shaman) main task is to preside over daily tribal rituals and to help cure the sick in their territory. A shaman is also authorized to preside over a marriage ceremony, family rituals and prayers for ancestors."

Asked about the Yadnya Kasada ritual, Supoyo said the ceremony was the expression of harmony between human beings and the Creator. Through this, the Tenggerese community expressed their thanks for the Creator and his gift to them of long life.

Following the swearing-in of Supono as new shaman, the sacrifices were carried 2 kilometers to the crater of the symbolic mountain.

As the sun rose, shamans performed a mass prayer calling for the Creator to bless the offerings before they were thrown into the crater, whereby onlookers rushed forward to receive the sacrifice and bless their future.

Around 10,000 local and foreign visitors climbed the mountain, both through Pasuruan and through Probolinggo as entry points. Pilgrims wished not only to witness the event, but also to seek blessings for their lives through this sacred celebration.

According to Tengger legend, Kasada was inherited from their ancestors who were royal descendants of the Majapahit kingdom in the 14th century. The ruling king Brawijaya had his daughter Roro Anteng married to Joko Seger, a descendent of Brahmana.

When Islam spread across Java, many Hindu followers fled to Bali while others relocated to the mountainous area near Mt Bromo under the royal pair's leadership.

After unsuccessfully trying to have children, the pair retreated to the jungle and asked the Creator for assistance in conceiving. Their request was granted with the sole condition that their youngest was to be offered as a live sacrifice to a god at the mountain's crater.

After having 25 children, the pair hid them inside a cave in an attempt to evade sacrificing their youngest, Raden Kusuma. One day a flash fire drove the children out of the cave and led the youngest to the crater, triggering rumors the sacrifice to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa was at last going to take place.

Prior to the sacrifice, Raden Kusuma sent a message to all citizens to live peacefully and dedicate their lives to God. Another term was that they annually perform the thanksgiving ceremony at the 12th month, or kasada, of the year by throwing part of their harvest down the crater.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.