It was cold and rainy on the night a group of about 25 followers of Sapta Darma, one of Java’s traditional faiths, were observed in deep prayer inside Candi Sapta Rengga. The melodious recital of Javanese poetry of customary wisdom that rose from their sanggar, or house of worship, imbued the evening with a mystical air.

Each Sapta Darma adherent was seated cross-legged on a rectangular piece of white cloth, their arms crossed and facing the sanggar’s east wall that was decorated with the symbols of their faith. The dominant among them was the image of Semar, a Javanese wayang character that symbolizes wisdom, placed next to the Sapta Darma logo.

It was the night of the sujudan ritual, which was attended by the Sapta Darma followers who comprised the organizing committee for a grand gathering later this month. Hundreds of believers from across the country are expected to attend the gathering at Candi Sapta Rengga, the Sapta Darma’s headquarters.

Sapta Darma is one of about 300 organized indigenous faiths in the country, according to the Indonesian Indigenous Faiths Supreme Assembly (MLKI). Sapta Darma’s leaders claim it has about three million followers across the archipelago. Every five years, their leaders assemble at the Candi Sapta Rengga, a mansion formerly owned by the faith’s second supreme leader, Soewartini Martodihardjo. Soewartini, who is known by her honorific name of Tuntunan Agung Sri Pawenang, died in 1996 and was succeeded by the incumbent supreme leader, Soekoen Kartowijono.

The group was founded by an enlightened barber named Hardjo Sopoero, who was born on Dec. 27, 1914, in the East Java town of Pare. Hardjo was believed to have had a divine revelation in Pare on Dec. 27, 1952, after which he adopted Sri Gutama as his prophetic name. Upon his death in 1964, the priesthood was handed down to Soewartini.

Sapta Darma adherents follow seven precepts to achieve worldly and heavenly happiness: 1) be faithful to God the Almighty; 2) abide by state laws; 3) defend the country; 4) help anyone in need without expecting anything in return; 5) have the courage to live according to one’s own faith and strengths; 6) be polite, behave, become a role model in the family and in society; 7) be aware that the world is changing.

Yogyakarta, a city known as the center of Javanese culture, is home to dozens of indigenous belief systems. Only a few kilometers from Candi Sapta Rengga lies the headquarters of another native faith, Sumarah. In the center of the complex is a 10-meter-by-15-meter sanggar, tucked under shady sapodilla trees.

The property was originally owned by Sumarah founder Soekino Hartono, who was born in 1897 in the eastern Yogyakartan regency of Gunung Kidul. According to The History of Sumarah 1935-1970, published by the Culture and Education Ministry, the young Soekino kept changing jobs, from an aristocrat’s servant to a sugar factory worker, and to a bank employee, before he received divine inspiration.

In the Javanese language, sumarah means “self-submission,” which is the essence of the faith’s teachings. The Sumarah faith believes in the oneness of God, and its dogma is summed up in nine tenets: 1) believe that God exists; 2) follow God as the guiding light; 3) mind the consistency of words and deeds; 4) foster friendships; 5) fulfill obligations to society and the state; 6) abide by state laws; 7) reject bad deeds; 8) broaden knowledge; and 9) object to fanaticism.

Nugroho, secretary of the Sumarah Communion’s Yogyakarta chapter, saaid Sumarah has about 5,000 registered members, mostly in East Java. The faith also has overseas members like in Malaysia, the Netherlands and Australia.

Popular

To my horror, it’s just a movie!

RI, Australia strengthen partnership on taxing crypto assets

Pentagon chief congratulates Prabowo on being elected President