Sunda Wiwitan, Belief Teachings in Tatar Sunda

Photo Source: Kompasiana.com

INDEPHEDIA.com - Sunda Wiwitan is a belief teaching in Tatar Sunda or Tatar Pasundan, a term for the geocultural region in the western part of Java Island, Indonesia.

This teaching is based on ancient monotheism, which has the highest concept of belief in the Almighty Creator.

In Sunda Wiwitan, this intangible Creator is called Sang Hyang Kersa, who is equal to God Almighty.

This teaching is also referred to as a belief in the worship of the power of nature and ancestral spirits who are united with nature, which is believed by the indigenous Sundanese people.

According to its adherents, Sunda Wiwitan is a belief that has been believed by the Sundanese people for a long time before the arrival of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.

The teachings of Sunda Wiwitan are contained in the book Sanghyang Siksa Kandang Karesian, a book that originated from the era of the Sunda Kingdom.

The book contains religious teachings and moral guidance, rules and lessons of character. This book is called Kropak 630 by the National Library of Indonesia.

Adherents of this teaching can be found in several villages in Banten Province and West Java, such as the Kanekes people in Lebak Regency, Banten.

The teaching is also found in a small number of Ciptagelar people in Sukabumi Regency, West Java Province.

Sang Hyang Kersa, the Supreme Power

In the Sunda Wiwitan belief system, the highest power lies with Sang Hyang Kersa (The Almighty) or Nu Ngersakeun (The Willing).

He is also referred to as Batara Tunggal (God Almighty), Batara Jagat (Ruler of the Universe) and Batara Seda Niskala (The Supernatural). He resides in Buana Nyungcung.

All gods in the Hindu concept (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Yama, and others) are subject to Batara Seda Niskala.

There are three kinds of nature in Sunda Wiwitan belief as mentioned in the pantun regarding the mythology of the Kanekes people.

The three kinds of nature are: First; Buana Nyungcung: the place where Sang Hyang Kersa resides, which is located at the very top.

Second; Buana Panca Tengah: the place where humans and other creatures live, located in the middle, and Third; Buana Larang: hell, located at the very bottom.

Between Buana Nyungcung and Buana Panca Tengah there are 18 layers of nature arranged from top to bottom.

The top layer is called Bumi Suci Alam Padang or according to kropak 630 is called Alam Kahyangan or Mandala Hyang.

The second highest layer of nature is the realm where Nyi Pohaci Sanghyang Asri and Sunan Ambu live.

Sang Hyang Kersa sent down seven batara in Sasaka Pusaka Buana. One of the seven batara is Batara Cikal, the oldest who is considered the ancestor of the Kanekes people.

Other descendants are the batara who rule in various other regions in the land of Sunda.

The meaning of nurunkeun (bringing down) this batara is not giving birth but creating or creating.

Delivery of Prayers and Traditions

The delivery of prayers in the teachings of Sunda Wiwitan is done through singing pantun and kidung as well as dance movements.

This tradition can be seen from the thanksgiving ceremony for the rice harvest and the celebration of the new year which is based on the Sundanese calendar known as the Seren Taun Celebration.

In various places in West Java, Seren Taun always takes place lively and is attended by thousands of people.

Holy Places or Worship

The holy place or place of worship that is considered sacred or holy in the Sunda Wiwitan religion is pamunjungan or called kabuyutan.

Pamunjungan is a terraced punden which is usually found on a hill and in this pamunjungan there are usually menhirs, statues, cengkuk stones, bowl stones, flat stones and others.

The existence of pamunjungan or kabuyutan in Tatar Sunda proves that the religion practiced or the majority religion of the Sundanese people in the past was the Jati Sunda Religion or Sunda Wiwitan.

This is one of the reasons why temples are very rarely found in the Land of Sunda, unlike in Central Java and East Java. (*)