Kapitayan

Kapitayan (from ) is a Javanese monotheistic folk religion native to Java since the Paleolithic. Locally, it is referred to as "the monotheist ancient Javanese religion", "ancestral monotheist religion", or "''Tiyang Jawi'' (Javanese) religion" to differentiate it from Kejawèn (a polytheistic Javanism).

Etymology

The term ''Kapitayan'' is Old Javanese in origin, constructed from the base word ''Taya'' ( Old Javanese script: , ). Thus, it means that ''Taya'' cannot be thought or imagined, or cannot be approached by the five senses.Sunyoto (2017). p. 14.

Belief

Deity

Kapitayan is teaching that worships a main deity or god called ''Sanghyang Taya'' (, meaning 'unimaginable entity'; also called ''Suwung'' (), ''Awang'' (), or ''Uwung'' ()). Sanghyang Taya is defined as ''tan keno kinaya ngapa'' (ꦠꦤ꧀ꦏꦺꦤꦏꦶꦤꦪꦔꦥ), meaning "cannot be seen, thought about, or imagined". As an abstraction that cannot be described, His existence is unreachable by worldly capacity.

The term ''Awang-uwung'' () refers to the real but unreachable, which can be known and worshiped by worldly beings including humans. To be worshiped, Sanghyang Taya has a personal name and attribute called ''Tu'' (ꦠꦸ) or ''To'' (ꦠꦺꦴ), meaning "magical power" and which is supernatural.Sunyoto (2017). p. 14. Tu or To are singular—a single entity.

Tu is commonly referred to by the name ''Sanghyang Tunggal'' (ꦱꦁ​​ꦲꦾꦁ​​ꦠꦸꦁ​ꦒꦭ꧀) and has two qualities: Goodness and Wickedness. Tu who is good is generally known as the ''Tuhan'' (ꦠꦸꦲꦤ꧀) and called ''Sanghyang Wenang'' (ꦱꦁ​​ꦲꦾꦁ​​ꦮꦺꦤꦁ​). Tu who is wicked is called ''Sanghyang Manikmaya'' (ꦱꦁ​​ꦲꦾꦁ​​ꦩꦤꦶꦏ꧀ꦩꦪ). Thus, Sanghyang Wenang and Sanghyang Manikmaya are essentially just the nature of Sanghyang Tunggal. All these aspects are supernatural and cannot be approached with the five senses and the mind; only His character is known.

Sanghyang Taya's power is represented in various places, such as on rocks, monuments, and trees. Offerings are made in these places, not to worship rocks, monuments, or trees, but to reflect devotion to Sanghyang Taya, whose power is represented in those places.

The Kapitayan religion does not recognize gods as in Hinduism.

Theology

Archaeological remains and relics (including dolmens, menhirs, sarcophagi, , , and others) indicate the existence of ancient religions on Java.

During the colonial period, Dutch historians mistakenly identified Kapitayan as animism and dynamism because, in physical appearance, the rituals performed by its adherents appear to be worshipping objects. That is, the worship of objects was understood as worship of the power of the object itself (animism-dynamism). In fact, initially the Kapitayan teachings did not worship the object as absolute power but rather worshiped Sang Hyang, the highest power. In this way, Kapitayan is more like monotheism than animism-dynamism. Objects involved in religious rituals—such as trees, stones, and springs—are just a few manifestations of the supreme power of Sang Hyang.

Because the Sanghyang Tunggal is supernatural, to worship Him requires a means that can be approached by the five senses and the human mind. In the Kapitayan teachings, there is a belief that states that the supernatural power of the Sanghyang Taya called Tu or To is "hidden" in everything that has the name 'Tu' or 'To'. Followers believe in the existence of supernatural powers in wa-tu, tu-gu, tu-tuk, tu-nda, tu-lang, tu-nggul, tu-ak, tu-k, tu-ban, tu-mbak, tunggak, tu-lup, tu-ngkub, tu-rumbukan, un-tu, pin-tu, tu-tud, to-peng, to-san, to-pong, to-parem, to-wok, to-ya. In worshiping Sanghyang Taya through these means, people provide offerings in the form of tumpeng, tu-mbal, tu-mbu, tu-kung, tu-d, or through something that is believed to have supernatural powers.

A worshiper of Sanghyang Taya who is considered pious will be blessed with positive supernatural powers (tu-ah) and negative (tu-lah). A ra-tu or dha-tu is the embodiment of Sanghyang Taya's supernatural powers. Those who have been gifted with the tu-ah and tu-lah are considered entitled to become community leaders, called ra-tu or dha-tu ("ruler"). For those who have been gifted with tu-ah and tu-lah, their life movements will be marked by ''Pi'': the hidden power of Sanghyang Taya's divine secret.

Practices

In worship of Sanghyang Tunggal, Kapitayan followers provide offerings such as ''tu-mpeng'', ''tu-mpi'' (cake made of flour), ''tumbu'' (square basket made of woven bamboo for flower holders), ''tu-ak'' (wine), or ''tu-kung'' (a kind of chicken) in sacred places. Sanghyang Tunggal's magical power is hidden in everything that is believed to have supernatural powers, such as ''tu-ngkub'', ''tu-nda'', ''wa-tu'', ''tu-gu'', ''tu-nggak'', ''tu-k'', ''tu-ban'', ''tu-rumbukan'', and ''tu-tuk''. Kapitayan followers who have the intention of doing ''tu-ju'' (divination) or other urgent needs will worship Sanghyang Tunggal with a special offering called ''tu-mbal''.Sunyoto (2017). p. 16-17.

In contrast, the worship of Sanghyang Taya directly is commonly carried out by the Kapitayan clergy and takes place in a ''sanggar'', which is a rectangular building with an overlapping roof. A hole in the wall known as ''Tu tu-k'' (alcove hole) is a symbol of the emptiness of Sanghyang Taya.

In praying to Sanghyang Taya in the ''sanggar'', the Kapitayan clergy follow certain rules. At first, the worshiping clergyman performs ''tu-lajeg'' (standing still) facing the ''tutu-k'' (alcove hole) with both hands raised to present Sanghyang Taya in ''tutu-d'' (heart). After feeling Sanghyang Taya residing in the heart, both hands were lowered and clasped to the chest right to the heart. This position is called ''swa-dikep'' (holding one's self). The ''tu-lajeg'' process is carried out in a relatively long time, after which the prayer is continued with the ''tu-ngkul'' position (bent down looking down), which is also carried out for a relatively long time. This is followed by the ''tu-lumpak'' position (kneeling with both heels occupied). Finally, the ''to-ndhem'' position (prostrate like a baby in its mother's womb) is performed. While performing these rituals for more than an hour, the Kapitayan spiritualists try to maintain the continuity of the existence of Sanghyang Taya which had been buried in ''tutu-d'' (heart).

Kapitayan and Islam

Kapitayan's religious values were adopted by the Walisongo in spreading Islam in Java. The concept of tawhid in Kapitayan (''Tan keno kinaya ngapa''; "can't be seen, can't be thought, can't be imagined, He is beyond everything") is similar to the concept of tawhid in Islam (ليس كمثله شىء; "There is nothing like unto Him"; Qur'an Surah Ash-Syura chapter 42 verse 11). Walisongo also used the term ''sembahyang'' (worshipping Sanghyang Taya) in introducing the Islamic term ''shalat'' (daily prayers).

In terms of places for worship or praying in Kapitayan, the term ''sanggar'' represents a four-square building with an empty hole on its wall as the symbol of Sang Hyang Taya, rather than ''arca'' or statues as in Hinduism or Buddhism. This term was used by the Walisongo (as ''langgar'') to represent the term of ''masjid'' (mosque) in Islam.

In Kapitayan, ''Upawasa'' (''Puasa'' or ''Poso'') is a ritual of not eating from morning until night; Walisongo used the term to represent '' siyam'' (fasting) in Islam.Sunyoto (2017). p. 185, 450. The term ''Poso Dino Pitu'' in Kapitayan, meaning "fasting on the day of the second and the fifth day", is very similar to the Islam form of fasting on Mondays and Thursdays. The tradition of ''tumpengan'' of Kapitayan was also kept by the Walisongo under the Islamic perspective of ''sadaqah'' (charity). This is the meaning of the terminology that Gus Dur (Indonesian fourth president) mentioned as ''"mempribumikan Islam"'' (Indigenize Islam).

Notes

References

Sources

* {{citation , last=Sunyoto , first=Agus , year=2017, title = Atlas Walisongo: Buku Pertama yang Mengungkap Walisongo Sebagai Fakta Sejarah , location = Tangerang Selatan , publisher = Pustaka Iman

Monotheistic religions
Javanese culture
Religion in Indonesia