Sunda Wiwitan is the worship of natural forces and ancestral spirits (animism and dynamism) adhered to by traditional Sundanese society. However, there are some who argue that Sundanese Wiwitan Religion also has an ancient monotheistic element, that is above the gods and hyang in his pantheon there is the highest single god of intangible power, the intangible called Sang Hyang Kersa which is equated with God Almighty.
Adherents to this teaching can be found in several villages in Banten and West Java provinces, such as in Kanekes, Lebak, Banten; Ciptagelar Kasepuhan Banten Kidul, Cisolok, Sukabumi; Kampung Naga; Cirebon; and Cigugur, Kuningan. According to its adherents, Sunda Wiwitan is a belief that was held for a long time by the Sundanese before the arrival of Hindu and Islamic teachings.
The teachings of Sundanese Wiwitan are contained in the book Sanghyang Siksakanda ng Karesian, a book originating from the era of the Sundanese kingdom which contains religious teachings and moral guidance, rules and character lessons. This book is called Kropak 630 by the National Library of Indonesia. Based on the information of the kokolot (elders) of Cikeusik village, the Kanekes people are not Hindus or Buddhists, but animists, namely beliefs that worship the spirits of their ancestors. Only in its development has the Kanekes belief been entered into by elements of Hinduism and, to a certain extent, Islamic teachings. In Carita Parahyangan this belief is referred to as “Jatisunda” teaching.
Mythology and belief systems
The highest power is in Sang Hyang Kersa (The Almighty) or Nu Ngersakeun (Who Willed). He is also called Batara Tunggal (God Almighty), Batara Jagat (Ruler of Nature), and Batara Seda Niskala (The Invisible). He resides in Buana Nyungcung. All gods in the Hindu concept (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Yama, etc.) are subject to Batara Seda Niskala.
There are three kinds of nature in Sundanese Wiwitan belief as mentioned in the pantun regarding the mythology of the Kanekes:
- Buana Nyungcung: the place where Sang Hyang Kersa resides, which is at the top
- Buana Panca Tengah: the dwelling place for humans and other creatures, it is located in the middle
- Buana Larang: Hell, it is located at the 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 it is called Alam Kahyangan or Mandala Hyang. The second highest realm is the realm where Nyi Pohaci Sanghyang Asri and Sunan Ambu live.
Sang Hyang Kersa lowered seven batara at Sasaka Pusaka Buana. One of the seven batara is Batara Cikal, the oldest considered the ancestor of the Kanekes people. Other descendants are batara-batara who rule in various other areas in the land of Sunda.
The meaning of nurunkeun (lowering) batara is not giving birth but creating or creating.
Philosophy
The ideas or teachings of a religion always contain elements that are expressed and implied. The explicit element is what is clearly stated as a pattern of life to be lived, while what is implied is a comprehensive understanding of the teaching. The teachings of Sundanese Wiwitan basically depart from two principles, namely the Characteristics of Man and the Way of the Nation.
Human Characteristics are the basic elements that exist in human life. There are five elements that are included in it:
- Compassion: love
- Stepping usuk: family order
- Manners: order of behavior
- Budi language and culture
- Wiwaha yudha naradha: human nature that always fights everything before doing it
If only one other way of human traits was incompatible with it then humans would definitely not do it.
The second principle is the National Characteristics. Universally, all humans do have the same in terms of Human Characteristics. However, there are certain things that differentiate humans from one another. In the Sundanese Wiwitan teachings, the differences between people are based on the Way of National Character which consists of:
- Fine
- Custom
- Language
- Script
- Culture
These two principles are not clearly stated in the Sundanese Book of Wiwitan, which is called Siksa Kanda-ng karesian. But fundamentally, humans actually live their lives from what is implied. What is written can always be read and memorized. This does not guarantee that humans will live their lives from what is written. In fact, it is what is implied that can be a human guide in life.
Initially, Sunda Wiwitan did not teach many taboos to its adherents. There are only two main taboos taught in Sundanese religion.
That which other people dislike and which endangers others
Which can harm yourself
However, due to its development, to respect sacred and sacred places (Kabuyutan, which is called Sasaka Pusaka Buana and Sasaka Domas) and to obey a series of rules regarding the tradition of farming and harvesting, the Sundanese Wiwitan teachings recognize many prohibitions and taboos. Taboo (in the language of the Kanekes people it is called “Buyut”) is mostly practiced by those who live in the core or the holiest area.
known as the Baduy Dalam.
Tradition
In Sundanese Wiwitan teachings the delivery of prayers is carried out through the singing of rhymes and songs and dance movements. This tradition can be seen from the rice harvest thanksgiving ceremony and the celebration of the turn of the year based on the Sundanese calendar known as the Seren Taun Festival. In various places in West Java, Seren Taun is always lively and attended by thousands of people. Seren Taun celebrations can be found in several villages such as in Kanekes, Lebak, Banten; Ciptagelar Kasepuhan Banten Kidul, Cisolok, Sukabumi; Kampung Naga; and Cigugur, Kuningan. In Cigugur, Kuningan itself, an area that still adheres to Sundanese culture, those who celebrate Seren Taun come from all over the country.
Even though there has been inculturation and many Sundanese people have embraced religions outside Sunda Wiwitan, the understanding and customs that have been taught by this religion are still used as a guide in the life of the Sundanese people. Culturally, Sundanese people have not left this Sundanese religion.
Holy place
A holy place or place of worship that is considered sacred or sacred in the Sundanese Wiwitan religion is Pamunjungan or called Kabuyutan. Pamunjungan is a punden with terraces that is usually found on a hill and in Pamunjungan there are usually Menhirs, Arca, Cengkuk Stone, Bowl Stone, Flat Stone and others.
There are many Pamunjungan or Kabuyutan in Tatar Sunda such as Balay Pamujan Genter Bumi, Cengkuk Site, Gunung Padang, Kabuyutan Galunggung, Kawali Site etc. In Bogor itself, as the Center for Sunda Nagara and Pajajaran, there used to be many Pamunjungan, some of which are Pamunjungan Rancamaya, its former name is Pamunjungan Sanghyang Padungkukan which is called Bukit Badigul but unfortunately now Pamunjungan is no longer replaced by a golf course.
At the time of the biggest and most luxurious Pamunjungan was Pamunjungan Kihara Hyang, located in Leuweung (forest) Songgom, or Balay Pamunjungan Mandala Parakan Jati, which is currently used as the Sindang Barang Cultural Village.
With the number of Pamunjungan or Kabuyutan in Tatar Sunda, it proves that the religion adopted or the religion of the majority of the Sundanese people in the past is the Teak Sunda or Wiwitan Sundanese Religion, this is the answer to why temples are so rarely found in Sunda. However, Hinduism and Buddhism developed well in Sunda and even Raja Salaka Nagara and Tarumanagara were devout Hindus. Hindu temples found in Tatar Sunda are Cangkuang Temple which is a Hindu temple of Shiva worship and Batujaya Temple in Karawang which is a complex of Buddhist stupa buildings.
Source : wikipedia
