International Journal of Research in Social Sciences
  • Year: 2015
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue: 4

Hyper-spirituality of Puppet in the Java Society in the Modern Era

  • Author:
  • D.E. Relin
  • Total Page Count: 13
  • Page Number: 209 to 221

Senior Lecturer at Faculty of Brahma Widya, Denpasar State Hindu Dharma Institute, Address: Jl. Ratna, no. 51, Denpasar, 80237, Bali, Indonesia

Online published on 10 March, 2016.

Abstract

The main identity that distinguishes a Javanese and other ethnic groups is the Java language. According to Maria A. Sandjono, Java people ethnically form the majority of population in Indonesia. Java people is characterized by Java language. Marbangun H. said that all of the Javanese is culturally one. They think and feel like their ancestors that Central Java, the city of Yogyakarta and Solo as cultural centers. So it can be concluded that, the Java people speak Javanese, and their life guided by noble values of Javanese culture. One of the results of the Javanese culture is a puppet. Puppet is a symbol, that is a "shadow" or picture. The usual story of the puppet is the epic of Mahabharata and Ramayana. Javanese life is very close to this puppet story. Although the Java community have their own religion, be it Islam, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and Confucian, but Puppet is a very important thing in their life. In the context of the contemporary belief, the presence of puppet still exist in the Java community life. Puppet is a spectacle and guidance that lives up to now, although their supporters began to decline. Especially in the modern era that are almost instantaneous and fast-paced, frantic-paced, which makes modern people easily saturated. One of the sedative in the modern era is enjoying Wayang. Puppet gives peace of mind. Puppet story presented with a philosophy of life. Java community cannot leave the Wayang culture, because there are a myriad philosophy of life for Javanese themselves. Puppet Hyper-spirituality is there, because people strongly believe there is an autonomous powers contained in the puppet story, and there is no other religion which claimed that was their puppet. Puppet only owned by the Javanese themselves.

Keywords

Hyper-spirituality, Puppet, Java community, Era modern