ANIMISM IN MODERN ERA

Animism is a belief that a soul or spirit existed in every object, even if it was inanimate. In a future state this soul or spirit would exist as part of an immaterial soul. The spirit, therefore, was thought to be universal. This belief developed among primitive, prehistoric people led to changes that really affected their global life. In its practical order, the followers of this belief consider certain places sacred, which they believed were the resident place of the forefather soul who had certain great power. These people practice certain rites at certain times to worship the soul or to ask help from these souls of their descendants.
Trading activities done by Indonesian traders and some traders from other regions out of Indonesia brought new religions which would develop in Indonesian societies in the future. Those religions are Hinduism, which arrived in Indonesia around the second century, Buddhism in fourth century, Islam in fourteenth century, and Christian in sixteenth century. In history, animism has faded in the face of these new religions. –However-, there are Indonesian people who still hold on this belief. In West Borneo, approximately 7.5 million Dayak people still believe in animism.
In the regions that have been touched by modern technology and modern thinking -conscious or not- animism is still upheld by some in the society. One of the realizations of this belief is meditation, which is done in certain places to interact with forefather soul. Followers ask their forefather’s help to facilitate their certain businesses and other matters of importance like trade, carrier, even love.
In Sukabumi, this kind of activity can be found in one place named Gua Kuta Maneh. This cave is located in Kuta Maneh, Cikujang Village, which is located in the Sukabumi Regency, West Java. People know this place as the place where the soul of Prabu Siliwagi resides, one of the kings of Pajajaran Kingdom who had very powerful magic power. It is because of this association with great power that the military symbol of West Java cavalry is a tiger. Siliwangi means tiger.



PRABU SILIWANGI GO INTO THE EARTH
This folk story is about the escape of Prabu Siliwangi because of Islamization done by Kiansantang, one of Prabu Siliwangi sons.
Long time ago in Sunda land, stood a huge Hindu kingdom named Pajajaran Kingdom. Its capital was in Pakuan, a region in West Java today we know as Bogor. The first king who ruled this kingdom of Pajajaran was Sri Baduga Maharaja, who was known by the West Java people as Prabu Siliwangi.
Prabu Siliwangi had sons, one of them was Kiansantang. Kiansantang was born to Dewi Kumala wangi, one of Prabu Siliwangi’s wives who lived in Garut. Kiansantang was a very strong youth. There was no one who could beat his power. One day, an old man appeared suddenly in front of Kiansantang and told him that there was someone whose power was equal with him. This man was Sayyidina Ali, Prophet Muhammad’s son in law from Mecca. Kiansantang went to Mecca with the intention to fight with Sayyidina Ali. Kiansantang could not beat Sayyidina Ali because his power was so far under Sayyidina Ali’s. So, Kiansantang became interested in what Sayyidina Ali believed, Islam.
Kiansantang was just interested in Islam firstly, but when he visited Mecca for the second time, he declared firmly that he believed in Islam. With knowledge about Islam he got from Sayyidina Ali, Kiansantang went back to Pajajaran and intended to convince his father, Prabu Siliwangi, to believe in Islam too.
At the same time when Kiansantang came back from Mecca, Prabu Siliwangi was in Pamijahan, one region in Tasikmalaya, West Java. Kiansantang went to Garut first to meet his mother before went to Pamijahan. People believe that Kiansantang met Prabu Siliwangi by him self, with no guardian accompanying him. Prabu Siliwangi also met Kiansantang without a guardian. It was just two of them.
Finally Kiansantang met his father in Pamijahan. Kiansantang told his father his purpose was to convince him to believe in Islam clearly. Prabu Siliwangi was really shocked by what Kiansantang said. Because of his prestige and his shame, Prabu Siliwangi rejected Kiansantang’s invitation. It was because he felt if he follows Kiansantang, it would mean he was conquered by his own son. In other words, he would lose.
Prabu Siliwangi was obstinate with his principal, while Kiansantang was obstinate too with his intention. Finally, a historical event occurred. Prabu Siliwangi escaped from his son’s exhortation. The chase started from Pamijahan then moved to the west part of West Java. Prabu Siliwangi rested in some places in his escape, so did Kiansantang. Both of them were really tired.
Finally, Prabu Siliwangi arrived in one place in Sukabumi. He was flat exhausted because of Kiansantang’s chase. In that place Prabu Siliwangi swore, “I will go into the earth in this place. Someday in the future, if my grand grandsons ask for help in my name, I will help them”. After finishing his oath, Prabu Siliwangi went into the earth; its track now is known as Gua Kuta Maneh. Kuta itself means King of Pajajaran, while Maneh means here. So, Kuta Maneh means here is King of Pajajaran’s track.
Kiansantang lost the track of his father because the end of that cave –as people believe- has many branches. They are Curug Supit in Cianjur, Rawa Kalong in Pelabuhan Ratu, Gunung Bentang in Nyalindung, Pamijahanin in Tasikmalaya, Gunung Jati in Cirebon, Cikaduen in Banten, Luar Batang in Jakarta, Ujungkulon in Banten, Pulau Bata in Karawang, even in Mecca.


THE POWER OF PRABU SILIWANGI
It is not known exactly when people began visiting this cave. According to Mr. Unung, the third generation caretaker of Gua Kuta Maneh, the first caretaker was known around 1970s. From day to day the number of people who visit this cave to ask Prabu Siliwangi’s soul for help is increasing. There are many people who have already proven the effect of the meditation rites in this cave. The existence of this cave has become more known from verbal information.
Relating this condition to the Islamization tried by Kiansantang is one proof of Prabu Siliwangi’s convention of his power. Who would have guessed that in the future, the grand grandsons of Prabu Siliwangi would still believe in his power even they are already believe in Islam. Prabu Siliwangi’s oath plays the important role in this belief, because if Prabu Siliwangi did not swear like that, his grand grandsons will never do these kinds of rites.
For people around Kuta Maneh it self, there is nothing special about that cave. They do not make it special because for them, this cave is just like the common cave. People who meditate in that cave come from places so far as Sukabumi, like Jakarta, Cirebon, some places in East Java and Center Java, even from Malaysia and Singapore.
Because of this carelessness, the meditation process in Gua Kuta Maneh doesn’t get special position in society there. Islamic figures there also do not care about this meditation. They are not complaining nor supporting. Considering the location of this cave which is close to the people quarter, it proves that people who care about the existence of this cave are they who believe in the Pajajaran doctrine. This doctrine ensures its followers that the great power of Prabu Siliwangi can be gotten by meditating in this cave.
In conclusion, let us go back to the introduction about animism. We have seen that animism, which we know was a part of primitive human beings, still survives in this modern era although it is not in the exact form. It has not become the main belief, but it has transformed to the alternative ways when certain needs have already insist the related people to ask some help from the great power they believe.