Abstract
Wetu Telu is a syncretism of belief prevalent in West Lombok region. Danghyang Dwijendra from Daha in East Java region is regarded as the founder of the Watu Telu cult. He came to the Island of Lombok to teach enlightenment. One of the Ashram where he developed Hindu teaching and religion was Suranadi, a beautiful holy place. That Ashram was encircled by holy water, which currently can still be used by the Hindu devotees in performing their sacred sacrifice (yajnya). This study is aimed at knowing social and religious aspects of Wetu Telu as cultural heritage. The data is obtained through literature review and in-depth interview with public figures. From the data analysis, it is obtained that the history and social background of the Sasak people who inhabit the island is a mix of ethnic groups and culture. With this background, Wetu Telu which is also the syncretism of Hindu, Buddha, Islam, and local culture has a composite nature by taking only important matters without leaving its original teaching. Wetu Telu is considered to be Lombok Hindu teaching; and Wetu Telu is as inseparable part of holy pilgrimage (dharma yatra) of Danghyang Nirartha to Lombok in giving enlightenment and spiritual happiness to the people of Lombok. With the existence of Wetu Telu, a new culture and identity is built. The interaction amongst different culture, religion, and ancestral custom stimulates the emergence of a new culture as a part of diffusion process, acculturation, and cultural adaptation in literature, art, as well as theology.
Highlights
Lombok is a small island amongst those islands composing Indonesian archipelago
Majority of Lombok people are Muslim, but in daily life some of them practise the teachings of syncretism, a mixing up traditions of Hindu and the practice of worshipping to the ancestral spirits, various spiritual deities and others
The existence of Wetu Telu cult in Lombok has a very strong cultural bound to the Lombok society nowadays
Summary
Lombok is a small island amongst those islands composing Indonesian archipelago. The term “lombok” is found in Nagara Krtagama prose text composed by Prapanca, a great poet of the XIV century East Java, in 1365 AD. In the canto XIV started from 3 to 4 of the text it is stated that West Lombok is called Lombok Mirah, whereas, the area of East Lombok is called Sasak. In the course of history, Sasak denotes its people and culture. In a chronicle of this island as mentioned in Babad Lombok it is mentioned that in ancient times there was a king named Lombok who ruled over the island of Lombok (Abdul, 2006: 13). Most people believe that the word ‘Lombok’ is derived from the word ‘loumbouk’ in Sasak local language, which in English means ‘straight’. The character of Lombok people is straight hearted (loumbouk), honest, follows ethics, good manners, and virtuous noble character
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