Kasada, traditional rite of the Majapahit Tengger people<\/p>\n
Indra Harsaputra and ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Probolinggo<\/p>\n
Following the discovery of the Sanggar temple site in Pusung
\nMalang, Pasuruan regency in mid-June this year, Winston Mambo's
\nlife changed.<\/p>\n
The chief of the East Java office for the Center for the
\nConservation of Archeological Artifacts, now sits busily typing
\ninto his laptop, at a desk stewn with documents and photographs
\nof the temple.<\/p>\n
\"This must be one of the greatest discoveries in history;
\nthere has never been any temple found before that can link the
\nTengger tribe with the Majapahit Kingdom,\" he told The Jakarta
\nPost in Mojokerto.<\/p>\n
Winston plans to send his preliminary research to the
\nYogyakarta Archaeological Center; the start of something that he
\nhopes will be big.<\/p>\n
The center has already begun excavating the site where the
\ntemple, measuring 25 meters by 25 meters, was discovered between
\nJune 23 and June 29.<\/p>\n
Many of the temple's stone piles have collapsed but others
\nshowed the existance of a wall that lay lengthwise from east to
\nthe west, directly facing Mount Bromo. Excavators also unearthed
\na stone beam on which 1363 Saka (1443 AD) was inscribed. This
\nyear was within the ruling period of Queen Suhita of Majapahit
\n(1429-1447 AD). Another beam with 1431 Saka inscribed (1509 AD)
\nwas in the time of Dyah Ranawijaya Girindrawardhana, the last
\nMajapahit ruler.<\/p>\n
Winston said that the architectural style of the temple showed
\na shift in the prevailing religious system from Hindu-Buddhism to
\nancestor worship. This kind of temple was first discovered in the
\nslopes of Mount Bromo and the discovery of Sanggar confirmed the
\nclose link between the Tengger tribe in Bromo and the Majapahit
\nKingdom, he said.<\/p>\n
The Kasodo ritual<\/p>\n
Some Tengger people believe that they are directly descended
\nfrom the Majapahit Kingdom, with the name of their tribe having
\nits origin in the legend of legendary Majapahit nobles Roro An-
\n\"teng\" and Joko Se-\"ger\".<\/p>\n
Legend says that Joko, a young man of the Brahmana priestly
\ncaste, and Roro, a lady from a noble family during the reign of
\nthe Brawijaya dynasty, got married and opened up a settlement in
\nTengger area.<\/p>\n
There they ruled for a generation and were known as
\nPurbowasesa Mangkurat Ing Tengger or the Wise Tengger Rulers. The
\nword also means \"Tenggering Budi Luhur\" or an introduction to
\nnoble life and the symbols of lasting peace.<\/p>\n
This legend served as the origin for the Kasodo rite, held
\nevery 14 or 15 day of Kasodo, the 10th month in the Javanese
\ncalendar.
\nThe rites of Kasodo<\/p>\n
According to the legend, Roro and Joko failed to fulfill their
\npromise to the gods when they refused to offer their youngest
\nchild, Kesuma, to the volcanic crater of Mount Bromo. Furious,
\nthe gods, threw Kesuma into the crater. The moment the child fell
\nin, a voice was heard, commanding that an offering be made every
\nKasodo.<\/p>\n
Supoyo, the chief of Ngadisari village, said that Kasodo rite
\nwas held on Sept. 17 and Sept. 18 this year.<\/p>\n
The rite starts with the confirmation of Tengger elders and
\nthe performance of Roro Anteng and Joko Seger dance drama in the
\nopen-air state in Ngadisari village.<\/p>\n
At precisely midnight, the shamans are inaugurated and Tengger
\npeople are blessed in the sandy area of Mount Bromo. Before their
\ninauguration, these shamans must pass a test in which they are
\nrequired to chant mantras from memory.<\/p>\n
Later, Tengger flock to the top of Mount Bromo, each carrying
\nofferings made up of agricultural produce and cattle. They throw
\nthese offerings into the crater, believing that God will bless
\nthe Tengger people with prosperity and safety.<\/p>\n
Connections<\/p>\n
So the story goes, and over recent years there have been more
\ndiscoveries linking legendary events to historical ones. In
\nOctober 2002 a copper plaque was discovered in was Sapikerep
\nvillage, Sukapura, Probolinggo, showing a link between the
\nMajapahit Kingdom and the settlement of a new people near Mount
\nBromo.<\/p>\n
The plaque contains eight smaller plaques each measuring 31.5
\ncm long, 11 cm wide and 0.2 cm thick with an inscription of 1197
\nSaka (1275 A.D.)<\/p>\n
Made during the era of King Kertanegara and King Rameswarapura
\nof Singasari Kingdom, it details the gifts endowed to two royal
\nofficials -- Sri Brahmaraja Dang Hyang Dharanidharitana and Maha
\nMantri Katrini.<\/p>\n
According to the plaque, Sri Brahmaraja Dang Hyang
\nDharanidharitana accepted a gift from Wisnuwardhana, the son of
\nKing Dyah Urddhaja. The gift was in the form of exempting a
\nvillage in Sukapura, located somewhere in the Mount Bromo area,
\nfrom the obligation to pay taxes and other levies.<\/p>\n
As some plaques are now missing, it is not known why the king
\nendowed this special right.<\/p>\n
\"Nevertheless, we are convinced that the area around Mount
\nBromo used to be an area that the king endowed to a royal
\nofficial,\" Winston said.<\/p>\n
It is also written in several ancient books such as
\nNegarakretagama, Serat Pararaton, Kidung Panji Wijaya Krama and
\nKidung Harsawijaya that the king endowed an official with a plot
\nof land somewhere around Mount Bromo.<\/p>\n
A royal official did not earn a salary but instead received a
\nplot of land the area of which was compatible with his position.
\nThis land was exempted from any taxes and levies.<\/p>\n
Temple business<\/p>\n
The new temple find has also fueled hopes that the site can
\nattract more tourists to the area. The Kasodo ritual is not only
\nimportant to the Tengger people but also to those doing business
\nin Mount Bromo tourist area.<\/p>\n
Slamet, a dress vendor from Jember, said that the Kasodo
\nfestival brings him a handsome profit, raking in Rp 1 to 2
\nmillion over the festival<\/p>\n
Edy Siswanto, the marketing manager of Lava View Hotel,
\nsays the Kasodo ritual means hotel rooms in the area are fully
\nbooked.<\/p>\n
\"Prior to Kasodo, all rooms are reserved, he told the Post.<\/p>\n
Hotel management was soon planning to introduce a Global
\nAdventure program, where guests would be taken to Penanjakan
\nSummit to enjoy the sunrise and also to Ranu Pane and to Cuban
\nPelangi, not far from the top of Bromo, where there are several
\nsmall waterfalls.<\/p>\n
There are nine hotels around Mount Bromo, consisting of 500
\nhotel rooms at rates between Rp 25,000 and Rp 450,000. Two of
\nthem are star-rated.<\/p>",
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