Cirebon court servants: Old and toothless but still agile
Cirebon court servants: Old and toothless but still agile
CIREBON, West Java (JP): The Abdi dalem (court retainers) of
Kasepuhan are surely underpaid and true devotion to their calling
is all that keeps them going. Most of them are in their 70s and
fragile-looking but they retain their amazing vitality.
Their secret for maintaining health has always elicited the
curiosity of many. Abdi dalem have special diets and do lots of
exercises to keep in shape. So don't be surprised to see elderly
men -- some of them toothless and hunchbacked -- working
energetically.
Their routine consists of taking a bath at midnight and
staying awake until dawn -- something that may sound odd to
ordinary people.
They also regularly take jamu (herbal medicine), honey, pepper
and calamondin which they believe are good for warding off
disease. Besides, they also believe in the power of prayer for
their physical and spiritual health.
"I wake up at 2 a.m. to say midnight prayers and go to sleep
again until morning prayer at 3:30 a.m. I then work out, walking
around my house as advised by the Sultan (the Kasepuhan Sultan
Sepuh XIII PRA Maulana Pakuningrat)," said Saryan, an abdi dalem.
Following the tradition handed down generation after
generation, Saryan fasts eight days ahead of Maulud, the birthday
of Prophet Muhammad. During those days, he will sleep only an
hour a day.
The palace retainers' working hours are between 8 a.m. and 4
p.m.
In general their jobs include cleaning the palace area twice a
day, preparing offerings every day, washing the heirlooms every 1
Suro (Islamic-Javanese New Year), and escorting guests who wish
to tour the palace complex.
Palace heirlooms are considered sacred and they treat them
accordingly.
Every Friday Kliwon (which occurs once in every 35 days by the
Javanese calendar), the palace holds a ritual for its heirlooms,
which include ancient chariots and weapons. Offerings include
bekakak ayam (whole-baked chicken), roasted chili sauce and seven
kinds of flowers.
During the ceremony, the abdi dalem wear their traditional
uniforms.
Also on Friday Kliwon, the retainers should prepare offerings
for the supernatural creatures that are believed to reside in
every corner of the palace complex.
The offerings, which should include small rice cones, salted
fish, onions, chili, cigarettes and betel vines, are then placed
in the corners.
"The purpose is to ensure that the creatures do not disturb
human beings," said Saryan.
When somebody in the palace complex suddenly falls into a
trance for no apparent reason, this could well be an indication
that the spirits are not happy with the offerings -- or so the
abdi dalem believe. (ind)