'Ruwatan', a means to purify people and their surroundings
'Ruwatan', a means to purify people and their surroundings
The Jakarta Post
Sanur, Bali
Human beings face daily ups and downs. For those who believe in a
karma, good fortune may come and go in accordance with one's
destiny.
While our destiny may not be thwarted, the Javanese have
developed an age-old ritual to cleanse the path of one's fate.
"Sometimes, people think they are so unlucky or are trapped in
bad situation. So many obstacles hamper their efforts to achieve
their goals or to balance their spiritual and earthly lives,"
commented Eyang Suryo Wilotikto, who claims to be the direct
descendant of the former rulers of Majapahit Hindu Kingdom in
East Java. The legendary kingdom reigned from the 13th to the
late 15th century.
In Javanese tradition, many believe that people who have
suffered misfortune are spiritually "dirty and unprepared to
receive divine inspiration," he said. Therefore, according to
traditional Javanese dogma, a special ritual must be performed to
prevent the people or individuals from any misfortune and evil
spirit, which may disturb their well-being.
"The Javanese, in need of a spiritual boost, usually perform
the ruwatan or melukat rituals," he explained. The ritual is
basically aimed at revitalizing and recollecting the positive
spiritual energy within one's mind and heart to exist peacefully
and productively in order to eliminate any negative forces and
influences.
Because Eyang believes that the Balinese people originated
from the Majapahit kingdom, he said that such rituals were also
appropriate within the tradition of Balinese Hinduism.
"But, actually, ruwatan has nothing to do with any religion.
It is an ancient tradition which still exists within the Javanese
community," he said.
In Javanese families, there are several circumstances which
require them to turn to the ruwatan. Families with only one child
or one set of twins, families who have only one boy with older
sisters, kids suffering from serious illnesses and many other
things of that nature. In Javanese tradition, the number of
children that a couple produces and, more importantly the number
of boys, can mean the difference between being spiritually
blessed or condemned to misfortune.
Last October, he visited Bali and took part in the Gebyar
Alternative Exhibition at the Inna Sindhu Hotel in Sanur where he
held a series of mass ruwatan rituals for people who felt they
needed it.
"Currently, many ruwatan ceremonies are regarded as commercial
activities with people paying a large sum of money to perform
it," he maintained, while adding that it was improper to accept
payment for such a sacred rite.
"How can you charge people suffering from grievance and
sadness just to purify themselves?" he asked.
He did not receive any money for the mass ritual.
"After the Bali bombing, a lot of people in Bali, Lombok and
even in East Java, suffered spiritually as well as economically,"
he added. Thousands of people lost their jobs and incomes.
Hundreds of them lost loved ones.
In order to survive, many of them have sold their belongings
and are trapped under a mountain of debt.
The ruwatan ceremony has been a refuge for hundreds of those
people in the last year.
One event took place at a seaside hotel. Prior to the
ceremony, a special wayang kulit (shadow puppet) performance was
held.
The participants held communal prayers in accordance with
their beliefs, while the leader of the ceremony sprinkled water
on their bodies symbolizing the purification process.
"They came from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds.
Their main intention was to cleanse their minds in the hope of a
better future," he said.