Attributes and legends.
He is believed to be the goddess who controls the underworld realm also the month. Its role includes all aspects of the Mother Goddess, namely as protector of the birth and life. It can also control the groceries on Earth, especially rice: a staple food of Indonesian society; then he set life, wealth, and prosperity. Blessing especially abundant rice harvest and glorified since the days of ancient kingdoms in Java such as Majapahit and Padjadjaran.Dewi Sri also controls all the opposite, namely; poverty, famine, pests and diseases, and to a certain extent, affect mortality. Because he is a symbol for rice, he is also regarded as the mother's life. Often it is associated with paddy rice crops and snakes.
The myth of the goddess of rice.
Most stories about Dewi Sri related to the origin of the creation myth of the rice plant, staple food in the region. This is one story of the rice goddess Dewi Sri as based on "Wawacan Sulanjana".Once upon a time in heaven, Guru who become supreme ruler of the kingdom of heaven, ordered all the gods and goddesses to work together, contribute labor to build a new palace in heaven. Anyone who disobeyed these orders are considered lazy, and will cut the hands and feet.
Hearing the command of Guru, Antaboga (Anta) the snake god very anxious. Why not, he did not have his hands and feet to work. If should be punished, living his neck was the one that can be cut, and that means death. Anta was terrified, then he asked for advice Batara Narada, brother of Guru, the problems that it faces. But unfortunately, God Narada was perplexed and could not find a way to help the snake god. Desperate, Dewa Anta was sobbing lament how bad fate.
But when the tears Anta fell to the ground, with three drops of tears magically transformed into a glittering jewel. Granules it is actually the egg shells beautiful. Barata Narada suggested that gem grain was offered to the Guru as the form of a request that he understands and forgives Anta deficiencies that can not go to work to build a palace.
With three eggs suck gem in his mouth, Anta departed for the palace of Guru. On the way Anta met with a crow who then greeted Anta and asked where he was going. Because of his mouth full of eggs Anta only silence can not answer the question crow. The crow thought Anta overbearing so he is very irritable and angry.
The black bird was attacking Anta panic, fear, and confusion. As a result, it broke an egg gem. Anta hid behind bushes waiting crows away. But the raven still wait until Anta out of the grass and back scratch Anta. The second egg was broken, Anta edged slithers immediately fled in fear to save themselves, now only an egg gem survived, intact and not broken.
Anta finally arrived at the palace Guru and immediately present it to the egg mustika ruler of heaven. Guru gladly accept the mustika offerings. But after knowing mustika it is a magical egg, Guru ordered Anta to incubate the eggs until they hatch.
After a long period Anta incubating the egg, then the egg was hatched. But miraculously coming out of the egg was a very beautiful baby girl, cute, and adorable. The baby girl was immediately adopted by the Guru and his queen.
Nyi Pohaci Sanghyang Sri is the name given to the daughter. As time passed, Nyi Pohaci grown into a beautiful young woman is incredible. A daughter who was kind, gentle, smooth-spoken, noble gentility, captivate all beings. Each eye of the beholder, gods and humans, immediately fell in love with the goddess.
Due to the beauty that beats all heavenly nymphs and goddesses, Guru himself was lured to the adoptive child. Batara teacher secretly keep a desire to marry Nyi Pohaci. Seeing Guru, the gods become worried if left then this scandal will damage the harmony in heaven. Then the gods was negotiating maneuver to separate Nyi Guru and Sri Pohaci Sanghyang.
To protect the sanctity of Nyi Pohaci, while maintaining the alignment of the household of the ruler heaven, the gods agreed that there is no way other than having to kill Nyi Pohaci.
The gods gather all sorts of venomous of the deadliest and immediately put it on the princess drinks. Nyi Pohaci soon die of poisoning, the gods was panic and fear because it has done a great sin to kill innocent holy girl. Soon the body of the goddess was brought down to earth and buried in place which is far away and hidden.
Dewi Sri disappearance of heaven makes Guru, Anta, and all the gods was grieving. But something magical happened, because the purity and kindness of the goddess, then from the grave appeared diverse plants that are useful to mankind.
- From head appears coconut trees.
- From the nose, lips and ears appear a variety of fragrant spices and vegetables.
- From hair to grow grass and a variety of beautiful and fragrant flowers
- From the breasts grow fruits are ripe and sweet.
- From the arms and hands grow teak, sandalwood, and a variety of useful trees;
of the genitals appear palm or palm tree and sweet sap.
- From the thighs grow various types of bamboo plants.
- From the legs appear various plant tubers and cassava; finally emerged from his grave rice crops, foodstuffs most useful for humans.
Another version says white rice paddy emerged from his right eye, while the red rice paddy from his left eye. In short, all the plants useful for the human body comes from Dewi Sri Pohaci. Since then mankind in Java revere, venerate and love goddess kind, which the noble sacrifice has given a blessing the goodness of nature, fertility, and the availability of food for humans. In the belief system of the ancient Kingdom of Sunda,
Nyi Pohaci Sanghyang Sri regarded as the highest and most important goddess agrarian society. As the great man a very exalted, he has various versions of the story, mostly involving Dewi Sri (Dewi Asri, Nyi Pohaci) and his brother Sedana (Sadhana or Sadono), with background MEDANG KAMULAN kingdom, or heaven (with the involvement of gods god like Guru), or both.
In some versions, Dewi Sri connected by a boa while Sadhana with sriti bird (a swallow). Snake goddess associated with the rice fields and tend to be respected, perhaps because of local knowledge and ecological awareness ancient understand that snakes prey on mice became paddy rice crop pests. In many other Asian countries such as India and Thailand, various types of snake, especially cobra was associated with fertility myth as a protective fields.
Depictions.
Dewi Sri is always portrayed as a beautiful young girl, slender but shapely and contains, with distinctive facial natural beauty original girl archipelago. Realising women at the peak age of beauty, femininity and fertility.Javanese literary culture with a high aesthetic taste depicts the goddess Dewi Sri such depictions and noble daughter in the puppet. Thin white face with eyes staring down with his face graceful and quiet. Similar to the depiction of beauty goddess Sita of the Ramayana story.
Partner, Sedhana also depicted with such nice like Rama. Sculpture Loroblonyo (meaning: "two pedestal or base"), which depicts a pair of men and women, also described as couples Dewi Sri and Sedhana.
Rituals and customs.
Dewi Sri respected and venerated by the Javanese, Sundanese, and Bali. Even so many versions of the same myth about the goddess of fertility is also known by other ethnic groups in Indonesia. Although Indonesia is now the majority is Muslim or Hindu, its nature remains nuanced animism and dynamism.Local beliefs such as Javanese and Sundanese Wiwitan remain firmly rooted and breeding to Dewi Sri continue along with the influence of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. Some palace in Indonesia, such as the palace in Cirebon, Ubud, Surakarta and Yogyakarta remain cultivate this tradition. For example salvation or thanksgiving ceremony harvesting in Java called Sekaten or Grebeg Mulud which also coincided with the celebration of the Birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
Traditional Javanese society, especially pengamal Kejawen teaching, has a special place in the middle of their home to Dewi Sri, called Pasrean (where Dewi Sri) in order to prosper. This special place is decorated with carved snakes and sculpture Loroblonyo, sometimes complete with agricultural equipment such as ani-ani or small sickle and a pinch of rice. Often, too, given the small offerings for the offerings to Dewi Sri. Sculpture Loroblonyo regarded as the embodiment of Sri and Sedhana, or Kamaratih and Kamajaya, everything is a symbol of prosperity and happiness of the household, as well as the harmony between husband and wife.
In the farming communities in rural Java, there is a tradition which forbids disturbing and repel snakes into the house. In fact, the snake was given offerings and respected until it goes away by itself, this tradition considers the snake is a good sign that the upcoming harvest will succeed overflow. At the ceremony also involves growing rice selametan shaman surrounding the village with a dagger supernatural strength to bless the rice seeds to be planted.
Sundanese people have a series of celebrations and a special ceremony dedicated to Dewi Sri. For example Seren Taun ceremony held each year by the Bedouins, Ciptagelar Kasepuhan Southern Banten, Kampung Naga, Cigugur, Brass, and various other traditional Sundanese communities.
This tradition is traced been done since the days of the ancient Kingdom of Sunda. The ceremony was held to bless the rice seedlings will be planted along the rice to be harvested. At this celebration Sundanese people sing some rhymes or chants like Pangemat and winds. Ballad singing is intended to invite the Goddess Sri so willing to come down to earth and bless the rice seeds, so that the farmers healthy, and as ceremonial ruwatan or starting reinforcements; to ward off bad luck or bad luck that might befall the farmers.
At the time of the rice harvest was traditional Sundanese people should not use a sickle or machete to cut the rice, they should use the ani-ani or crab, a small blade that can be hidden in the palm of the hand. Sundanese people believe that Dewi Sri Pohaci the smooth and gentle spirit will be frightened by large sharp weapons such as sickle or machete. Additionally there is a belief that the rice to be harvested, which is also the embodiment of the goddess, must be treated with respect and gently one by one, may not be cleared roughly away.
Farmers in Bali usually provide a small temple in the rice fields to honor Dewi Sri. This small temple offerings are often given as offerings in order to Dewi Sri willing to protect their fields and endowed prosperity and a bountiful harvest. In the belief system of Hindu Dharma, Dewi Sri considered as the embodiment or a combination of several Hindu goddesses like the goddess Lakshmi, Goddess, and Shri (the combined properties of powerful Hindu goddess). Dewi in Bali is considered the goddess of rice, fertility, the guarantor of the success of the harvest, as well as prosperity and protector of the family.
Dewi Sri in various religions.
Buddhist.
Dewi Sri estimated as the rest of the Indonesian public confidence in ancient times were able to survive the social and religious change. Worship of Goddess Sri estimated to come from the worship of the goddess Tara Bhagawati by farmers. In one of his form, Bhagawati Tara manifests as Vasundhari or Vasundharini. He described the yellow-bodied, holding a sprig of yellow rice.Bhagawati worship of Goddess Tara took place before the Majapahit Empire, marked by the construction of Kalasan by Panangkaran of Sailendra. The temples have been built in 778 AD.
Thank you for reading this article. Written and posted by Bambang Sunarno. sunarnobambang86@gmail.com
author:
https://plus.google.com/105319704331231770941.
name: Bambang Sunarno.
http://primadonablog.blogspot.com/2015/08/did-you-know-dewi-sri.html
DatePublished: August 25 2015 at 10:22
Tag : Did you know Dewi Sri.
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