Indonesia is well-known for its diversity in many aspects including religions and beliefs. Generally, people only know there are 6 religions in Indonesia, but Indonesia actually also has local beliefs. Agama Djawa Sunda, what would come to mind when you hear about this local religion in Indonesia? Javanese or Sundanese?

The origin of Agama Djawa Sunda

According to the story, Agama Djawa Sunda was founded in Cirebon by a person named Madrais. He tried to collaborate between Ngelmu Sejati Cirebon, which is identical with Islamic tradition and Islamic Sufism, and Sunda Wiwitan tradition.

In Agama Djawa Sunda, there is a main motto which says, “Andjawat lan andjawab roh susuin-susun kang den tunda”. From there, it can be explained that the word "Djawa" is an abbreviation of the words andjawat (take) and andjawab (answer or implement). 

Meanwhile, the word "Sunda" is an abbreviation of Roh susun-susun kang den tunda which means spirits composed in delay or exist in the world. The motto means that in this world there are various kinds of spirits. Besides human spirit, there are also spirits in animals, plants, stones, fire, earth, and others.

Teachings in Agama Djawa Sunda

The principles and objectives of Agama Djawa Sunda is to devote the order of God and humanity. ADS adherents also not only consider religion as a belief, but more as a measure of life. With religion, they usually measure whether life has aligned towards the rules of God and humanity.

As we know, every religion has its own way of pronouncing its god. In understanding God, ADS adherents call their God as "Gusti Pangeran Si Kang Sawiji-wiji". 

There are also those who say that there is no special pronunciation in chanting God. They only call God "Gusti". Basically, what they call God is the same, God Almighty, God Most Merciful. 

In worshiping God, ADS adherents are not limited about how they worship. Madrais gives freedom to his followers in worship. The point here is that worship is carried out in semedi or meditation without any limitation of time and place. 

Even so, there are special rituals that they perform at dawn and dusk, that is maintaining their attitude and monitoring the limbs in carrying out their functions.

In Agama Djawa Sunda, Shahada has a different meaning in Sundanese, that is there is no God but Allah and Madrais is Rasulullah. According to Madraism, Rasulullah does not mean the messenger of Allah, but true feeling. 

Here, Madrais also does not mean a person's name but more to the essence of the name, namely true light. ADS adherents also do things such as marriage and death out of the ordinary Muslim way. 

Apart from that, Agama Djawa Sunda also places great emphasis on individual rules in the social environment. As a creation of God who has mind, humans should have manners and character. 

In ADS spirituality there are also two taboos in society. The first is not to eat the sweat of other people (not to take away other people's rights) and not to force others to adhere to the beliefs they embrace.

Agama Djawa Sunda also has a basic teaching called Pikukuh Tilu. First, Ngaji Badan, this means that humans must always be able to keep their feelings and religious thoughts from deviating. 

Second, Iman Kana Tanah, this teaching intends for humans to always remember all the elements of the universe that have formed themselves. The last one is Ngiblating Raja Ratu. This means that people must also be able to manage not only others, but also themselves.

That is the information I know about Agama Djawa Sunda. This is a local religion that not many people are aware of. In my opinion, its teachings are more about managing society about humanity and human behavior towards the environment. 

Religious matters such as worshipping, as a writer I do not agree because that's not what Islam teaches. But it is just my opinion, of course there is no intention for me to criticize or slander Agama Djawa Sunda.

#SampoernaUniversity

Work Cited

Komarudin, D. (2017). Agama Djawa Sunda (Ads) Religious Movement. El-HARAKAH (TERAKREDITASI), 19(1), 95. doi:10.18860/el.v19i1.3683

Kompasiana.com. (2012, March 27). Konsep Tuhan dalam Agama Djawa Sunda. Retrieved December 06, 2020, from https://www.kompasiana.com/piusnovrin/550ecef4813311c72cbc64a2/konsep-tuhan-dalam-agama-djawa-sunda

Waluyajati, R. S. (2017). Agama Djawa Sunda (ADS). Religious: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama Dan Lintas Budaya, 1(2), 103. doi:10.15575/rjsalb.v1i2.1389