Mangalontik Ipon

Mangalontik Ipon is an ritual of Batak Ancient that is flattened upper and lower teeth (incisors and canines) by using an iron fisted. This tradition as a sign of that a boy or girl has entered the adulthood and leaving childhood.

Teeth carved and smoothed with a file and then smeared the sap of baja (a type of black plants) while in be smoked, to relieve pain and prevent infection. After the teeth have been carved scalloped (marlontik), they undergo a period of abstinence (Robu), in order to restore dental health. They only eat certain foods and not allowed out of the house for seven days.

After they pass through "robu" time, the young man or young woman  --In the ancient until now on chewing betel applies to women and men-- is free to have betel chewing (marnapuran) in public. Their lips and teeth were flushed red as well.

Effect sap of baja,  near the edge of the gap between the teeth to be black. Colors red and black teeth like it was "the pride and charm of its own". If it is allowed marnapuran in public, they are considered an adult and entitled to visit to get acquainted and find a life partner.

Betel Nut (Sirih)

Betel Nut or Sirih (Image, 2012)

Betel nut or Sirih is a type of green vines or climbing a tree trunk, in the Batak language, called:

1. Demban

2. Sirumatabulung

3. Napuran

4. Burangir 

Betel has a function and its benefits for the Batak tribe :

1. Customs. On customary marriages, dowry money submission (sinamot / tuhor) in the betel leaf is placed in a dish containing rice.

2. Respect. To welcome guests, and stay in touch with a dish and eat betel (marnapuran) together. Chewed betel leaf spread with lime after (hapur), areca and gambier.

3. Ritual. Prostration prayer (martonggo) to Ompu Mulajadi Nabolon, with the hands to worship, where the betel leaf is placed in the palm and fingers, folded betel leaves two closed top surface.

4. Herbal. Ingredients for taoar (herbal medicine).

5. Status. After the procession mangalontik Ipon, *) boy or girl must be given and betel chewing, a sign has entered a mature level.

In Batak mythology (turi-turian):

1. The Moon and the Sun.  The sun was struck on the lips of the Moon that flushed from chewing betel nut, so to have the charm, the sun was willing to swallow seven children of the sun.

2. Siboru Deang Parujar conquered  Naga 

Padoha the dragon, by betel chewing to attract him so the dragon follow her will.  

Napuran Tano Tano, betel creeper that grows in the soil (tano=ground). Small leaf size, smaller than the betel vine upward or tree.

_______

*) Click here"Mangalontik Ipon"

Pelebegu

Pelebegu, Pelbegu, Sipelebegu or Hasipelebeguan derived from the word "pele" and "begu". Pele means give offerings, while begu is spirit. Sipelebegu is the perpetrator the "gift offerings" to the good spirit in the form of food, drink or something to the tombs, a large tree, which is believed also to the sacred (sacred) or armature (spooky, scary). Pelebegu or Mamele Begu = function of providing offerings. Hasipelebeguan are things about giving or offering  (Pelean) to the spirits. "Pelean" is gifts or donations, derived from the word "lean" = give, given, convey.


Sipelebegu, Pelbegu, Hasipelebeguan not as a cult Batak, and not as a religion among the ancient Batak tribe. Ancient Batak tribes are said to be Sipelebegu because the sacrifice of activities aimed at offering to the spirits in a ritual.

Dalihan Na Tolu

Dalihan na tolu (Image, 2010)

Dalihan na Tolu and Sihal-sihal (Image, 2010)

Dalihan na tolu is form of Batak kinship system. Dalihan are stones given o put the skillet in the fireplace, so dalihan na tolu means that three furnace, as a figurative symbol of the rules and attitudes Batak in everyday social relations and customs.

Dalihan na tolu consists of:

1. Hula-hula, the female family, the clan wife's family group;

2. Boru, is the male family clan as female recipients;

3. Dongan Sabutuha,  the same clan marga, the group that one clan (dongan = friend, sabutuha = one stomach)

"Somba marhulahula, elek marboru, manat mardongan tubu" (respect for the Hulahula, clever take Boru hearts, and can bring themselves to relatives). (Originally words: Somba, worship, respect; elek, persuade, manat, be careful).

To complement these three stones there is one additional stone set for balancing, if necessary, called sihal-sihal. So that full conception becomes, "Dalihan na tolu, paopathon sihal-sihal." Role of sihal- sihal can positioned by ale-ale (friends, colleagues), or also dongan sahuta (neighbor).

Batak Religion

Before the entry of religions to the Land of Batak (Moslem in 1820s and Christioan in 1850s), Batak’s society has particular religious belief, named Malim as theirs ugamo (religion).  Parbaringin and Pelbegu/Pelebegu  is part of Malim, where Parbaringin as the priest of an agricultural rituals and Pelbegu/Pelebegu is a kind of spirits worship.  The adherent of Malim called Parmalim (the pious).

Malim believing and worship the highest God, Ompu Mulajadi Na Bolon as the great creator of universe, earth and its contents, including human.  Ompu Mulajadi Na Bolonas supreme ruler, that does not begin and ending (na so marmula jala na so marujung), reigns from the highest level in the heavens (hundul di tatuan, di ginjang ni ginjangan, di langit ni parlangitan).

Parmalim is forbidden to eat (subang) dead animals (not slaughtered or hunting), porky, dogs, and blood.  Specified based on parhalaan (Batak’s Calendar) they required “magorom” (fasting/lent).  Currently the Malim referred to as “the Batak’s belief (as culture not a religion).

Toba Batak and Tapanuli

Land of Bakara is one of the Toba Batak tribe inhabitan.  Toba Batak is a sub tribe of Batak.  In addition to the Toba Batak, a sub tribe of Batak is Simalungun, Karo-Dairi and Mandailing Pakpak-Angkola.  Each sub-tribes inhabit certain areas, have customs, traditions, language, literacy and religion believe with its own characteristics, although there are similarities among each other.

Toba Batak have much in common in the indigenous culture and language with the Batak Simalungun. Between the Toba Batak and Batak Mandailing-Angkola have many similarities in the language.  What stood out the differences between the sub-tribe is a Batak Karo and the Batak Pakpak.

Toba Batak also sometimes called "Tapanuli", based on the geographical area where he lived, but now it's been rarely used. Especially with the expansion Tapanuli district into several districts with no name "Tapanuli" like Tobasa District (Toba Samosir), Humbahas (Humbang Hasundutan) causes the habit slowly fading.

Tapanuli derived from the word "tapian" and "nauli".  "Tapian" means water and "nauli" means a exquisite, beautiful, beautiful.  Tapanuli is the region around Lake Toba, has many springs, rivers and lakes. In the middle of Lake Toba Samosir Island and there in the middle there Samosir Island lake, named Lake Sidihoni.

Furthermore, if said Batak, it is identical to the Toba Batak. Today sub-tribe of Batak other more commonly referred to as the "person" or "tribe" Simalungun, Karo-Dairi or Mandailing Pakpak-Angkola because of the uniqueness and peculiarities of each. But when they are being away from his tribe some of whom identify as the Batak, citing tribal Batak Karo-Dairi Batak Pakpak or Batak Mandailing-Angkola to other parties.

Land of Bakara is one region that plays an important role and major in history, customs and traditions of Toba Batak.  Though the Batak mythology tells that the origin of Batak was Pusuk Buhit Mount,  Samosir, in which the first is a Batak village Sianjur Mulamula, “mula ni uhum, mula ni bangso Batak (the beginning of rules, the origin of the Batak ethnic group)," but there is a tight linkage between them.

The Six Leader Si Onom Ompu

Bakara country, is bona ni pasogit of 6 (six) as the hereditary clan customary landowners. Six genera are represented by the elders called the King of Bius. Stunning as the king of traditional leaders, providing the rules and customs that represent the limits of territorial unity of the clan that social identity is a genealogical ties. Stunning king representing each clan in making custom, held a traditional ceremony and the decision to hold a religious ritual which involves belief in ancestors.

Stunning kings in Bakara called Sionom Ompu (Six Elders) which is the elders of each clan: a) Bakara, 2) Sinambela, 3) Sihite, 4) Simanullang, 5) Simamora (al Purba, Manalu), and 6 ) Marbun (Lumbangaol, Banjarnahor). The Stunning Kings Si Onom Ompu recognize and appoint Raja Sisingamangaraja as "primus interpares", which is a leader among leaders, the holder of the highest supremacy of the Kings at the Bakara.

Si Onom Ompu  position as King of Bius until now maintained well as customary holders and other stakeholders in the State Bakara. Any events or ceremonies that were held in the State Bakara must be attended and blessed by the elders, or delegates appointed elders from each clan are descendants of Si Onom Ompu.