The Three Dynasty Kingdom of Old Batak in Sumatra

Batak civilization in Sumatra  began in nearly  3.000 years ago, through the course of a long history as a race Proto Malay (Melayu Tua) who have a religion, customs, traditions, science and philosophy are high. This Batak tribe has its own cultural characteristics on the traditions, customs, art houses, carvings, music, language, alphabet, calendar and astronomical knowledge.

History of Ancient Batak (Old Toba) in Sumatra notes that there were three royal dynasty that united the various ethnic groups who have links with some of the tribes of South India, rural Myanmar (Burma) - Thailand and Tibet, which previously had inhabited the island of Sumatra on century BC (1500 + BC). The leader among leaders (Primus Interpares) formed a dynasty that united tribal clans, kingdoms tribe in the country (up to Aceh) and  kings of Marga and King Huta.

The three dynasty are:

1. Dynasty Sori Mangaraja

This dynasty led by hereditary king Sori Mangaraja (adapted from Sri Maharaj).  Sori Mangaraja crown counsel, Batara Guru, a character from South India. This dynasty existed for 300-500  years, since the 7th century AD (or the 9th century AD) until the beginning of the 12th century AD.

Capital of the kingdom in the Lobu Tua, Barus and Pansur as a port city and commercial center of the world.  During the period, this dynasty built civilization and high culture and advanced. Dynasty ended by a devastating war between the Kingdom of Chola, India with Srivijaya in the region.

2. Dynasty Hatorusan

Dynasty  triumphed for nearly 300 years since the beginning of the 13th century AD until the beginning of the 16th century AD led by a hereditary king who holds the King Hatorusan I-VII. The first king, Uti Mutiaraja, derived from the descendants of Guru Tatea Bulan, Pusuk Buhit.  Dynasty is trying to reorganize and continue the tradition and glory of the royal dynasty Sori Mangaraja. Capital of the Kingdom in Barus and then moved inland on the border region of Aceh.  Camphor and kemenyaan remain as a source of income that are traded in the port royal Pansur, Barus. This dynasty then gave the reins of power to the royal dynasty of the State Sisingamangaraja Bakara.

3. Dynasty Sisingamangaraja

This dynasty existed for 400 + years, since the 1500's until 1907.  State governmental center in Bakara, under the leadership of King Sisingamangaraja I - XII. The kingdom and the people faced the war during 30 year against the Dutch who tried to conquer the Land of Batak.  The dynasty ended with the death of the last Sisingamangaraja, Ompu Patuan Bosar Sinambela (Ompu Pulo Batu) in the heroic battle at Si Onom Hudon 1907. Also killed in the battle were two of his sons, Patuan Nagari and Patuan Anggi, and his beloved daughter Lopian.

Seven Heirlooms of the Kingdom

According to the history, King Sisingamangaraja-I met his uncle (Tulang) of a powerful character named Raja Uti, in Manduamas, Barus. To be able to holding a meeting, Sisingamangaraja have to face a series of hurdles and tests. Blessing strength, supernatural powers and ingenuity, he can pass through it, and then a few things "unique" and "rare" as the requirements that must be provided and shown Sisingamangaraja can be met. 

Raja Uti finally convinced that these objects royal heritage of the ancestors of King Batak (unggasan) be passed on to the next generation that actually has revealed. He said to Sisingamangaraja, "That the heirlooms are entrusted to me as the will and the power Ompu Mulajadi Na Bolon through the path of righteousness. If it should be delivered to you as the successor, please get it by yourself through prayer (tonggo) to Ompu Mulajadi Na Bolon." 

After King Sisingamangaraja completion pray (martonggo) , then comes the heirlooms in front of him, namely: 

1. Piso Solam Debata (Piso Gaja Dompak), a knife-edged sword, with a carved elephant head on the handle. 
2. Hujur Siringis (Hujur Sitonggo Mual), a small spear to open my eyes water. 
3. Tuntuman Sutora Malam, beautiful woven silk shawl, as the royal clothing. 
4. Ulos Sande Huliman, or Tali-tali or Detar, shawl (named Ulos)wrapped around the head as a crown. 
5.  Lage Silintong Pinartaraoang Omas or Lage Omas Si Pitu Lampis, seven-layered mats as mat prayer, decorated with gold
6. Tabu-tabu Sitarapullang, a jar of water where a panacea. "Tabu-tabu sitarapullang, ia sian i dalanna ro,  tu si dalanna somuang," meaning jar sitarapullang, from where it came from there also came that way again. 
7. Gaja Puti, a white elephant endangered species, only the great kings who have it. 

Heirlooms are brought back into Bakara, as the treasure of Kingdom of Sisingamangaraja. And Land of Bakara become a capital of a new Kingdom in Batak Toba Tribe.

Bakara Archive

Bakara Archive is written heritage of Kingdom Sisingamangaraja in Bakara, contains about: 

1. History of Batak Kingdom up to Sisingamangaraja as King.

2. Batak rejection of Si Bontar Mata (Batak call the Dutch as Si Bontar Mata, means the white eyes)  

3. An official reports and government documents of Sisingamangaraja XI in detail, completely and accurately the events along the year.

4. The Work Plan to rebuild and reconstruction the land of Bakara after war.

Bakara Archive is hand written using Batak script and language, wrote use qualified waterproof Chinese ink on foolscap size paper made in Italy. All the material sent to Bakara through over Aceh.  Batak script and language which was the archive of Sisingamangaraja XI.

There are 23 volumes, each + 5cm thick. Every books covered with buffalo leather and cotton.  Very neat, like a row set of Encyclopedia Book. The thickness of all the book around 1.5m.

The Archice rescued by Reverend Pilgram in 1884, then saved by Joustra and subsequently handed over Poortman in Voorburg Holland.

Stone of Footstep Print of Gaja Puti

Stone of footstep print of  Gaja Puti
in Huta Ginjang, Bakara (Foto, 2006)

Stone of footstep print of Gaja Puti (White Elephant) found in Bakara. Located on the slopes, Huta Ginjang, Bakara, and there beside the springs emanating from the crack rocks. Until now, local people still use it as a source of drinking water.

In Ancient Batak this site is a place of "ritual" and drinking Gaja Puti. This footprint is not a work of sculpture, but is formed through the footrests Gaja Puti the "sacred" and the magic power of King Sisingamangaraja. So is the spring that flows through the fountain splashed after I plugged the treasures of King Sisingamangaraja Hujur Siringis / Hujur Sitonggo Mual with the request to Ompu Mulajadi Na Bolon, as the highest God of Batak.  

This Gaja Puti was one of the symbol royal succession from Raja Uti Mutiaraja (Kingdom Barus) to Sisingamangaraja of Bakara, to become a new rising Kingdom. White Elephant is an animal "special" and are considered "sacred", so it becomes a symbol, legend and mythology.  

According to Hindu belief, the white elephant is the king of elephants, and white elephant named Airawata is the god Indra's steeds. As for the Buddhist population of this animal as a symbol of knowledge and goodness, in connection with the dream of "white elephant" Queen Maya's mother before the birth of the Buddha.

Thailand is called the white elephant country, where the white elephant symbol of prosperity and happiness. For Myanmar (Burma Nations), the white elephant as a symbol of power and good fortune. In Indonesia, High plains Gayo, Aceh, is called the White Elephant World (Bumi Gajah Puteh), has its own tale and legend of the White Elephant.

Harangan Situan Habonaran (Tombak Sulusulu)

Harangan Situan Habonaran or Tombak Sulusulu (Image, 2006)

Harangan Situan Habonaran or Tombak Sulusulu is the sacred places of Bakara’s history. In this Tombak Sulusulu  mother of the First Sisingamangaraja prayed a request to Ompu Mulajadi Na Bolon to get a son,and granted. In this place he went on to his son who became King in the Land of Batak,"King Sisingamangaraja." Harangan or tombak means forest, Situan Habonaran means place of the truth and sulu-sulu means torch lights.

Small forest on the rocky hill country rock at Bakara is overgrown ith various species of plants shrubs and trees, one of which Hau Sangkam Madeha, the biggest three there. There was Aek Manuruk (small well) but is now dry. 

In the midst of this forest there is a stone cave formed from boulders gap. This cave is where the place of King Sisingamangaraja to pray (martonggo/prayer request).

In one of tonggo  (prayer) King Sisingamangaraja, Tombak Sulu-sulu stated:

“Adian ni Batara Guru, Parmanuk-manuk Patia Raja

Parsombaon harangan sulu-sulu, paraek na manuruk,

Sulu-sulu ni Debata, sulu-sulu ni sombaon

Si sulu ni hata na pintor, si sulu ni hata na geduk.

Means, Tombak Sulu-sulu is the place of rest Batara Guru (the God), as the owner of Heaven Bird, name Patia Raja (Hulambu Jati Bird); sacred place the holiness of Sulu-sulu forest, where the water dived; the truth of Gods and the holiness, the giver of wise words and the truth.

It may be also Spear Sulusulu is nowhere mentioned by William Marsden, in his History of Sumatra (1811), about the location of the first man fall to the earth, the daughter ofGuru, named Puti Orla Bulan, in the Bakara:

“…Batara Guru, had a daughter named Puti-Orla-Bulan, who requested permission to descend to these lower regions, and accordingly came down on a white owl, accompanied by a dog; but not being able, by reason of the waters, to continue there, her father let fall from heaven a lofty mountain, named Bakarra, now situated in the Batta country, as a dwelling for his child; and from this mountain all other land gradually proceeded.”

Raja Uti

Statue Ompu Raja Uti, Samosir Island (Image 2011) 

One of the legendary figures in the Land of Batak, both in mythology and in the genealogy of Batak is Ompu Raja Uti (Raja=King).  The eldest son of Guru Tatea Bulan, the grandson of Si Raja Batak, born (estimated) the 1200's.  At birth, his form is not perfect, has no legs and arms, but the assiduous to worship Ompu Mulajadi Na Bolon (Supreme Creator in Universe), as the High God of Batak, . Thanks to his sincerity,  Ompu Mulajadi Na Bolon answered his prayers and he can reincarnate to be human perfection, then Raja Uti known as "na puti sohaliapan,na puti sohapupuran," (the one whose clean, pure hearted).

Raja Uti moved and then lived  to Manduamas, Barus, famous for his supernatural powers but the mysterious one.  Not many people know apparently. Just the name alone, except the King Sisingamangaraja. 

The names and titles each to his form that seven are:

1)  Raja Gumeleng Geleng, when born no legs and no-handed.

2) Raja Nasiak Bagi, his life full of suffering since birth, and when integrated with the people he is transformed into a "saint poor wanderer" walking from one place to another to give teaching and moral message.

3) Raja Biak Biak

4) Raja Miok Miok

5) Raja Hatorusan, as "Hatorusan ni patik dohot uhum", as the messenger who brings revelation to give instruction to the descendants of Batak in the field of law and the rules derived from Ompu Mulajadi Na Bolon.

6) Raja Uti (King Uti Mutiaraja).  "Uti so ra mate, Raja na so ra matua" meaning that live forever, the King whose not growing old (up to seven Batak generation).

7) Ompu Raja Muba-Muba. He can change shape into seven kinds of embodiment, said "Ompu Raja muba-muba, na pitu hali muba na pitu hali solam na pitu hali solam" means Ompu Raja Muba-Muba, the seventh incarnation, the seven times wise, the seven times the pious. (Muba = changed, transformed).

Magic and science of Raja Uti is then mandated to King Sisingamangaraja from Bakara, as his nephew to continue to lead the Toba Batak society.

Aek Sipangolu (Water of Life)

Aek Sipangolu (Image 2011)

Aek Sipangolu is name of a waterfall in Bakara.  The water comes from a spring in the stone on the slopes of the mountains. The origin of this water thanks to the magic of King Sisingamangaraja. At that time the King on his way home from Manduamas-Barus toward Lumban Raja-Bakara to bring a white elephant (Gaja Puti). This is rare as a royal gift from his uncle name Raja Uti (King Uti). Due to long trips and hot sun, Gaja Puti arise dying of thirst, while water from Tao Toba is located far below of a steep mountain. The King Sisingamangaraja prayed to Ompu Mulajadi Na Bolon, then stick the spear Hujur Siringis to rock, and water gush out from the stone. Water is taken directly into the mouth so called (originally) as Binanga Bibir (Lips Spring), and referred to the history, the spring also called Aek Sipaulak Hosa (water release thirst).

Binanga Bibir  become known since about the 1950s, when a man after bathing in the water proved to recover and can walk again. Efficacy of water are scattered and many people use it as medicine to cure various diseases until now on. Because of the healing magic, the name known as Aek Sipangolu or water of life which is give healer.

Batak Traditions and Christian

Batak Carving: Ulu Paung (Foto, 2004)

Tradition and culture of Batak (Toba Batak) is still preserved in the midst of society today, and the most prominent, for example, when conducting marriage ceremonies. Unlike the indigenous tribe of Traditional Batak (Batak Kuno) or pre-Christian, there are adjustments and inkulturisasi culture since the missionaries spread Christianity in the middle of Batak Tribe. If the Toba Batak traditional beliefs, traditional wedding ceremony is performed with prayer (tonggo) led by Malim is also a Datu, now a part of customary  adapted  according to the system of worship and the teachings of Christianity. Tonggo become tangiang and function Datu Malim and was replaced by Christian priest.

The influence of Christian religious teachings against indigenous Batak actually a compromise, a traditional Batak new version, and this is well preserved. On the one hand, holding onto the Batak ethnic group that believes religion but by maintaining the basic essence of the customs and beliefs that have been passed down by ancestors. Johannes Warneck stressed that the church and the church was built as far as possible based on other forms of civic and social. The missioners on one side of the mean for traditional Batak tradition according to which infidel, must be abandoned, but the culture of Ancient Batak also be recorded and saved by the missionaries.  The problem is how to preserve the tradition as part of religious life do not conflict with Christianity.

Tingki ni Lumlam

Once upon a time, there was a dark era of ancient Batak, Tingki ni Lunlam.  Huta and marga trending disputes and quarrels arose between clans, between huta, even to war each other.  For defending and even to attack the enemy, they use various ways. Defense huta for example, by building the "parik ni huta" or "pagar ni huta" (stone fortress surrounding the village) is on top of it planted with bamboo plants, with one access entrance, harbangan ni huta (village gate).  With magical formula, such as Begu Ganjang (long ghost, that can ordered to create disese or kill the enemy), "Pangulubalang" (a type of witchcraft) and "bura" (jampi-jampi/mantra destroyers), Bura, Tombom Dolok (the magical formula to breaking down the rocks from the hill to the village hoard) to crush the enemy.

As time, On the other hand emerging in ways that conflict with ancestral teachings of the Batak ethnic group as  This period " tingki ni lumlam" where abuse is rampant with neglect "Tona dohot Poda" and "adat dohot uhum" (trust and advice, customs and rules) that have been taught by the ancestors. Negative things that exist and thrive in the era of "ni tingki lumlam" it was one factor - of course there are factors and other elements - which hurt the view of the Batak ancestral teachings that say heretical and infidel.

Si Raja Batak provide advice and moral teachings to their children in the form umpama dohot umpasa and  tona dohot Poda. He gave heritage goods (unggasan homitan) to his first son Guru Tatea Bulan, the Pustaha Laklak (Pustaha Nagok) contains about medicine, martial, and martial-not attack-other (hadatuon, parmosakan dohot pangaliluon), and to his second son, Raja Isumbaon handed the book Pustaha Tumbaga Holing contains about science and the rules of law, governance and commercial empire (patik dohot uhum habatahon, harajaon, partiga-tigaan). 

Furthermore, descendants of Si Raja Batak continuing mandate, in the form umpasa: "Omputta Raja di jolo, martungkot sialagundi, na ni pinungka Ompunta parjolo, siihutton hita ni parpudi." Translation: Our Ancestors the King, hold Sialagundi cane, which has been pioneered and manifested by our ancestors, followed, or as exemplified by our successors (parpudi = later on). The term "King" in this case, as has been described earlier, the attitudes and behavior as well. Sialagundi as a figurative stick grip or a solid and proven guidelines to live a life (Sialagundi is trunked beech wood is hard and strong quality). 

The Rise of A New Kingdom

Land of Bakara played important role of Batak country (Tapanuli), as the centre of new Batak civilization order, under the Kingdom of King Sisingamangaraja I - XII since 16 century.

Sisingamangaraja Governance centered in Lumban Raja, Land of Bakara. The king build a kingdom form as federation based on the patterns of social and cultural life that has existed as the "primus interpares," the leader among leaders (raja oloan), the holder of supremacy among the Bius Kings, then in the land of Bakara, Raja Sisingamangaraja as the highest authority in the field of government and religion, so called his position as Raja the Reverend (Pagan Priest Kings).

Sisingamangaraja influence extends beyond the state covers an area of ​​Bakara. He serves to reconcile the dispute between huta,to abolish slavery (parhatobanan), prohibits

hostage (beangan) on humans in every village and he standardize size of the dose (solup). He maintains tradition and religion, create traditional law, moral, and organizing 

records and modern public administration (Archive Bakara), correspondence in the alphabet Batak (Surat Batak) and has the royal seal (Sahap ni Harajaon).

The structure of government in the State during the reign of King Sisingamangaraja as follows: 

1. Sisingamangaraja, as the supreme leader of federation goverment, create and validate a decision, supported by advisory boards, the Kings of Bius (Si Onom Ompu, the six King as representative of Bius).

2. King of Bius represent each village (district) and clans  of Bakara, Sinambela, Sihite, Simanulang, Simamora and Marbun.

3. Horja is a smaller community units of Bius,  consist of one or more village (huta), Lumban or Sosor. Horja also is the unity of the work of several adjacent Lumban, usually consisting of two or three Lumban, which is inhabited by descendants of the clan or sub clan.  Like: Horja Simamora, consisting of Lumban Manalu and Ancient Lumban whose territory adjacent to one unit horja (Marga Simamora consists of sub-clans: Purba, Manalu, and Debata Raja.  Horja Bakara, consisting of Lumban Dolok (Huta Ginjang), Lumban Tonga and Lumban Toruan (Lumban Sibabiat). Residents of horja voluntarily work together represent their district ready to deploy personnel and materials to assist the implementation of traditional ceremonies. 

There is also an expert in the field of agriculture and irrigation ceremony that is Parbaringin (Reverend Ceremony) and necromancer called Pande Bolon, and Raja ni Onan (chief of market) to assist the King in the administration system of community life.