Parik and Harbangan Ni Huta

Parik & Harabangan ni Huta
in Lumban Raja, Land of Bakara (Image, 2006)

Characteristic of each huta (village) in Batak Land in ancient times was surrounded by a wall of earth or stone on top of it planted with thorny bamboo tree which grows tight. This wall is called  "parik ni huta" (fortress of the village), serves as a fortress to protect the village settlement area against possible enemy attack on the outside and from exposure to strong winds and attacks "evil mystical"

There is only one entrance and exit huta, a narrow gap that can only be passed by oneperson as the gate called "harbangan ni huta" (gate of the fortress). To pass, each person had to queue in front harbangan

Raja Isumbaon

Family Tree of  Raja Isombaon

Raja Isumbaon is the second son of King of Si Raja Batak. Meaning of the name "king who is worshiped." All of his descendants came to be called as a class of Sumba Descendants.

Son of King Isumbaon there are three, namely:

1. Tuan Sori Mangaraja

2. Raja Asiasi (ni stumps Juji)

3. Sangkar Somalidang (Langka Somalidang)

Raja Asiasi and his younger brother, Sangkar Somalidang before marriage has left his hometown merantau Pusuk Buhit.

Heritage which is given by Si Raja Batak to his son King Isumbaon, is Pustaha Tumbaga holing, contain about slave dohot uhum habatahon, harajaon, partiga-tigaan (precepts and laws Batak, empire and commerce)

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).

Tao Toba

Tao Toba at the side of Land of Bakara (Image, 2011)

Tao Toba (Tao=Lake, Toba=Toba), located in the middle of the island of Sumatra, is the largest and deepest lake in the world. The extent of approximately 1.707 m2 with a depth of 450 m and even in some places reaches 900m. Tao Toba is formed by volcanic eruption on hundreds thousands years ago. The lake is a huge caldera flooded by water. The source of water Tao Toba are river water discharge comes from the hundreds of rivers and streams and mountain springs located along the river flow.

Toba Batak tribes inhabit the highland areas of rocky mountains of the Bukit Barisan and most live in the valleys around the edge of Lake Toba that has many waterfalls, overgrown with various kinds of plants, mountain steppes. Air Temperatures in this region ranges from 17-29 degrees Celsius.

In the middle of Lake Toba, there are some islands such as: Samosir, Sibandang, Tolping, Maulau, Simamora, Toba and Tulas (island in the middle of the island of Sumatra). The biggest is Samosir Island with an area of 630 km2. In the middle of the island of Samosir there is also a lake, namely Lake Sidohoni. 

Samosir Island before it was made ​​canal in the Tano Ponggol (land severed) by the Dutch in the early 1900s, is not an island but a peninsula connected to the mainland island of Sumatra.

Ulu Paung

Ulu Paung (Image 2011)

Ulu Paung is one of the ancient Batak carving art, as a decoration of Ruma Batak (Ancient Batak House), placed at the eaves of the house. This carved head horned buffalo is a symbol of strength and functioned as magical shield to protect the home from evil mystical attack.

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.