Proceedings of the Third International Seminar on Recent Language, Literature, and Local Culture Studies, BASA, 20-21 September 2019, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia

Research Article

Mantra for Health in The Slope of Mount Merapi-Merbabu: Changes and Challenges

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  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.4108/eai.20-9-2019.2296644,
        author={K P Kusciati and S T Widodo and T  Widyastuti},
        title={Mantra for Health in The Slope of Mount Merapi-Merbabu: Changes and Challenges},
        proceedings={Proceedings of the Third International Seminar on Recent Language, Literature, and Local Culture Studies, BASA, 20-21 September 2019, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia},
        publisher={EAI},
        proceedings_a={BASA},
        year={2020},
        month={6},
        keywords={mantra health challenges changes sawangan district mt merapi and mt merbabu},
        doi={10.4108/eai.20-9-2019.2296644}
    }
    
  • K P Kusciati
    S T Widodo
    T Widyastuti
    Year: 2020
    Mantra for Health in The Slope of Mount Merapi-Merbabu: Changes and Challenges
    BASA
    EAI
    DOI: 10.4108/eai.20-9-2019.2296644
K P Kusciati1,*, S T Widodo1, T Widyastuti1
  • 1: Universitas Sebelas Maret
*Contact email: karunia.purna@staff.uns.ac.id

Abstract

Mantra as a form of Javanese oral tradition has been practiced in District Sawangan, Magelang Regency for a long time. Mantra which gives magical power to those who recite it plays an important role in the life of the people living in this slope of Mt. Merapi-Merbabu area. One of mantras that has been practiced and used the most is those relating with health. Many of the inhabitants are still found seeking dhukun for curing their illnesses. The factors of them still practicing mantra can be divided into two, namely geographical and social-cultural condition. However, as the fast paced changes happen does it influence the practice of mantra for health? Therefore, this study aims to describe how the practice of medical treatment using mantra in Sawangan District, Magelang Regency facing the challenges resulting from the fast paced changes. Since this study is a qualitative descriptive one the data are in the form of words both in the written and oral forms. To gather the data the direct observation and interview were conducted by using purposive sampling. The results of this study show that a form of cultural compromise with the influence of Islamic teaching occurs in mantra for health. Meanwhile, the dhukun answers the challenge of “modern” illnesses by rationalizing and making sense the mantra with the knowledge.