Traditional Practices of Jamu
From the magical qualities of odd numbers to what direction you should face when you drink it
By Indonesia Gastronomy Network
Indonesia Gastronomy Network incollaboration with ACARAKI
The complexity of jamu as a healing medium combining various types of medicinal plants, prayers, mantras and rajahs, allows an aspect for myths and superstitions to grow.
Wuku by Prawoto Indarto and Sono Budoyo MuseumIndonesia Gastronomy Network
Serat Kawruh bab Jampi-Jampi Jawi 1831, mentions the knowledge of jamu began to be included in the category of primbon (horoscope/future telling). A variety of ruwatan rituals (cleansing or blessing) also include choosing a favorite animal such as turtledove or horses.
Siraman Tradition by Agung PrasetyoIndonesia Gastronomy Network
For instance, the myth around jamu says odd numbers have magical abilities in deterring bad things from happening allowing jamu to have a stronger healing power (Sangat, 2000). Primbon also includes 'good day calculations' for activities such as a wedding day, traveling, building a house in which to drink jamu.
Pancawara Calendar by JamupediaIndonesia Gastronomy Network
For example, for 'weton' followers birthdays according to the Javanese calendar system) of Monday pon*, is better day to drink the jamu, and is should be drunk facing south between 3-5 pm.
Cemani Chicken by ShutterstockIndonesia Gastronomy Network
Another myth is of a black cemani chicken that is believed to have magical abilities to cure an illness. The practice of 'sembur', a type of positive energy transfer, through spraying water from a shaman's mouth to the patient's body, is most often considered superstitious or 'out of the truth'. Since the scope is broad, primbon is often considered as superstitious or myth. (Sukenthi, 2002; Putri, 2010).
In Javanese society, the presence of myths as a socio-religious practice is sometimes necessary to assemble a harmonious and balanced view of life within the concepts of microcosm and macrocosm.
In the process of spreading Islam throughout Java ...
Sultan Agung combined the Saka year, a Hindu calendar system that uses the basis of the solar rotation with the Islamic calendar system of Hijriyah (based on the lunar rotation) and the Julian calendar (western calendar system).
The result is what is called as the Java Calendar System
The Sultan Agung-made Calendar System uses two cycles, namely the weekly cycle consisting of Sunday to Saturday and the 'Pancawara', a week cycle consisting of five market days namely pon, wage, kliwon, legi, and pahing. The Saka year is still used and continued.
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