Аннотация:According to Javanese tradition (so called kabatinan or Javanese mysticism) the power in the state is merely the manifestation of cosmic energy sekti. The amount of sekti in the world doesn’t change but it’s distribution and concentration is uneven. The most appropriate owners of sekti are the rulers, Javanese aristocrats (ningrat) and their ancestors. Traditionally the bigger concentration of sekti can be achieved mainly by yoga meditation (samadhi), asceticism (tapa), pilgrimage to the holy places (mountains, caves, graves), gathering of items with magic qualities (pusaka), for example krisses, meeting with the unusual people (albinos, dwarfs, hunchbacks) or those who deal with sacral activities, e.g. smiths (empu) or puppeteers (dalang).
Some Javanese look at the modern political power in Indonesia (which is fundamentally Javanese one) from the point of view of concentration of sekti. Until the Head of State possesses sufficient amount of sekti he holds the power, secures the unity of nation and provides the population with the reasonable conditions of life. The late President Soekarno lost much sekti because he didn’t observe the code of “ raja’s conduct”, the basis of which are tranquillity, firmness, steadiness, restraint of passions and egoistic desires.
Some elements in President Soeharto’s and his late spouse Ibu Tien’s activity can be interpreted as to answer the purpose of accumulating sekti.
One of the first measures in this respect was to proclaim as many personalities of the past to be a National Hero of Indonesia as possible. This attention to the glorious times when the great ancestors ruled in the country has a sacral character. It is consided that the extolling of the great ancestors according to the rules of sympathetic magic promotes the eternal repetition of the victorious deeds of their descendants especially if the complete identification between the ancestors and today’s leadership is achieved. This conception is very close to the so called literary magic in the old Javanese literary. Thus among those proclaimed as a National Hero were a lot of Javanese rulers of the past who traditionally had a great amount of sekti: Sultan Agung (1591 - 1645), Untung Suropati (? - 1706), Pangeran Diponegoro (1785 - 1855), Sri Susuhunan Paku Buwono VI etc.
In more recent times such title was bestowed to the leaders of national liberation movement and to the first Indonesian President Soekarno. First in disgrace after his removal from power the late Soekarno not only became a National Hero but got much honour including the majestic memorial near Blitar (East Java) which was officially opened in June 21, 1979 by the President Soeharto.
The architecture of the complex goes back to the Golden Era of Indonesian History. The main part of the complex is a three-stepped mausoleum square in basement (11 x 11 ì), 18 m high built in Javanese style astana mulyo. The three steps of the mausoleum symbolizes three stages of man’s life. Inside the mausoleum finished with marble, the ceiling is decorated with carving which reproduces the carving of some temples (candi) of Majapahit era. The four supporting pillars are covered with carved bronze. The lamps imitate the tongues of flame. Besides mausoleum the memorial has a small pavilion and a mosque.
At the entrance of the memorial there is a gate (gopura agung) with the bas-reliefs copied from those which were found in candi Panataran ( burial-vault of Majapahit rulers). The gate itself reproduces the analogue gate Wringing Lawang in the vicinity of Trawulan which was erected in honour of the prominent Majapahit personality Gadah Mada (by the way National Hero of Indonesia too). The symbolism of memorial serves to show the succession of two eras in Indonesian history and to stress Soekarno’s role as the second after Gajah Mada leader who united Nusantara.
Very much attention is paid also to the maintenance of the high prestige of empus which made krises. Much honoured are empus from the glorious past: Sari, Bromokedali from Pajajaran, Singkir, Wonoboyo from Majapahit, Suro, Jokosuro from Demak, Cublan, Kodhok, Tepas, Legi from Mataram. Among today’s empus of the high reputation are Pauzan Puspocukadgo, Jeno Harumbrojo, Supo Winangun, Yosopangarso. It is worth mentioning that Pauzan Puspocukadgo got in 1987 the special prize from President Soeharto.
An active role in all activity as respect to increase the concentration of sekti belongs to Ibu Tien by means of whom President Soeharto is connected with Javanese royal ancestors. Namely she is the initiator of constructing such complexes as “Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature” and museum “Purna Bhakti Pertiwi” where huge collections of pusaka were concentrated.
“Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature” or Taman mini Indonesia indah which was constructed on the initiative of Ibu Tien was officially opened in 1975 in vicinity of Jakarta and occupies the territory of 160 ha. The basis of the park constitutes of numerous pavilions of traditional style representing all 27 Indonesian provinces. Inside are many pusakas, handicrafts, traditional custumes, historical dioramas. There is a artificial lake in the centre of the park with the islands reproducing the Indonesian archipelago. At the entrance - the monument “Pancasila” shaped a stela with a torch.
There are two museums on the territory of the park. The first one is Museum “Indonesia” (opened in 1980) build in Balinese traditional style. The walls are decorated with the stone carving and sculptures which reproduce the scenes from Ramayana. A lot of traditional decorations and costumes, batiks and cold weapons are exhibited. On the third floor of the museum the tree of life made of copper attracts one’s attention. It grows from a dragon and crowned by the mythical Garuda.
But still more important is the Museum Pusaka (opened in 1983) which is supposed to help to concentrate more sekti than the Museum Indonesia. This is a museum of cold weapon. The building represents a truncated pyramid crowned by the sculpture image of kris. The collection counts more than 5 000 items of traditional Indonesian cold weapon. Special emphasis is made on krises. Among them the oldest from the well known: Jalak Buda (Klaten, Central Java - VIII Century) and Tangguh Kahuripan (Madura, XI Century). There are also badik belonged to Diponegoro and some kris copies from arsenal of Hamengkubuwono VII.
The most recent construction build on the initiative of Tien Suharto is Museum “Purna Bhaktu Pertiwi” (museum of presents received by President Soeharto) just near the park “Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature” (opened in 1993). It is a complex of some conical towers resembling the traditional Javanese rice pudding tumpeng. In collection there are the best examples of cold weapon (especially krises), batiks, ceramics, gold and silver decorations, wayang puppets etc. Besides, a lot of personal items of President Soeharto are exhibited in museum. Not only the content of museum serves to accumulate sekti but also the form of the building. Tumpeng is the main dish during the ritual meal slametan which serves to secure the well-being of the ruler and the whole country.
Awarding the title of National Hero to Ibu Tien and homage rended to her after her decease also serves this goal.