Nyadran Gunung Silurah: The Role of Mountain for Religious Life of Ancient Batang Society in Central Java (VII–IX Century)

The tradition of Nyadran Gunung Silurah conducted by the Silurah village community in Wonotunggal District, Batang Regency, reaffirms the belief of the Batang community of the Ancient VII-IX century. It is about the existence of the concept of the holy mountain as the center of the universe. In ancient Javanese society, there is a belief that the kingdom of the gods was at the peak of the sacred mountain called Meru/Mahameru. Mountain in the Hindu doctrine is believed to be the main pillar of the world called axis (axis mundi). Mount as a pivot (axis mundi) to the stairs is up to the world of gods located on top of the mountain (Meru/Mahameru). (Meru/Mahameru) as the top of the mountain is where the kingdom of the Gods is located. King of all gods was Indra living the mountain peak, and he is also called the Kaindran. There are archaeological remains in the form of Watu Gajah, and the local community, Gajah Indra in Wonotunggal largest village in Kupang. The term Watu Gajah is called as Gajah Indra, so it is interesting to be further discussed in relation to the role of Mount regarding the religious life of the Ancient Batang community. The magical religious behavior of the ancient Batang community in the VII-IX century that made the mountain as a holy place is also evidenced by the existence of the archaeological remains in the form of Punden Berundak buildings with terraced courtyards as a symbol of the ladder leading to the dwelling place of the gods. Punden Berundak in Silurah, namely Punden Batur and Punden Wali Ajar Pendek are nothing other than Karsyan Patapan where the worshipers perform ritual worship on the mountain as a place for the Gods to dwell. Keywords—Ancient Batang Century VII-IX AD, Nyadran Gunung, Religious magical