THE VEDIC RELIGION IN NUSANTARA

Abstract

Abstrak. Agama Weda di Nusantara. Pedagang-pedagang yang berlayar dari India dan Asia
Tenggara berperanan penting dalam menyebarkan agama-agama India di Nusantara. Para brahmin
diundang oleh penguasa-penguasa lokal untuk melegitimasi status baru mereka dan melaksanakan
upacara-upacara bagi mereka. Misalnya, menurut sejumlah prasasti yūpa dari abad ke-4 Masehi, Raja
Mūlavarman dari Kutai, Muarakaman, Kalimantan Timur, melakukan pekerjaan-pekerjaan mulia
(punya-), dengan memberi sumbangan pada persembahan kurban (yajña) yang dilakukan di suatu
punyatama. ksetra yang dikenal dengan nama Vaprakeśvara. Yajñas- yajña dilaksanakan oleh para
vipra (semacam brahmin) yang datang ke Kalimantan dari berbagai tempat. Dengan membandingkan
data arkeologis dan sumber-sumber tertulis, misalnya prasasti-prasasti berbahasa Sansekerta, kita dapat
menyimpulkan bahwa agama Veda merupakan agama India pertama yang dianut oleh para penguasa
di Nusantara. Setidaknya tiga raja telah mengundang para brahmin telah untuk melakukan yajña-
yajña, misalnya Raja Mūlavarman (dari abad ke-4 Masehi), Raja Pūrnavarman dari Tārumanagara
(pada abad ke-5 Masehi), dan Raja Gajayana dari Kanjuruhan, Jawa Timur (pada abad ke-7 Masehi).
Raja yang disebutkan terakhir bahkan menganut Sivaisme (Hindu-Saiva), namun ia mengundang
pendeta-pendeta Veda untuk melakukan yajña Veda. Ritual-ritual Veda mungkin dilakukan pula di
Kota Kapur, Bangka. Tinggalan berupa altar-altar Veda, fragmen arca Visnu, dan temuan-temuan lain
ditemukan di situs tersebut.
Kata kunci: Kampong Keling, Vedi, Vaprakeśvara, Barhis, Vipra, Gŗhyayajña, Śrautayajña, Yūpa.

Abstract. The seafaring traders from India as well as from Southeast Asia had an important role
in spreading the Indian religions to Nusantara. The brahmins were invited by the local rulers to
legitimize their new status and doing rituals for them. For instance, according to the yūpa-inscriptions
from the 4th century AD, King Mūlavarman from Kutei, Muarakaman, East-Kalimantan was doing
meritorious works (punya-), by giving donations in the sacrificial offerings (the yajñas) performed
at a punyatama. ksetra known as Vaprakeśvara. These yajñas were done by the vipras (a kind of
brahmins) who came to Kalimantan from many places. By comparing the archaeological data with
the written sources, i.e. the Sanskrit inscriptions, we are able to formulate that the Vedic religion
was the earliest Indian religion embraced by the rulers in Nusantara. At least 3 kings had invited the
brahmins to do the Vedic–yajñas, i.e. king Mūlavarman (from the 4th century), king Pūrnavarman
from Tārumanagara (in the 5th century), and King Gajayana from Kanjuruhan, East Java (in the 7th
century). The last mentioned king, actually converted to Sivaism (the Hindu-Saiva), but he invited the
Vedic priests to do the Vedic yajña. The Vedic rituals probably were also done in Kota Kapur, Bangka.
The remains of the Vedic altars, fragments of Visnu statue and other finds were found at that site.
Keywords: Kampong Keling, Vedi, Vaprakeśvara, Barhis, Vipra, Gŗhyayajña, Śrautayajña, Yūpa.