VCM

11Story

07 May 2009

The Datu items

The Batak

Contents
- The history and western discovery of the Batak
- Social and political life
- Religion and rituals
            * The beliefs
            * Tondi and begu
- The objects of the priest: the datu items
- The Death
- Synopsis of the exhibition
            * The Workd of the Dead
            * Singa
            * Musical instruments
            * The Toba House
          * Enclosing the world
            * Weapons and associated objects
            * The datu items
            * The protection
- Bibliography

The datu items

The religious and ritual leader, datu, plays an important role in Batak communities. Among the Karo, he or she is called guru. The datu can be the same person as the political leader, but that is often not the case. Knowledge of the traditional rituals is the prerogative of the datu or guru. The datu is responsible for the correct interpretation of the written rules and the execution of rituals, including the choice of the correct date to perform certain rituals. That knowledge is written down in the pustaha, books of made bark. The script used by the datu is derived from Old-Javanese kawi script. Written instructions can also be found on bamboo tubes or bone amulets. The so-called magic staffs (tunggal panaluan or tunggal malehat) are important objects used by the datu. These staffs are full of symbolic meanings and evoke some basic values and norms for the Batak communities. Villages cannot be officialy recognized without having their own magic staffs.