Malay Magic: Being an introduction to the folklore and popular religion of the Malay PeninsulaSkeat, Walter William
Religion
Malay Magic: Being an introduction to the folklore and popular religion of the Malay Peninsula
Skeat, Walter William
Magic -- Malay Peninsula; Malays (Asian people) -- Folklore; Malays (Asian people) -- Social life and customs
"At first the flame was steady, but by and by, as the singers screamed
more loudly to attract the attention of the laggard Spirit, the wick
began to quiver and flare up, and it was manifest to the initiated
that the Jin was introducing himself into the candle. By some means
the Pâwang, who was now supposed to be 'possessed' and no longer
conscious of her actions, became aware of this, and she made obeisance
to the taper, sprinkling the floor round it with saffron-coloured
rice and perfumed water; then, rising to her feet and followed by the
attendant, she performed the same ceremony before each male member of
the reigning family present in the room, murmuring all the while a
string of gibberish addressed to the Spirit. This done, she resumed
her seat on the mat, and, after a brief pause, the minstrels struck
up a different air, and, singing the praises of another Jin, called
upon him to come and relieve the King's distress.
"I ascertained that each Malay State has its own special Spirits,
each district is equally well provided, and there are even some to
spare for special individuals. In this particular State there are four
principal Jin; they are the Jin ka-râja-an, the State Spirit--also
called Junjong dunia udâra, Supporter of the Firmament; Mâia udâra,
the Spirit of the Air; Mahkôta si-râja Jin, the Crown of Royal Spirits;
and S'tan Ali.
"These four are known as Jin âruah, Exalted Spirits, and they are the
guardians of the Sultan and the State. As one star exceeds another
in glory, so one Jin surpasses another in renown, and I have named
them in the order of their greatness. In their honour four white
and crimson umbrellas were hung in the room, presumably for their
use when they arrived from their distant homes. Only the Sultan of
the State is entitled to traffic with these distinguished Spirits;
when summoned they decline to move unless appealed to with their own
special invocations, set to their own peculiar music, sung by at least
four singers, and led by a Beduan (singer) of the royal family. The
Jin ka-râja-an is entitled to have the royal drums played by the State
drummers if his presence is required, but the other three have to be
satisfied with the instruments I have described.
"There are common devils who look after common people; such as Hantu
Songkei, Hantu Malâyu, and Hantu Blîan; the last the 'Tiger Devil,'
but out of politeness he is called 'Blîan,' to save his feelings.
"Then there is Kemâla ajaib, the 'Wonderful Jewel,' Israng, Raja
Ngah's special familiar, and a host of others. Most hantu have their
own special Pâwangs, and several of these were carrying on similar
proceedings in adjoining buildings, in order that the sick monarch
might reap all the benefits to be derived from a consultation of
experts, and as one spirit after another notified his advent by the
upstarting flame of the taper, it was impossible not to feel that
one was getting into the very best society.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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