Messianic Figures in the Late Period of Majapahit: An Anthropological Approach in Historical Archaeology Issues

摘要

The strengthening of ancestor worship is often used by archaeologists and ancient history to explain many stepping-terras ( pundenberundak ) sites constructed in the late period of Majapahit. These sites deliberately constructed far from the capital, where were difficult to reach,normally in remote mountainous areas. Generally, those phenomena are explained as cultural phenomena emphasized on the roles of local genius without further explanation of the social context. This article attempted to explain the issues through anthropological approach, using the conceptsand theory of the emergence of messianic movements. Messianism is the emergence of the movement leaders who are considered to be able to save people from the multi-dimensional crisis as a result of the entrance of new values, disaster, social, political and religious disabilities. Messianicfigures were expected to recall the victory and the glory of the past, as well as dreams of a new nation. The hypothesis of this study was that the emergence of savior figures in East Java related to the multi-dimensional crisis of society in the late period of Majapahit. Those messianic figureswere Arjuna, Rama, Garudeya, Bima, and Panji . These figures, either one or together, were always carved as the relief in temples or caves, on the slopes of Mt. Penganggungan, Mt. Lawu, Mt. Argopuro, and Mt. Arjuna. The themes of seclusion or ascetic behavior in order to achieve victoryhad always been carried out as a hallmark of messianic figures. This factor became the reason why the sites in the late period of Majapahit were constructed far from the capital or the center of the kingdom.