Tolotang

Some sources say that the founder of Tolotang is La Panaungi. These Tolotang adherents know that God exists and they know him better by the name of "Dewata Seuwa'e" (God Almighty) who has the title "Patoto'e" (The One Who Determines Destiny). So Tolotang is classified as not animism or dynamism as often touted by the Bugis themselves who already believe in other religions, and are no longer members of the Tolotang community. The Tolotang religion is a religion that has known God since before the arrival of the Samawi religions in the region.[1]

In its development, Islam became the majority religion in almost the entire area of South Sulawesi so native religions such as Tolotang also began to decline known although some still maintain this ancestral religion in a community group. Another problem arose in 1966, namely when the government did not recognize the religions embraced by the aforementioned community groups. At that time the government only recognized five religions, namely Islam, Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, and Buddhist. The government then gave Tolotang residents three choices. Administratively, will they be categorized as Muslim, Christian, or Hindu, because according to the government the three religions are close to the Tolotang beliefs. Based on the results of the agreement, Hindus were chosen. Since then, this community has officially embraced Hinduism. However, in practice, they still carry out their customs and embrace the beliefs that they have inherited from generation to generation.

In the past, followers of the local Bugis religion also suffered a tragic fate. They were being chased by Darul Islam/Indonesian Islamic Army (DI/TII) rebels led by Kahar Muzakkar. The rebels forced many of Tolotang's predecessors to renounce their faith. Not a few of them were killed.[2]

Tolotang teachings are based on five beliefs, namely:

• Belief in the existence of the "Dewata Seuwa'e", namely the belief in the existence of God Almighty.
• Believes there is a doomsday that marks the end of life
• Believe in the afterlife, namely the second world after the end of the world.
• Believe in the recipient of revelation from God.
• Believing in Lontara as a holy book Tolotang worships to the SeuwaE Gods in the form of worshiping rocks, wells, and ancestral graves.

It can be clarified that worshiping rocks, wells, and ancestral graves is a form of direction as a means of concentration. So this should not make outsiders judge them that Tolotang is animism or dynamism.

Within the Tolotang community itself, there are two groups, namely the "Benteng Community" (Tolotang people who have converted to Islam), and the "Towani Tolotang Community" (a community that still adheres to the Tolotang religion). These two groups have different traditions in several religious processions, for example in funeral processions and weddings. For the Benteng Community, the procedures for marriage and death processions are the same as the procedures carried out in Islam. For the Towani Tolotang Community, the procession of death, through the procession of washing the corpse which then wraps and covers it using betel leaves. As for the Towani Tolotang Group wedding procession. They carried it out in the presence of Uwatta, or ritual leaders who are still direct descendants of the founder of Towani Tolotang.

For the Towani Tolotang Community, the Sipulung ritual which is held once a year takes place in Perrynyameng which is the location of Pabbere's I grave. To complete the rituals of the Towani Tolotang people, they are required to bring offerings in the form of rice and side dishes, which are believed to be provisions for the next day. So that the more offerings that are brought, the more provisions that will be enjoyed the next day. Then the Sipulung Procession took the form of reading Lontara which is the holy book for followers of the Tolotang religion by Uwatta, where the people who were present at that time gave Betel and Areca leaves to Uwatta.

Bissu, the Tolotang Bugis priests.

The Tolotang Traditional Ceremony is carried out by the Tolotang people and is held in Bulu (Mount) Iowa, on the axis of Pangkajene and Islands Regency and Soppeng Regency, and is located in Amparita, Tellu Limpoe District. This area is the location of the Perrinyameng traditional ceremony. The ritual is carried out once a year (January), with the implementation time having to be discussed by important Tolotang figures called Uwa. Traditional rituals are carried out because of a message from I Pabbere. When he is gone, his children and grandchildren have to come to visit him once a year. A Sprinkling of perfume by Uwa, Massempe's attraction which is a game of leg strength, now only done by children. All followers of the same lineage from various villages and cities, gathered dressed in all white, sarongs, and headgear for the men, while women wear clothes like kebaya.

During the ritual, they sit cross-legged on a traditional mat with full wisdom and silence and concentrate their body and soul on the Great (Dewata Seuwa'e). This was followed by worship by Uwatta, marked by sprinkling perfumed oil on the very sacred ancestral stones, then continued with Massempe's activities.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hinduism in Indonesia.

• Pahaman awal suku Bugis Makassar Archived 2013-10-14 at the Wayback Machine sangbaco.com
• Memburu pengakuan dari agama di KTP radioaustralia.net
• http://tolotang.blogspot.com