Melayu's Animism


A study conducted in 2013 concluded that the distinctive East Asian Basal lineage, which is the ancestor of present-day East & Southeast Asians, Polynesians, and Siberians, originated from Mainland Southeast Asia around 50,000 BC. Then each of them spread through several waves of migration to the south & north. Basalt East Asian ancestors, as well as related Austroasiatic ancestors then spread to Maritime Southeast Asia before the expansion of the Austronesian plains.

The researchers concluded that the spread of Austronesian peoples to Maritime Southeast Asia & Polynesia was more likely to have come from the Philippines than Taiwan, so that modern Austronesian-speaking people, such as the Malays, mostly have East Asian Basalt ancestors from the earliest period with no concomitant racial admixture. This spread also spread culture, mythology & technology not only to mainland Southeast Asia but to India, Central Asia, and the Mediterranean through the diaspora population. However, their numbers in the Tanintharyi Division are decreasing due to migration in search of better socio-economic opportunities.

The Deutro Malay community is considered the direct ancestors of the Malay nation that exists today. In chapter 48 of the Hindu religious text Vuya Purana which is in Sanskrit, the word Malayadvipa refers to a province on the island that is rich in gold & silver. There stands a hill called Malaya, which means a big mountain.

Based on the Padang Roco Inscription in West Sumatra, the word bhumi Malayu is found with its capital at Dharmasraya. Then Adityawarman moved the capital of this kingdom to the inland area of ​​Pagaruyung. They can absorb, share & channel various unique cultures from other ethnic groups, such as Minang and Acehnese culture.

The original belief of the Malay tribe is animism. Animist practices in Riau are still active & practiced openly/closely depending on the type of animist ritual performed. There are various types of animism practiced throughout the province.

Most native people are animists & believe in spirits residing in certain objects. People of Chinese - Riau generally practice traditional Chinese beliefs which are also animist in nature. Historically, before the arrival & spread of Islam in the 15th century & the spread of Christianity in the 19th century, the population in this country was probably Hindu / animist.

Likewise in East Riau, animism was widespread before the arrival of Christian missionaries from Europe. On the peninsula, Islamization is widely said to have begun in 1409 after Parameswara became Sultan of Malacca and converted to Islam after marrying a princess from Pasai. It's just that they sometimes still perform rituals, which may have elements of animism.

For example, gadgets/wedding parties, mooring graves which are 100 days of death/kemantan ceremonies which are rituals for treating illnesses. Some forms of animist beliefs are not recognized by the government as religions for statistical purposes even though the practice is not prohibited. Mak Yong, Main Teri & Menora Dance still have many elements of ancient religion and Malay animism, especially Main Teri.

In East Sumatra, animism is also practiced by decreasing numbers of various ethnic groups in Riau.

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