Political Shamans And Spiritual Advisors Ahead Of Elections

Portrait of the dukun tempo in the archipelago. (Wikimedia Commons)

The flashy popularity is not always the main requirement for existence in the world of politics. Many Indonesians believe that getting closer to the mystical realm is the key to existence. The practice of life is widely exemplified by the nation's leaders, from Bung Karno and Suharto.

They are like the presence of a political shaman and a spiritual advisor to survive in the political jungle. The impact is everywhere. Many politicians follow in their footsteps using paranormal services. Especially in the era of the election. Psychic services became the best-selling.

The mystical logic has never really disappeared in the archipelago. The narrative continues to be present in the midst of people's lives. This existence strengthens when mystical matters are maintained by several national leaders. Take Bung Karno's example.

He not only likes to visit the graves of the kings of the archipelago, but is also known to have several spiritual advisors who are also political shamans. The figure who was used as Bung Karno as a spiritual advisor did not come from arbitrary circles. One of them is the older brother of Raden Ajeng Kartini, Sosrokartono.

Sosrokartono is considered a drug expert who has extraordinary metaphysical power. Soekarno was not shy about building relations between teachers to him. Bung Karno also often asked for Sostrokartono's advice and support for every step of struggle. Moreover, when Indonesia was just independent.

Soekarno sent his personal doctor, R. Suharto, to visit Sostrokartono in Bandung. The goal is clear. Bung Karno wanted to ask for advice to keep Indonesia once independent.

Conditions that are not much different are also presented by other national figures, Suharto. Javanese mystical practices are often an important part of his leadership in the military and politics. The practice of life made Suharto have a shaman and also a spiritual advisor.

It was this spiritual advisor who was then able to form and provide a role to exist as the number one Indonesian person. Khalayak also knows that Suharto's leadership, nicknamed The Smiling General, is able to last up to 32 years. Even though the matter of leadership can be debated, it is estimated which one has an effect between a political shaman, or authoritarian leadership.

Suharto's interest in Javanese religious beliefs has been readable since the beginning of the New Order (Orba) regime. Suharto was indeed quite close to Javanese mystical practices long before he entered politics or the military.

"Since she was a child she has had a close relationship as a student and teacher with a shaman named Kiai Daryatmo who was known as a practiceist of hermitance and batimanism. Kyai Daryatmo was even later mentioned as Suharto's spiritual teacher throughout his career. The attitude shown by ole Suharto during his presidency is also closely related to the ideal values of the leader in the concept of Javanese power," explained Dhianita Kusuma Pertiwi in the book Regarding the New Order (2021).

Political shamans are not only used to maintain power, but also in seeking power. In the 1999 General Election and Presidential Election, for example. Some leaders of political parties have the invitation to get closer to political shamans and spiritual advisors to power.

Leaders of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Megawati Soekarnoputri also did it. Gus Dur is noted to have held a meeting at Parangtritis Beach, Yogyakarta. Megawati asked for a spiritual advisor's advice.

The life of the nation's leaders has also been imitated by many people. Especially before the election. Those who in fact want to become representatives of the people actually use the recitation to a political shaman and spiritual advisor as a shortcut to power.

Instead of being busy improving their image and entering society, many people's representatives candidates immediately feel important mystical assistance. This method is considered effective because the world of mysticalism is considered to have its own way of winning them.

This trust makes the profession of political shamans and spiritual advisors flooded with work during the election. Customers arise from everywhere, inside or outside the city.

Every day, many people aspire to win easily in the election to visit the normal. In fact, the support of a political shaman cannot be measured by mathematics.

Activities asking for support from political shamans have even remained busy until the modern era today. Along with that, not a few have doubted the existence of paranormal support in the election.

Many of the nation's leaders like to be realistic or deal with cool language psychics from shamans. Including Vice President Megawati, But, according to Permadi, a member of the DPR from PDIP who is also a psychic, Megawati is very selective in receiving paranormal assistance. Permadi admitted that he had accompanied Mega to pray in the former ruins of Majapahit in Throwulan and at the Queen Port.

However, Mega yang sudah hajah ini tak pernah melakukan perbuatan mystical yang menghampir musyrik dalam ajaran Islam. Hanya berboaran, di mana pun sama saja, katanya. Bahkan, Mega juga pernah mengunjungi Mbah Danan, dua tahun lalu. Si Mbah mengaku sempat memberikan bantuan kepada Mega dan PDIP agar menang dalam Pemilu 1999, terang Darmawan Sepriyossa dan kawan-kawan dalam tulisannya di magazine Tempo berjudul Dukun-Dukun Melangi Session Khusus(2001).