Kapitayan

Kapitayan (from ꦏꦥꦶꦠꦪꦤ꧀) is a Javanese monotheistic folk religion native to Java since the Paleolithic. Locally, it is referred to as "the monotheist ancient Javanese religion", "ancestral monotheist religion", or "Tiyang Jawi (Javanese) religion" to differentiate it from Kejawèn (a polytheistic Javanism). The term Kapitayan is Old Javanese in origin, constructed from the base word Taya (Old Javanese script: , unimaginable', 'unseen', or 'absolute). Thus, it means that Taya cannot be thought or imagined, or cannot be approached by the five senses. Kapitayan is a teaching that worships a main deity or God called Sanghyang Taya (ꦱꦁ​​ꦲꦾꦁ​​ꦠꦪ, meaning 'unimaginable entity'; also called Suwung (ꦱꦸꦮꦸꦁ), Awang (ꦲꦮꦁ), or Uwung (ꦲꦸꦮꦸꦁ)). Sanghyang Taya is defined as tan keno kinaya ngapa (ꦠꦤ꧀ꦏꦺꦤꦏꦶꦤꦪꦔꦥ), meaning "cannot be seen, thought about, or imagined". As an abstraction that cannot be described, His existence is unreachable by worldly capacity. The term Awang-uwung (ꦲꦮꦁ​​ꦲꦸꦮꦸꦁ) refers to the real but unreachable, which can be known and worshiped by worldly beings including humans. In order to be worshiped, Sanghyang Taya has a personal name and attribute called Tu (ꦠꦸ) or To (ꦠꦺꦴ), meaning "magical power" and which is supernatural. Tu or To are singular in essence—a single entity. Tu is commonly referred to by the name Sanghyang Tunggal (ꦱꦁ​​ꦲꦾꦁ​​ꦠꦸꦁ​ꦒꦭ꧀) and has two qualities: Goodness and Wickedness. Tu who is good is generally known as the Tuhan (ꦠꦸꦲꦤ꧀) and called Sanghyang Wenang (ꦱꦁ​​ꦲꦾꦁ​​ꦮꦺꦤꦁ​). Tu who is wicked is called Sanghyang Manikmaya (ꦱꦁ​​ꦲꦾꦁ​​ꦩꦤꦶꦏ꧀ꦩꦪ). Thus, Sanghyang Wenang and Sanghyang Manikmaya are essentially just the nature of Sanghyang Tunggal. All these aspects are supernatural and cannot be approached with the five senses and the mind; only His character is known. Sanghyang Taya's power is represented in various places, such as on rocks, monuments, and trees. Offerings are made in these places, not to worship rocks, monuments, or trees, but to reflect devotion to Sanghyang Taya, whose power is represented in those places.