Study of Sanskerta in Mantra Śiwa Astawa

Abstract

Prayer is a form of religious activity that seeks to establish a relationship with Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa and His manifestations and ancestors. Prayer with genuine requests that are spontaneous and personal, and generally not ritualistic, is called prārthanā. Praying with devotional prostration to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa in His manifestation as Bhaṭāra Śiwa is called Śiwa Astawa. Bhaṭāra Śiwa is the origin and return of all this. Śiwa Astawa is a way of communicating for Hindus to God as a form of Bhaṭāra Śiwa. This research aims to determine the existence, types of Sanskrit and the meaning of the Śiwa Astawa mantra. This research is practically useful in providing knowledge to Hindus and clergy such as pandita, pinandita and others. This research data was collected through observation of literature, documentation and in-depth interviews with key informants. This research produced findings, namely the existence of the Śiwa Astawa mantra, the type of Sanskrit in the Śiwa Astawa mantra, and the meaning of the Śiwa Astawa mantra for Hindus in Indonesia. The Śiwa Astawa Mantra is a prayer of devotion to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa through His manifestation as Bhaṭāra Śiwa. Bhaṭāra Śiwa is all-pervading, He is unseen and cannot be thought of, He is like space, unreachable by the mind and senses, permeates everything, is everywhere, encompasses everything. Bhaṭāra Śiwa is also present in the mind and senses, but the mind and senses cannot reach Him, He overcomes the mind and senses. Such are the immanent and transcendent aspects of Bhaṭāra Śiwa. There are three types of Sanskrit in the Śiwa Astawa mantra, namely Vedic Sanskrit, Classical Sanskrit and Nusantara Sanskrit. The Śiwa Astawa mantra is meaningful for Hindus in Indonesia, namely the belief in Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa through His manifestation as the single Bhaṭāra Śiwa and the source of everything, ruler of all creatures.