Spiritual Tourism in Mount Lawu – A group of 17 French travelers led by Gorka Etxarri visited several places across Yogyakarta and Central Java in a rather unusual journey. The trip kicked off with destinations like the Borobudur and Prambanan temples, followed by a trip to a remote village on Mount Lawu named Anggrasmanis, not far from the Cetho Temple complex.
At the village, the group stayed at one of the locals’ houses to meet and learn from a Hindu-Javanese religious leader named Mangku Jito.
Gorka Etxarri pays respect to Javanese spiritual teacher Mangku Jito (Image source: JP/Stefanus Ajie)
Spiritual tourism on Mount Lawu
“This trip is more than just for tourism, where we explore and take pictures” said Etxarri, adding that they came to Anggramanis to learn and truly immerse themselves in the world of Javanese spirituality.
At night at the village’s Buana Agung Temple, Mangku Jito led a prayer and meditation ritual that was accompanied by various offerings. Afterwards, he shared his knowledge of Javanese spiritualism with his French guests, many of whom later consulted him regarding their own spiritual issues.
The next day, the group meditated again while welcoming the sunrise at Menara Dewa, a bamboo tower that sits at the top of a hill not far from the Buana Agung Temple.
The trip later continued to the other side of Mount Lawu’s slopes at a village named Pablengan. The travelers visited a petirtaan called Sapta Tirta (‘Seven Springs’) that used to serve a fortress and as a praying place for Raden Mas Said, the first Mangkunegaran King.
It is one of the Javanese sacred places where seven springs are found together, a rare occurence.
One visitor practices the ritual of purifying at the sacred Sapta Tirta site (Image source: JP/Stefanus Ajie)
At the springs, the group was welcomed by Sugeng, a spiritual teacher who maintained the sacred site. Sugeng shared his knowledge of Javanese spirituality (Kejawen), especially regarding the nine chakras and purification rituals done through a water-based meditation.
“It’s more than tourism; it’s a spiritual journey. When we return to France, we will be different people than we were before,” said Etxarri, adding that Javanese spiritualism basically offered universal lessons about good attitudes toward life, such as humility, humbleness and harmony with nature.
Originally posted on: Jakarta Post
