The Director General of Hindu Community Guidance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia delivered a Dharma wacana entitled “Malam Siwa Ratri : Lorong Cahaya di Ruang Gelap” (The Sivaratri: A Path of Blaze in the Darkness) during the Prambanan Shiva Festival 2026, held at Prambanan Temple on Saturday.
The Prambanan Shiva Festival 2026 was attended by the Vice Minister of Culture, the Vice Minister of Tourism, the Chairman of the Daily Executive Board of the Indonesian Hindu Dharma Council (PHDI), leaders of Hindu religious organizations (Pradah), representatives of the Indonesian Hindu Student Association (KMHDI), the Chairman of the State Hindu College (STAH) Klaten, Heads of Hindu Community Guidance from the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java, the Chairman of PSN, as well as various Hindu figures and members of the Hindu community.
In his Dharma wacana, Prof. Duija as the Director General of Hindu Community Guidance emphasized that Panca Merta represents the five sacred blessings of Lord Shiva that form the foundation of the human spiritual journey—from physical existence to reunification with Shiva as the highest spiritual goal (moksha).
These five blessings—Ang, Tang, Sang, Bang, and Ing—were described as cosmic stages reflecting the processes of utpeti, sthiti, and pralina: creation, preservation, and dissolution, or the return to the origin. The Director General stressed that Panca Merta is not merely a symbolic teaching, but a practical guide for spiritual awareness, enabling Hindus to live in harmony between the physical and spiritual dimensions of life.
He further explained that Panca Merta is closely connected to the practice of Panca Sembah, which has long been observed in Hindu religious life. Each stage of worship directly reflects the blessings of Lord Shiva, transforming prayer from a routine ritual into a profound act of contemplation on the soul’s journey toward supreme consciousness.
In the context of Sivaratri, the Director General noted that the observance of brata, jagra, japa mantra, and meditation constitutes the tangible actualization of Panca Merta. Through self-discipline, mental purification, inner reflection, and spiritual union, Hindus are encouraged to embrace Sivaratri as a moment for personal transformation and the strengthening of spiritual awareness.
The Director General through this Dharma wacana, expressed his expectation to Prambanan Shiva Festival would serve not only as a cultural and spiritual celebration, but also as a space for national reflection and the reinforcement of Dharma values that remain relevant to the lives of Hindus amid the evolving dynamics of development society.
