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THE SACRED FACE OF INDIGENOUS BELIEF: A CRITICAL REVIEW ON THE MYTHOLOGY OF NYAI RORO KIDUL THROUGH MARY FAT FISHER AND ROBIN RINEHART'S THEORY OF INDIGENOUS SACRED WAYS

Al-Tsaqafa : Jurnal Ilmiah Peradaban Islam · Vol. 21 No. 2 (2024) · pp. 105–116

DOI
10.15575/al-tsaqafa.v21i2.41655
ISSN
2654-4598, 0216-5937
Published
2024-12-18
Publisher
Fakultas Adab dan Humaniora UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung
Language
eng

Abstract

In many myths and legends, Nyai Roro Kidul is believed to be a semi-divine being or a beautiful princess with mystical qualities. Known as the Queen of the Southern Sea (Indian Ocean), she embodies a unique fusion of local spiritual beliefs, Hindu-Buddhist influences, and, later, Islamic cultural integration. Her narrative not only reflects the Javanese people’s interaction with nature and the supernatural world but also encapsulates deeper meanings related to power, gender, and the relationship between humans and the divine. Those who seek wealth often glorify Nyai Roro Kidul, even if it means promising the souls of family members as an offering. The story of Nyai Roro Kidul, believed by many traditional Javanese, remains controversial today. Some believe in her and even claim to have encountered her, while many others consider it just folklore. In reality, belief in Nyai Roro Kidul is not confined to indigenous communities but also extends to modern intellectuals, especially Javanese mystics. Fisher and Rinehart discuss important aspects of cultural diversity leading to syncretism in detail, such as the reliance on oral traditions among the people. Likewise, the mythology of Nyai Roro Kidul has been passed down orally through various stories, making her narrative widespread and a common feature of the belief systems among communities along Java’s southern coast as part of a "living religion" from the perspective of indigenous sacred ways.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

40 authors · 70 co-authorship links · showing the 40 most connected

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  • State University of Malang
  • Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Raden Roro Sri Rejeki WaluyajatiAffiliation unknown5
Ahmad Gibson AlbustomiAffiliation unknown3
Pepen PriyawanAffiliation unknown2
Hasbi AssiddiqiAffiliation unknown2
Mohammad Taufiq RahmanAffiliation unknown2
Ulfiah UlfiahAffiliation unknown1
Erus EffendiAffiliation unknown1
Roro Sri Rejeki WaliyajatiAffiliation unknown1
Sri Rosyana RatnaningsihAffiliation unknown1
Zalikho Su'adaAffiliation unknown1
Indah RahmawatiState University of Malang1
Rifki RosyadAffiliation unknown1
Jenjen Zainal AbidinAffiliation unknown1
Asep MuhyidinAffiliation unknown1
Dede HidayatAffiliation unknown1
Muhammad Yusuf WibisonoAffiliation unknown1
Ruslan Moh. YunusAffiliation unknown1
Muchsin Al-FikriAffiliation unknown1
Ahmad Ali NurdinAffiliation unknown1
Siti MarlidaAffiliation unknown1
Ikhsan AhmadAffiliation unknown1
Abdul SyukurAffiliation unknown1
Asep Saeful MuhtadiAffiliation unknown1
Doddy Iskandar CakranegaraAffiliation unknown1
Jajang A RohmanaSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Muhtar SolihinAffiliation unknown1
M. Dewangga WidhiaAffiliation unknown1
Syihabul FurqonAffiliation unknown1
Sri Nur SyifaAffiliation unknown1
Rohanda RohandaAffiliation unknown1
Yoga SudarismanAffiliation unknown1
Asep Achmad HidayatAffiliation unknown1
Erfina NuryusticiaAffiliation unknown1
Yuyun NurulaenAffiliation unknown1
Mia Ananda DerastaAffiliation unknown1
Mahi Mamat HkikmatAffiliation unknown1
Alfa Sebastian BachronAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.uinsgd.ac.id/index.php/jat/oai, first harvested 7 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en-US">THE SACRED FACE OF INDIGENOUS BELIEF: A CRITICAL REVIEW ON THE MYTHOLOGY OF NYAI RORO KIDUL THROUGH MARY FAT FISHER AND ROBIN RINEHART'S THEORY OF INDIGENOUS SACRED WAYS</dc:title>
	<dc:creator>Nurrachman, Dian</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Truna, Dody S.</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Hannah, Neng</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Nyai Roro Kidul</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Sacred</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Belief</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Syncretism</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Indigenous Sacred Ways</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Living Religion</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">al-tsaqafa</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en-US">In many myths and legends, Nyai Roro Kidul is believed to be a semi-divine being or a beautiful princess with mystical qualities. Known as the Queen of the Southern Sea (Indian Ocean), she embodies a unique fusion of local spiritual beliefs, Hindu-Buddhist influences, and, later, Islamic cultural integration. Her narrative not only reflects the Javanese people’s interaction with nature and the supernatural world but also encapsulates deeper meanings related to power, gender, and the relationship between humans and the divine. Those who seek wealth often glorify Nyai Roro Kidul, even if it means promising the souls of family members as an offering. The story of Nyai Roro Kidul, believed by many traditional Javanese, remains controversial today. Some believe in her and even claim to have encountered her, while many others consider it just folklore. In reality, belief in Nyai Roro Kidul is not confined to indigenous communities but also extends to modern intellectuals, especially Javanese mystics. Fisher and Rinehart discuss important aspects of cultural diversity leading to syncretism in detail, such as the reliance on oral traditions among the people. Likewise, the mythology of Nyai Roro Kidul has been passed down orally through various stories, making her narrative widespread and a common feature of the belief systems among communities along Java’s southern coast as part of a "living religion" from the perspective of indigenous sacred ways.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en-US">Fakultas Adab dan Humaniora UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2024-12-18</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:type xml:lang="en-US">Peer-reviewed Article</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.uinsgd.ac.id/index.php/jat/article/view/41655</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.15575/al-tsaqafa.v21i2.41655</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en-US">Al-Tsaqafa : Jurnal Ilmiah Peradaban Islam; Vol. 21 No. 2 (2024): Al-Tsaqafa : Jurnal Ilmiah Peradaban Islam; 105 - 116</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2654-4598</dc:source>
	<dc:source>0216-5937</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.15575/al-tsaqafa.v21i2</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.uinsgd.ac.id/index.php/jat/article/view/41655/12361</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">Copyright (c) 2025 Al-Tsaqafa : Jurnal Ilmiah Peradaban Islam</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>