GEGURITAN PANCA DATU: ANALISIS SEMIOTIK

Abstract

Geguritan Pancadatu is a Balinese literary work that contains the concept of Panca Datu, namely the five elements of nature consisting of five kinds of materials: gold, silver, copper, iron, and gemstones. The arrival of the figure Rsi Markandeya, a priest from the land of Java, who resided in his hermitage on Mount Raung, marked an important moment. He came to Bali on a dharma yatra to develop Hinduism in Bali. During his journey, he established a sacred place at Pura Besakih as the center of worship in Bali. Rsi Markandeya was one of the Hindu priests who came from Java to Bali to spread the teachings of dharma. One of the important things he introduced was the concept of Panca Datu as elements of the universe that are planted as a foundation when constructing sacred buildings (pura). The use of Saussure’s semiotic theory in this study involves the concepts of signifier and signified, which are essential elements in semiotics as the science of signs. The conclusions of this study are: a. Geguritan Panca Datu contains the story of Rsi Markandeya’s journey from Java (Mount Raung) to Besakih (Toh Langkir) in Bali. b. Rsi Markandeya planted the Panca Datu at Pura Besakih as a symbol of strengthening and purifying the temple. c. Panca Datu consists of five metal elements gold, silver, copper, iron, and gemstones as symbols of the power of the universe, whichare embedded in sacred buildings. d. Bali means wali, the power of the universe, and Panca Datu as a tradition of Balinese Hinduism. e. Wali (banten) is a main characteristic of Balinese Hinduism, alongside philosophy and ritual (caru). f. Caru is a ritual that serves as the beginning of the purification of Pura Besakih.
Keywords: Geguritan, Panca Datu, Priest, Pura Besakih.