Title: The Reactualization of Saiva Siddhanta Theology in Nusantara Hindu Religious Practice: A Historical-Philosophical Analysis and Doctrinal Transformation
Authors: I Nyoman Alit Supandi; I Gede Suwantana
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
Pages: 95-103
Publication Date: 2026/02/28
Abstract:
This study examines the reactualization of Saiva Siddhanta theology within the context of Nusantara Hindu religious practice through a historical-philosophical approach. It investigates how classical doctrinal structures-particularly the metaphysical triad of Pati-Pa?u-P??a, the concepts of mala, divine grace (anugraha), and liberation (mok?a), as well as the ritual system of the ?gamas-have been transmitted, interpreted, and transformed in the Indonesian archipelago. The research analyzes the historical transmission of ?aivism to Java and Bali, the process of textual translation and cultural adaptation, and the reinterpretation of Siddh?nta theology in local cosmology and ritual practice. Furthermore, it explores doctrinal reformulation in modern Indonesian Hinduism, especially in response to state institutionalization, monotheistic discourse, and identity negotiation within the framework of Pancasila. The findings demonstrate that theological transformation in Nusantara Hinduism is not a rupture from classical tradition but a dynamic process of reinterpretation and negotiation. Saiva Siddhanta remains a foundational theological matrix, yet it undergoes contextual reformulation to accommodate socio-political structures, educational systems, and contemporary religious identity. This study contributes to broader discussions on religious adaptation, doctrinal continuity, and theological transformation in Southeast Asian Hindu traditions.