Prayer of Kaul ( Doa Kaul)

Photo: OneMukah

Before starting the feast of Kaul, a Serahang must be prepared. Serahang is a flat round offering basket raised on a 7 feet bamboo pole. It is made of bulok tedieng, semat, nypa leaves, daun iseng and daun tigoh. Serahang means " to offer" or "to surrender" and serves as offering basket for Ipok ( Spirits). The offerings are:

The Offerings : All Photos by Eduine Kusai

Bertih ( Rice pops)

Pulut Kunieng ( Yellow glutinous rice)

 Penyaram ( Sweet snack made of rice flour)

Papit ( packed rice in woven nypa leaf pouch)

Rukok Kirai ( Cigarettes with Nypa Wrappers)

Belen ( Betel and areca nuts)

Photo: OneMukah

The Father of Kaul will start the ceremony. He sings prayer to all "Ipok" (Spirits) while holding a bowl of Beraih Kunieng ( Uncooked yellow Rice). The Prayer goes:

Oi kelou Ipok Ipok Alud Ipok Daya Ipok Wab  Ipok La-an Ipok Bau  Ipok Dibak Ipok Jakak  Ipok Pegak Ipok Tanak Ipok Sungai  Ipok Li-éak Ipok Telouk  Ipok Lidouk Ipok Jalan  Ipok Takan Ipok Ipok Keang sigeang mata linga kelou Ipok Itoulah melou sou aneak Menibah kelou sama-sama Bak Keman Bak Pamen

O ye Ipok Ipok of the sea Ipok of the land Ipok of the west Ipok of the east Ipok in high above Ipok at down under Ipok of docks Ipok of river bed Ipok of the earth Ipok of the river Ipok of forest puddle Ipok of the Gulf Ipok of river rill Ipok of the road Ipok of places Ipok Ipok Open your eyes, Lend us your ears O Ipok Here we are your children Welcoming You for Festivity for Feasting

Then the Father of Kaul would scatter the yellow uncooked rice towards the villagers. In the same time he would continue the Prayer:

Melou menyabek diak gak kelou Ipok	Bless us O Ipok
Bak umur selamet sou aneak nou	Bless us with longevitiy
Menyabek rejeki murak gak melou aneak nou	Grant us, your children a bountiful life
Neh Muneh	in days to come
Inou ji wak meseang wak kureang nejaga	Protect us from hindrance and shortcoming
Wak jaet wéak	Deliver us from evil
Tuluong nou menyusuh jauk	Banish it far away
Kemanlah telou sama-sama Telou gitou lau itou	Let us feast together with you here today

After that the Father of Kaul would ask permission from the A-Metahei ( Aristrocrats) to begin the feast. After the feast the Serahang is placed on a riverbank while the Bapa Kaul( Father of Kaul ) would sing mantras to invoke the spirits and pours water over the offerings. The Serahang will be placed on the right side of the river mouth or on a sacred place which is called "Mesin" in melanau.

Photo: OneMukah

Source: Sarawak Museum Journal No. 61

By: Learn Melanau On 5:56 AM

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What is Seladai?

Photo of A-Bayuh (Shaman) by: Kampung Sesok

A Seladai will assist the Shaman during the ritual. He also need to greet the spirits that come to visit the ceremony. A typical words said by a Seladai while welcoming the Spirits:
Do not be afraid. You are invited by your Grandfather. It is he who is in charge of this crowd and friendly occasion.

In Melanau Shamanistic Healing , Seladai is actually a designated post given by a Shaman ( a-bayuh) to a person who have little or no knowledge about the spirit world. A loose translation of seladai in english is Lay Assistance for the Shaman.

A Seladai is needed during a ritual healing called Payun. Payun means to swing and the healing required the patient to rock on a rattan swing forwards and backwards in the direction of west and east during the ritual. Payun is also called "Pengajih segala pubat"- (end of remedies) because it is the last resort after all possible treatments came to no avail. It is the most elaborate and intricate and expensive bayuh.



During the Payun, the Shaman ( a-bayuh) is called Tama Ayun (Father of the Swing) or Tina Ayun (Mother of the Swing) if the shaman is a female. The Shaman will address himself as Apak Ayeng (Grandfather) or Mak Ayeng ( Grandmother) when talking to the audience. (a-ramai). The Shaman must have one lay assistance (seladai) eventhough other shaman may be helping. A Seladai must be in the house confinement for the entire ritual which normally took five, seven or even nine nights. During the confinement there are prohibitions on bathing, foods and intercourse with spouses. The Patient will be known as the pupil (murip).

A Seladai will assist the Shaman during the ritual. He also need to greet the spirits that come to visit the ceremony. A typical words said by a Seladai while welcoming the Spirits:

Do not be afraid. You are invited by your Grandfather. It is he who is in charge of this crowd and friendly occasion.

By: Learn Melanau On 3:51 PM

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Jimalang Tanak- an earth Spirit

Jimalang Tanak- Image: The Trustees of The British Museum & Paul Beavitt

The Melanau believe that we are living alongside with many spirits. Each of the spirits have their proper place and territories and these must be respected. In general these spirits remain in their territories, but it is believed that they sometimes seek human company if possible, particularly to feed off human blood.

By: Learn Melanau On 12:55 AM

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Melanau Land of the dead- Likou a Matai

At the mouth of the river (Kala) and before entering the land of the dead, a Bedua (Soul) must first seek permission from the guardian called Balou Adet.

Journey on the river of the dead

By: Learn Melanau On 1:05 PM

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