A Touch of Destiny: Mappasikarawa as a Manifestation of Transcendental Unity in Bugis Marriage

Muhsyanur Muhsyanur; Manivannan Murugesan

doi:10.15575/jw.v11i1.45488

Authors

Muhsyanur Muhsyanur Universitas Islam As'adiyah Sengkang, South Sulawesi, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6773-7395
Manivannan Murugesan Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15575/jw.v11i1.45488

Keywords:

mappasikarawa, Bugis marriage ritual, cosmological conception, ethnophilosophy, ritual symbolism

Abstract

This research explores the transcendental dimension of mappasikarawa, a Bugis wedding ritual performed after the Islamic ceremony (mappakawing), which marks the groom’s first touch of the bride. This study employs an ethnographic research conducted across Bone, Wajo, and Soppeng regencies from January to December 2023. This research aims to reveal how mappasikarawa reflects the concepts of spiritual responsibility transfer and destiny unification in Bugis culture. Despite variations in practice across regions—such as touching palms in Bone, wrists in Wajo, or foreheads in Soppeng—the ritual's transcendental essence remains a part of the collective consciousness of the Bugis people. The study documents how the ritual has evolved through four historical periods: the pre-Islamic era (before the 17th century), the Islamisation period (17th-19th centuries), the modern era (20th century), and contemporary times (21st century), with each period exhibiting adaptation while maintaining its spiritual significance. Findings also reveal generational differences in perceptions of the ritual's transcendental elements, with younger generations viewing it more as a cultural heritage than a spiritual practice, although many develop a deeper appreciation after experiencing it. This study enriches ritual anthropology by demonstrating how mappasikarawa embodies the integration of social and transcendental dimensions, while also introducing a combined ethnographic–philological method for analysing indigenous rituals.

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