09 - Cahaya Afriani Napitupulu

Moral Value of Respecting Parents Through Religious Tradition of Manulangi
Natua-Tua: Context of Batak Toba Culture | 2016
MORAL VALUE OF RESPECTING PARENTS THROUGH

RELIGIOUS TRADITION OF MANULANGI NATUA-TUA:
CONTEXT OF BATAK TOBA CULTURE
Oleh:
Cahaya Afriani Napitupulu
Abstract: This article explain about a culture in Indonesia which is Batak culture
with one of its tradition of Manulangi Natua-Tua culture that has value
which the implication can be apply to daily life. One of the moral values
in this culture tradition is include the respect attitude to parents, or
older people and with the others. The virtue meaning of life is obtained
inside the cultural ceremony. In this article, the writer uses the
literature method and from book sources also from internet that explain
about Manulangi culture in Batak tribe. The writer also conducted an
observation when the religious culture activity carried out and
interviewed some of the caretakers of Pungutan Batak which are elderly
and have actual experiences in the cultural activity. Throughout this
article, the writer found the whole comprehension and the obvious
connection of culture with the cultivation of moral value which possible
to effect the change of attitude.
Keywords: Respect, Parents, Batak Culture, Manulangi Natua-tua
Preliminary
Respecting parents and others is a moral obligation for every mankind.
Attitude and using polite and respectful words are some examples of moral behavior
with the good virtue. In broader everyday life, respect attitude can be applied when
meeting with older people, for example in schools among students and teachers, on
campus between students and lecturers or faculty members, in the community, place
of worship, and so on.
In Indonesia there are a lot of this type of incidents happen where children
who do not respect their parents. In addition, many children do not respect other
people or older people such as the case of children and teachers which is often
reported in various parts of the country. The news showed the concern about
children nowadays who often behave and speak disrespectful, rude, and do not
behave respectfully to others, especially the parents. It can be influenced by various
factors, both of the parents themselves or from the child's environment. Some
factors contributing to this type of behaviors such as the way they care the children
83 | Jurnal Pendidikan Dasar, Edisi VIII, ISSN: 2355-1526

or the lack of proper nurture to the children. In addition it could also be due to the
attitude of the parents themselves who are less able to be an exemplary, are less
able to implement positive discipline and tend to apply a rigid discipline or even
lack of caring attitude that lead to neglecting the children. Parenting and the parents
attitude that disregard the value of education and the lack of a role model in this
family can affect the appearance of violence both verbal and non-verbal that can
affect children's behavior.
Another cause is the negative effect of the development of fast-paced
information technology without limitation. Negative influences and the unwise
attitudes in the use of social media, the Internet, television and other media can
increase violent and childs aggressiveness. The abandonment of the relationship
between parents and children due to the use of electronic media covering a wide
range of social media and games can also be a factor. Lately, many parents feel
helpless against the storm of technology and information that tends to make the
children lazy and have consumptive behavior. Television and games as well as
social media if used unwisely, they can be the cause of children easily getting
information easily without the filtration. Television programs currently show very
little of education elements. Reading materials that contain violence and
pornography is also circulating freely in the market and highly accessible with the
advanced of technology. If these restrictions do not exist, then those negative things
tend to shape mankind into a bad-minded personality and will no longer appreciate
the moral and religion values.
Even in a social environment and education, based on the observations by the
writer and some cases vicariously, many students who act or speak impolite words
to faculty and staff members on campus. When meeting directly or when sending
an SMS / email, they often forget the ethics that bound the students to speak good
words and politely, but the reality is actually the opposite, they attitudes and words
tend to be bold and aggressive.
There are many cultures in Indonesia that teach about moral values, now
shifted and slowly forgotten its meaning as the growth of modernization

development. Ethics and politeness towards parents and others are no longer held
up high in the society.
Based on the observations and interviews on some of the parents, it was found
that nowadays parents become more difficult to educate their children because of
all the influences of the development on technology and the rapid changes occurring
in the community. Religion and culture in Indonesia require children to obey,
dutiful, have good deeds and respecting the parents even others. In every religion
in Indonesia are also required to have respect and compassion to their parents and
others. For today generations, it seems necessary to have moral cultivation
throughout religion and culture that will be done and interpreted. Culture in
Indonesia teaches about many moral values and religion throughout various
ceremonies and cultural events, but often a cultural activity is only done as a routine
without knowing the actual meaning behind these activities. One of the tribes in
Indonesia which the writer discussed in this article is the Batak tribe known as the
tribe that has very close kinship and the culture is very strong. In fact, wherever
they are, they are always held up high the cultural values in their life in the
community. In the Batak culture, respect for God and our parents is something that
is highly valued. This is proven in the attitude of reverence done in any religious
ceremonies and cultural activities whether it is wedding ceremonies, births and
deaths. In this article, the writer describes one of the religious culture of Batak tribe
that still be done until this day which is Manulangi Natua-Tua. This particular
religious culture is closely linked to the respect for parents and respect for older
people even to each other.
Purpose
The purpose of this scientific article is to explain about one of the cultures in
Indonesia which is Batak culture with one of its cultural activity called Manulangi
Natua-Tua that has a meaning and its implication on moral values can be applied
in everyday life. This article is hoped to be able to give clear picture about moral
values that every mankind need to have and pursued in life.

Method
In this scientific article, the writer uses a literature method. The writer also
uses variety of books sources and actual data from the internet that explain about
Manulangi of Batak tribe. The writer also conducted an observation when this
religious cultural activity carried out and interviewed some of the caretaker of
Punguan Batak which is elderly and has actual experiences in this religious cultural
activity.
Literature
Batak Tribe
Batak tribe is a tribe of Indonesia located in North Sumatra. Sumatra is the
second largest island after Kalimantan and is located off the western tip of
Indonesia. Batak people inhabit the highlands at Bukit Barisan around Lake Toba
(Nainggolan, 2012). Batak tribe consists of six sub-tribes which are Angkola and
Mandailing in the south, Toba in the center, Dairi / Pakpak in the northwest, Karo
in the north, and Simalungun in the northeast (Nainggolan, 2012). The geographical
conditions make the Batak Toba people live within a limited space and isolated.
These communities live in a strong family ties (Nainggolan, 2012). Batak tribes
have their own belief system, where the system is still strongly religious or belief
still strongly maintained. Batak people believe that the universe was created by
Debata Mula Jadi Nabolon. Nowadays the religion that majority held by the Batak
tribe are Islam and Christian. The writer focuses on Batak Toba which is the largest
sub-tribe of Batak. Batak Toba in the 20th century made the Protestant as their
cultural identity.
Community at Batak Toba tribe uses inter-districts social relations in
interaction. Districts or family name explains the position of each individual in the
Batak tribe. In Batak toba family, this thing obtained the surname of the father. Thus
create a balance between individual relations with the group with the same paternal
lineage. Harahap and Siahaan (1987) explain that the relationship between human
lives at Toba Batak tribes is set in the Dalihan Na Tolu kinship system. Dalihan Na
Tolu is the characteristic of Batak culture. Relationships based on kinship systems

have been socialized to children since they began to know the closest environment,
ie mother, father, and siblings
Custom Order and Batak Toba Culture

Batak community activities within the order of the customs and cultures are
a part of life and also their lives. Custom order is done while thinking about the
feasibility of fairness guided by custom and people's habits. Those traditions and
ceremonial activities carried meaning and moral values that are believed in the life
of the Batak people.
Harahap and Siahaan (1987) revealed nine cultural values primarily on Batak
Toba which they are namely: Kinship (blood ties and kinship), Religious (religion
and belief), Hangabeon (many offspring and longevity), Hasangapon (glory,
authority, and charisma which is a primary value that gives a strong impetus to
achieve greatness), Hamoraon (property / wealth), Hamajuon (progress achieved
throughout wander and study), Law, Pengayoman, and Conflict. The percentage to
acquire the meaning of cultural messages into nine cultural values indicate that the
position of kinship values of 34.33% and Godliness (Religion) of 17.25% indicates
that these values become the hallmark of this tribe. That is, in the Batak tribe, the
value of respect for others, relatives and parents and other older people become
something that is highly valued. It is also shown from the way of calling the
relatives to indicate respect, for example when a nephew/niece will be married to
the love of their life, he/she had to ask permission from Tulang (uncle) because
he/she does not take his child as life partner, but choosing someone else. This
activity is carried out with a variety of cultural activities / ceremonies as a form of
respect. Besides a high percentage of the value of divinity which shows that in all
the activities, the honor of God was inseparable from their lives.
Manulangi Natua - Tua Tradition

From many activities and events of Batak ceremony, the writer took one
religious tradition that is Manulangi (feeding or giving food) in particular is
Manulangi Natua - Tua. Manulangi Natua - Tua is a custom and religious ceremony

of Batak society meaning of feed or give food to the parents. The ceremony was
specifically made to parents when they 've stepped on the elderly ages as the highest
form of respect to ask for the blessings. In addition, the ceremony is usually
performed when a parent is entering a critical period ( near death ) . Manulangi
Natua - Tua ceremony is done if parents already have grandchildren. For the
grandchildrens, they manulangi ( feed ) their grandmother / grandfather ( Opung )
. Parents are seen as a representative of God in this world who should be respected
and their prayers are actually heard. The role of parents here are very important.
Manulangi Natua-Tua Process

Based on the observations and interviews with the elders of Punguan Batak,
there are some steps being taken in the process of this tradition. In the first stage
deliberation to discuss and obtain agreement from each child, about when the
ceremony will be performed. The ceremony will be held if the collective agreement
has generated so that all the children along with grandchildren can be assembled at
the parents house. In the fixated schedule, all the offspring of these parents will give
foods. They will give foods in sequences, starting from the oldest son and his wife
came to the youngest son and his wife, followed by the eldest grandson of the son
of the oldest to the youngest grandchild of the youngest son. Then it will be
continued by the oldest daughter together with their husbands up until the youngest
daughter, and finally followed by the eldest grandchild of the oldest daughter until
the last grandchild of the youngest daughter. Each child will feed the food to
parents three times accompanied by the words of affection and words of thankful
to God as a form of love from children to the parents and as the highest respect.
Meaning of Manulangi Natua-Tua Tradition

Manulangi Natua-Tua ceremony, performed by giving the best food provided
in a manner of good, healthy, clean, enjoyable and satisfy their parents. This stage
shows that it is an obligation of a child to give the best to the parents in the same
manner as parents already give their best to their children since the children still
small. Some Batak people that the writer interview considered as a form of proof

that the ability to provide the best dishes (healthy, clean, does not always mean
expensive and luxurious), indicating that economically, the child has managed to
prosper himself and his parents. The specificity and uniqueness in cultural activities
lies in the use of meat in the event, because of the meat used in traditional
ceremonies of Manulangi Natua-Tua must come from a pork or water buffalo. For
Batak people, water buffalo and pigs are the animals of great value. The meat used
in this ceremony should also not be bought in the market, but must be slaughter by
the child. Before the animals are slaughtered, usually certain words of gratitude is
uttered indicating these foods are holy and bring good or good luck. From providing
dishes, children show respect from preparing the best dish.
This stage also mean as an attempt to give a moral boost for parents
psychologically, the parents feel that they have managed to educate their children
until they have their own happy family. In that condition, the parents felt not
forgotten and respected until their old age. This ceremony can also be intended as
a form of thanksgiving and prayer to God so that the parents are kept away from
disasters and diseases and have a long life. For the children and grandchildren, this
ceremony can be a chance to accept blessings from God through their parents.
Result
Attitudes Respect and Respect for Parents and Fellow
Based on the results of interviews with informants and observation, found
another meaning related to the process of the ceremony. In the process, giving foods
performed consecutively starting from the eldest to the youngest child. This shows
that younger people should respect the older people where the opportunity to feed
the parents is done advance and being illustrated that the eldest son obtained
blessings in advance.
In eastern culture, honor and respect your parents or an older person is a must.
Form of recognition and respect for the parents actually need to be pursued in daily
life. For Batak people, a form of respect and appreciation of the parents is not only
manifested in everyday life, but also embodied in the form of traditional ceremonies
of Manulangi Natua-Tua. In this ceremony, the main focus is to respect their

parents, but in the process, respecting relatives, siblings and older people as well as
honoring God is a part that cannot be separated.
In everyday life, the embodiment of the attitude / behavior of mutual respect
and appreciation shown through the attitudes, words, and good deeds were with
good benefits. Through the ceremony of Manulangi Natua-Tua, it can be seen that
the attitudes, words and actions of give foods to the parents start from preparation
until it ended involve all the best form of respect. In the interaction between children
and parents, it is a must for every child to realize that their parents are the people
who are most deserving in their life. In this tradition, gratitude and prayers are being
said for parents. Inside the everyday life, it is a must for a child to honor and respect
both of the parents with a way is to devote to them.
Batak tribe prioritizes parents in their daily lives. Not just a customs or
philosophy of life in indigenous communities of Batak. However, it is more to the
devotion of the people who have raised them since childhood. All the tribes taught
us to respect the elderly. In terms of religion, it is also said so. Every religion in
Indonesia is also taught about these moral values.
Batak tribe communities uphold their custom of honoring the elderly. Man
that is able to keep the feeling and respect both of the parents is a man with moral.
Respecting parents and elders is not only the customary philosophical of Batak, the
meaning is that there is a willingness and ability to implement a respectful attitude
and words choices in everyday life. The respect for parents supposed to lead
humanity to respect each other or another older person wherever located. Hence the
importance of developing a culture and preserve and interpret the message of
tradition in every cultural activity so that it is not only become a routine but the
meaning can be applied in everyday life. This is related to the character education
and moral development. Respecting and appreciating attitude needs to be applied
in every aspect of life, for example in environmental education, work-field,
community and religious environment so that the virtue can be something that
brings harmony.
Confucius, a prominent Confucian Ethics, said that justice and prosperity
starts from a tribute to the parents. In the book of Lun Yu (dissertation of Ongky

Setio Kuncono), Confucius said, "A young man must be devoted to parents when
they are at home, respecting his older brothers when outside the home; behave
honestly in words; love everyone and make friends with people who are good. ".
These show a person's moral values.
Discussion
Virtue Cultivation through Culture
According to Hofstede et.al. (1990) in Rawwas (2000: 192) Values are a
major dimension of culture. Values are "basic convictions that people have
regarding what is right and what is wrong. These values are learned from the
culture in which the individual is reared, and they help direct the person's behavior.
Cultural values influence how people think and behave. Culture that affects a
person's reflected in the way the decision-making of the individual, respect the
higher authority / parents, the treatment to women, the type of leadership that is
acceptable, and other things. Confucius Ethics embody values such as tolerance to
any human being, both among colleagues, superiors and subordinates, between
siblings; the devotion to the parents and older siblings; loyalty and trustworthy to
the nation, respect to the older and affection for the children and younger siblings.
On ethical principles Confucius taught the importance of management of self (Self
Cultivation) as well as moral values, both to self, family, community and the
country and even the world. Confucius's opinion makes everything seem plausible
that emphasizes the importance of honoring fathers and mothers and managing the
family as the key to set the state because of the moral values that all the good in
every aspects starting.
If looking at the condition of the nation nowadays, it seems increasingly
difficult to apply the ethics of moral respect for the elderly. Ethics become
deteriorated. Cases of children do not respect the parents remain a lots, corruption
getting more rampant, moral values in the culture faded. Religious values occupy a
very high rank in the life of a civilized. Religious values associated with the genuine
truth and universal which starts and begins at the most fundamental of human rights,
which is relationship of a person with the Creator. Basically the value of Spiritual

deals not only with spiritual matters alone, however, is also associated with virtue
such as character, honesty, mutual help and others associated with the behavior of
human values . Spiritual values can be a stimulus for mankind so that man back to
nature, and back to the Creator. The process of return of humans to the creator
means the cultivation of religious values process is ongoing. Religious value is
found in many cultures in Indonesia which if interpreted wisely are able to provide
rich teaching and learning. Seeing the condition of this country, it seems appropriate
to constantly demonstrate efforts to empower and practice the noble values of
spiritual culture of the nation.
Conclusion
Manulangi Natua-Tua tradition in Batak culture can be used as a good
example in the development of virtue that should be upheld high in life. This
tradition contains deep meaning of how the close relationship and mutual respect
between children and parents also includes the highest reverence to God and with
others or to the people who are older. The implication at the application in the daily
life of educational environment, work-field, community, or even religious is to
honor and respect both parents and peers and other people who are older with the
attitude / behavior and talk polite and respectful. If in every aspects of the life in the
rich cultural values, the moral message of this virtue can be applied in everyday
life, personal life undoubtedly or even life of the nation would be better.
Daftar Pustaka
Gens G. Malau. 2000. Aneka Ragam Ilmu Pengetahuan Budaya Batak. Jakarta:
Yayasan Bina Budaya Nusantara. Hlm. 120.
Harahap, Basyral H., & Siahaan, Hotman M. 1987. Orientasi Nilai-nilai
Budaya Batak Toba: Suatu Pendekatan Terhadap Perilaku Batak Toba
dan Angkola-Mandailing. Jakarta: Sanggar Willem Iskandar.
J.C. Vergouwen. 2004. Masyarakat dan Hukum Adat Batak Toba. Yogyakarta:
LKIS. Hlm. 103, 112, 113

John B. Pasaribu. 2003. Adat Batak Saluran Kasih Sesama Umat Tuhan. Jakarta:
Yayasan Obor. Hlm. 42, 60-61, 114
Lothar Schreiner. 1994. Adat dan Injil: perjumpaan adat dengan iman Kristen di
tanah Batak. Jakarta: BPK Gunung Mulia. Hlm. 189.
Nainggolan, Togar. 2012. Batak Toba : sejarah dan transformasi religi. Medan:
Bina Media Perinti
Nalom Siahaan. 1982. Adat: Dalihan Na Tolu: Prinsip dan Pelaksanaannya.
Jakarta: Grafina. Hlm. 35. 97, 98
disertasi Js. Drs. Ongky Setio Kuncono, MM, MBA, Pengaruh Etika Confucius
Terhadap Kewirausahaan, Kemampuan Usaha dan Kinerja Usaha
Pedagang Eceran Etnis Tionghoa di Surabaya.
http://www.spocjournal.com/disertasi/251-bab-ii-tinjauan-pustaka-pengertian-
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http://laisanurin.blogspot.co.id/2012/01/kepemimpinan-leadership.html
http://bolmerhutasoit.wordpress.com/

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Moral Value of Respecting Parents Through Religious Tradition of Manulangi

Natua-Tua: Context of Batak Toba Culture | 2016

MORAL VALUE OF RESPECTING PARENTS THROUGH

Keywords: Respect, Parents, Batak Culture, Manulangi Natua-tua

83 | Jurnal Pendidikan Dasar, Edisi VIII, ISSN: 2355-1526

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Custom Order and Batak Toba Culture

Manulangi Natua - Tua Tradition

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Manulangi Natua-Tua Process

Meaning of Manulangi Natua-Tua Tradition

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