Makna Beras sebagai Media Komunikasi Religius dalam Hindu Kaharingan dan Tantangan Akses dalam Menyediakannya

I Wayan Satria Darma Putra
Putu Wisnu Saputra
Ni Wayan Diah Dewi Kunti

Widya Sandhi: Jurnal Kajian Agama, Sosial dan Budaya
Vol 17 No 1 (2026)

This study examines the construction of rice as a medium of religious communication in Hindu Kaharingan rituals and the response of this belief system to individual limitations in accessing and providing ritual requirements. It employs a qualitative approach through library research with a descriptive-analytical method. The study addresses a gap in prior research that tends to separate religious, social, and economic dimensions, resulting in a fragmented understanding of rice within the Kaharingan symbolic system. The findings show that rice is not merely a material element but a sacred medium connecting humans with God (Ranying Hatalla Langit), whose meaning is socially legitimized and culturally transmitted. Ritual practices also reinforce social cohesion and collective identity. However, reliance on rice creates potential access inequality, particularly under economic constraints. Despite this, the Kaharingan belief system demonstrates adaptive capacity through collective mechanisms that sustain inclusivity and continuity. This study highlights that religious practices are shaped by dynamic interactions among sacred symbols, social structures, and economic realities.