BISSU, THE ANCIENT PRIEST, TRANSGENDER OFFSPRING OF THE GOD

By Indra J Mae - January 10, 2013

Bissu is priest religion of ancient pre - Islamic Bugis . Bissu considered to accommodate two elements of human gender , ie male - male and female ( hermaphroditic beings who embody female and male elements ) . In addition Bissu also able to experience two natural beings and nature , namely the spiritual realm . Natural creature that is where Bissu existing in the real world . While the existence of the spiritual realm that Bissu that can communicate with the gods . This is done by the Bissu only during rituals - rituals performed .

Another uniqueness of the Bissu itself can be viewed on any rituals or wash heirloom . When dealing with people who are sick . Bissu role becomes sandro ( healers ) . All Bissu known are those who are immune and not susceptible to stab a dagger or other sharp objects .Bissu alone understand , their demeanor that impressed "magic " is derived miracle god . Hence , they should be holy and not mating . All of them are transvestites , in the sense that they have to maintain purity. In the book La Galigo , Bissu regarded as a holy man or a descendant of the gods . In the structure of the kingdom in South Sulawesi , Bissu is spiritual and spiritual adviser of the king . So important figure for the community Bissu this , so in a variety of rituals performed , Bissu serve as its leader .Bissu in the history of human existence is considered contemporaneous with the birth Bugis Bugis itself. When the Guru as a human embryo in sure'La Galigo Bugis , down to earth from the world over ( botinglangik ) and met with the queen We Nyili Timo derived from the underworld ( borikliung ) , along with the first down anyway a Bissu named Lae - lae as a complement ancestral presence of the Bugis people .Through intermediaries bissu this , the common man can communicate with the gods who dwell in Khayangan .In the structure of Bugis culture , the role of Bissu quite special because in daily life is considered as the only provider of communication between humans and god through ritual traditional ceremony in a language god / sky ( base Torilangi ) . Bissu also acts as a guard said oral tradition in literature Ancient Bugis is sure ' La Galigo . If the reading of this letter , then before removed from its storage place , beating the drum with a certain rhythm and burn incense . After the drum beat stopped , arose Bissu utter adoration and ask for forgiveness to the gods whose names will be mentioned in the reading of the letter . Bissu also helps maintain all of the implementation of the traditional ceremonies , like the rites of pregnancy , birth , marriage ( indo ' botting ) , ritual death , the release of vows , offerings , starting reinforcements , and others .