Two magic wands "tunggal panaluan"

Description:

Indonesia, Sumatra North, Lake Toba area, Batak, Toba-Batak, early 20th cent.
L. 143 / 152 cm
Two fully sculpted hardwood sticks of the datu, the shamans of the Toba-Batak in northern Sumatra. The tunggal panaluan staff is a ceremonial staff that is said to have magical powers. It is used in numerous ceremonies of the datu and is at the same time its rank insignia. The staff tunggal panaluan is crowned by a long-haired rider who has a disproportionately large head and sits on a reduced horse. The Batak are passionate riders; there are even local horse breeds. The horse embodies high status or nobility. The crown of the hair is made of horsehair. The rod is made of light, blackened wood, and probably belongs to the late 20th century. It shows a series of female and male figures in a squatting position, between which a buffalo's head can be seen (according to the "magic wand myths" of an incestuous couple). Some of the figures hold sacrificial paraphernalia.
Collected from an old German private collection since the 1950s
The datu of the Toba-Batak (known as guru among the Indian and Muslim-influenced Karo-Batak) is a medicine man endowed with magical powers and abilities, skilled in "white magic", who has the task of preventing and curing diseases. The tunggal panaluan, which is used in almost all rituals, is one of the most important ritual objects of a datu and, alongside the medicine horn, the most important äußeresign of his office. During the magical acts, the datu goes into a trance and performs the ritual dances with the tunggal panaluan in his hand. The Batak have two types of ritual sticks: tunggal panaluan and of the Toba-Batak (known as guru among the Indian and Muslim-influenced Karo-Batak) is a medicine man endowed with magical powers and abilities, skilled in "white magic", who has the task of preventing and curing diseases. The tunggal panaluan, which is used in almost all rituals, is one of the most important ritual objects of a datu and, alongside the medicine horn, the most important sign of his office. During the magical acts, the datu goes into a trance and performs the ritual dances with the tunggal panaluan in his hand. The Batak have two types of ritual sticks: tunggal panaluan and tungkot malehat. The latter has a smooth shaft and is only carved at the top. Whether these moulds also differ in their magical function has not been clarified.