Unveiling the Viral Phenomenon of Mount Kawi's Pesugihan in the Era of Digital Hyperreality

The issue of Mount Kawi's pesugihan (wealth rituals) has resurfaced on social media, reflecting a sociological phenomenon where mystical narratives become an escape for society amidst economic pressure and information disruption.

Oleh Admin Portal 07 Jul 2026 2 menit baca 💬 0 komentar

Sumber: rmol.id

The Mount Kawi burial site (Pesarean Gunung Kawi) has recently come back into the sharp spotlight across various social media platforms. Issues surrounding the practice of pesugihan associated with this pilgrimage site have suddenly become a noisy topic of discussion, triggered by massive mystical narratives in the digital space. This phenomenon has sparked a wave of public curiosity while simultaneously obscuring the historical facts behind the resting place of these prominent figures.

Historically, Mount Kawi is the burial site of Kiai Zakaria II (Eyang Jugo) and Raden Mas Iman Soedjono (Eyang Sujo), Islamic scholars and fighters who followed Prince Diponegoro. In the past, this place was visited by pilgrims purely to pray and pay respect to ancestors. However, over time, narratives of instant wealth became strongly attached to it, primarily triggered by the financial success of entrepreneurs who had pilgrimaged there in the past, which was later misunderstood as the result of occult rituals.

Amidst this viral trend, various hoaxes have emerged in the form of digital flyers promising "mystical fund" packages or pesugihan rituals yielding billions of rupiah. The management of Pesarean Gunung Kawi has firmly denied any involvement in such practices. The price lists that circulated on social media were merely official logistics fees for communal feasts (selamatan), cone-shaped rice offerings (tumpeng), and puppet shows (wayang), provided for transparency so that pilgrims would not be scammed by brokers.

This phenomenon can be analyzed through a sociological lens as a form of hyperreality. Modern society, burdened by economic pressures, tends to use the pesugihan narrative as a form of catharsis or escape. The virality of this issue is not merely due to public ignorance, but rather a satirical response to a socio-economic reality that is perceived as increasingly difficult. Behind the memes and silly discussions about pesugihan lies public anxiety over the hope for a prosperous life, which is becoming harder to achieve through formal channels.