The thesis examines three related millenarian movements
among the Batak: Parmalim, Na Siak Bagi and Parhudamdam.
During the latter part of the 19th century, the Toba
Batak area in north Sumatra was exposed to Euroean influence
after the defeat of the traditional power symbol, Si Singa
Mangaraja. Millenarian expectations began after Batak people
were obliged to recognize the superiority of European power,
yet were in many cases not satisfied with the new order. The
Parmalim movement was started by Guru Somalaing, a datu
(magician), who claimed to be able to gain access to the
source of European power (Jehova) while retaining the essence
of Toba Batak values. He gained followers mainly from places
where the people were newly exposed to European influence and
still retained their indigenous value systems. Parmalim
followers believed that German missionaries working in these places were really Batak divine
kings and that some day these kings and Raja Rum (identified with an Italian traveller
Modigliani) would drive the Dutch away