The Jenglot, a Mystical Indonesian Creature

Illus. Dark Arts of Syed Wilson - Jenglot

According to an Indonesian legend, Jenglot was an ascetic who wanted to learn the "Ilmu Batara Karang" or the way to eternal life. He was a hermit who worships demons to attain mystical powers and ability. 

Ilmu Batara Karang originated in Tasikmalaya City, West Java, Indonesia, before the time of islam. It is an occult practice in Javanese and Sudanese culture which is believed to provide immunity and strength to its owner, that practice still pervades to modern times though.  The owner of Ilmu Karang is believed to be able to melt or melt his opponent with just one touch. Apart from providing immunity, Ilmu Karang is also said to bring longevity or even immortality to its owner. They say if a person with great supernatural power meditates in a certain cave, they'll become a Jenglot. In other retellings of the legend, it is said that the earth itself rejects the corpse of a deceased Illmu Karang practitioner and that shrivelled corpse becomes the Jenglot.

If a person with great supernatural power meditates in a certain cave, they'll become a Jenglot.

A Jenglot is about the height of an adult's forearm. It looks like petrified creature with long hair, fangs, and talons. It's arms are usually crossed over its chest. Today, a replica Jenglot can be bought at online or speciality shops. Though many of these modern Jenglots are not the real deal but it's accepted by collectors and believers that these replica Jenglot under the auspice of a powerful Dukun (occult shaman) can also perform the intended tasks. 

People who keep a Jenglot does it primarily for three reasons. One is to attain wealth and prosperity for their business, and the the other two are for sinister reasons like causing harm to an enemy or increasing one's spiritual power to to battle other practitioners.

If you want to use it to bring you wealth, you must perform a ritual that involves an offering (sajen) and place money in front of it. Let it see the object that you desire. For other purposes like revenge or causing harm to a person all you need is a picture of the person you want the Jenglot to cause harm to.

​The Jenglot is known to have other spiritual properties such as:

• To help extract otherworldly items like mystical stones, rings and kris etc.
• To have the jinns fear you as if you are their 'king'
• At times used to make love potions or love spells
• To counter any black magic attacks by your enemies/rivals

An occult practitioner trained in specific crafts is able to bind a jenglot to his will, but such a burden is not one that comes with a price. Once you possess a Jenglot you have to abide by an 'agreement' between you and the Jenglot. 

• To denounce your religious faith,beliefs and practices
• Perform meditation
• Offer blood sacrifices

It is common for Jenglot owners to feed them with animal blood or even offer it a sacrifice. Should you fail to do so, the Jenglot will harm you and your loved ones and it is said that they will tie your soul, preventing you from going over to the next life.

Jenglot will harm you and your loved ones and it is said that they will tie your soul, preventing you from going over to the next life.

A Jenglot also has two different genders. For male practitioners will attain female Jenglot while female practitioners will attain male Jenglot. Jenglots can also come in different forms. While most of them are humanoid in appearances, there are those with half fish and half snake features. In Islam, it is believed that Jenglots are actually malevolent djinns that has taken this form so that it could be physically seen or touched by humans. 

In some retelling of Jenglot experiences, it is said that bathing a a jenglot in blood will cause it to animate. Others say that the jenglat does not animate but when you put a glass of blood near it, the blood would appear to drain away as if someone is drinking it. Some say the jenglot comes alive and consumes the blood when it is alone.

According to Muhammad Syakir Muhammad Azmi, a Malaysian Islamic medical practitioner, the jenglot may be made from ordinary materials. The price at which these objects are sold depends on how real they look, though they are generally inexpensive. On the other hand, the object may also be made using animal fetuses. Jenglots made from this material are believed to be more efficacious, and therefore would fetch a much higher price on the market. As of the time of this writing, you can find five Jenglots on sale at eBay ranging from SGD 150 - 450 dollars. ​

Photo provided by Syed Wilson from a 2019 Convention 'Crusade Against Black Magic'. 

The results of a study that was published in the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences in 2009 found that the hair particles from a sample of an alleged Jenglot was actually of human origin. The study also disproved, in this particular case, the claim that the Jenglot is a rare animal species that lives deep in the jungles of Indonesia. Real Jenglots are extremely hard to find and those that have seen it claimed that immense power radiates from it.

Fortunately (or unfortunately) the ones sol these days do not have the same power but that doesn't mean that the items are not infused with negative entities. A power Dukun may still tie djinns or other spirits into this object to perform similar tasks. Most buyers probably won't know the difference.