Kakawin Ramayana

Last updated

A version of Kakawin Ramayana, written in 1975. Kakawin ramayana Or 14022 f2-4.jpg
A version of Kakawin Ramayana, written in 1975.

Kakawin Ramayana is an Old Javanese poem rendering of the Sanskrit Ramayana in kakawin meter.

Contents

Kakawin Rāmâyaṇa is a kakawin , the Javanese form of kāvya, a poem modeled on traditional Sanskritam meters.It is believed to have been written in Central Java (modern Indonesia) in approximately the late ninth or early tenth century, during the era of Mataram Kingdom. [1] :128 According to its latest English translator, Stuart Robson: "the Old Javanese Rāmāyaṇa was written between 856 and about 930, with the likelihood that the last section was added in the period 900-930." [2] :31

Among the Javanese, Kakawin Ramayana has always been considered the pinnacle of artistic expression. The large number of preserved manuscripts attest to its popularity and adaptation. It is the lengthiest of all the Old Javanese kakawins of the Hindu-Buddhist period of Java.

Divergence

The Javanese Ramayana differs markedly from the original Hindu prototype. The first half of this Ramayana Jawa is similar to the original Sanskrit version, while the latter half is divergent to the point of being unrecognizable by Indian scholars of the original Ramayana . One of the many major changes is the inclusion of the all-powerful Javanese indigenous deity dhayana Guardian God of Java Semar (in Balinese literature known as Twalen) and his misshapen sons, Gareng, Petruk , and Bagong who make up the numerically significant four Punokawan or "clown servants". This latter, altered half of the original tale is the most popular, and it is performed in all wayang performances. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

Sources

Literary scholars hold that the textual source of the Old Javanese kakawin Rāmâyaṇa might have been the Sanskrit poem Rāvaṇavadha or Bhaṭṭi-kāvya by the Indian poet Bhaṭṭi, between the 6th and 7th century AD. The first half of the Kakawin Rāmâyaṇa is more or less an exact rendering of Bhaṭṭi-kāvya.

Synopsis

Dasarata from Ayodya had four sons: Rama, Bharata, Laksmana and Shatrughna. One day an ascetic named Wiswamitra requested that Dasaratha help him to repel a demon attack on his hermitage. Then Rama and Laksmana departed.

In the hermitage, Rama and Laksmana destroyed the demons and proceeded to the Mithila country where a swayambara was being held. The visitor of the swayambara was to be given the king's daughter, Sinta, in marriage. The participants were told to draw the bow that had accompanied Sinta in her birth. Not a single one was successful except for Rama, then they got married and returned to Ayodya. In Ayodya, Rama was prepared to become the king, because he was the eldest son.

However Kaikeyi, another wife of the king Dasaratha, invoked the king's oath to her asking for her son Bharata to become king. Dejected, king Dasaratha granted him the kingship. Rama, Sinta and Laksmana were made to leave the palace, and, grieving intensely, king Dasaratha died.

The new king Bharata sought out Rama. He felt he did not deserve kingship and asked Rama to return to Ayodhya. Rama, however, refused and gave his sandals to Bharata as the symbol of his authority.

Bharata returned to the palace with Rama's sandals. Rama with his two companions went to the woods to live there. During their stay, a female demon called Surpanaka saw Laksamana and fell in love with him and disguised herself as a beautiful woman. Laksmana was not interested in her and even cut off the tip of her nose when she threatened to grow violent. She was enraged and told this to her brother, Rawana the demon King of Lanka. Surpanka told Rawana of the beauty of Sinta and thus persuaded him to kidnap Sinta.

Sinta saw a beautiful deer and asked Rama to catch it. Rama obliged entrusting Laksmana to protect Sinta. Rama was gone for a long period, and Sinta, growing worried convinced Laksmana to leave her and go in search of Rama. Rawana seized the moment to abduct Sinta and take her to Lanka.

Then Rama and Laksmana tried to get her back. In their endeavor they got help from the incarnation of Shiva Hanuman.

In the end Rawana was killed. Rama and Sinta then returned to Ayodya where Rama was crowned.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Ramayana</i> Ancient Sanskrit epic

The Ramayana, also known as Valmiki Ramayana, as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text from ancient India, one of the two important epics of Hinduism known as the Itihasas, the other being the Mahabharata. The epic narrates the life of Rama, a prince of Ayodhya in the kingdom of Kosala. The epic follows his fourteen-year exile to the forest urged by his father King Dasharatha, on the request of Rama's stepmother Kaikeyi; his travels across forests in the Indian subcontinent with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana; the kidnapping of Sita by Ravana, the king of Lanka, that resulted in war; and Rama's eventual return to Ayodhya along with Sita to be crowned king amidst jubilation and celebration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakshmana</span> Hindu god and Ramas brother in epic Ramayana

Lakshmana, also known as Laxmana, Saumitra and Ramanuja, is a Hindu god and the younger brother of Rama in the Hindu epic Ramayana. He is considered as an incarnation of Shesha, the lord of serpents. Lakshmana was married to Urmila, and is known for his loyalty and dedication towards Rama.

Old Javanese or Kawi is the oldest attested phase of the Javanese language. It was spoken in the eastern part of what is now Central Java and the whole of East Java, Indonesia. As a literary language, Kawi was used across Java and on the islands of Madura, Bali, and Lombok. It had a sizable vocabulary of Sanskrit loanwords but had not yet developed the formal krama language register, to be used with one's social superiors that is characteristic of modern Javanese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kakawin Bhāratayuddha</span> Balinese palm-leaf manuscript

Kakawin Bhāratayuddha is an Old Javanese poetical rendering of some books (parva) of the Mahabharata by Mpu Sedah and his brother Mpu Panuluh in Indian meters. The commencement of this work was exactly 6 November 1157 by Sedah, and finished by Panuluh. The year of the composition is given in a chronogram sanga-kuda-śuddha-candramā which gives the year 1079 Saka. This is the equivalent of 1157 AD. Bhāratayuddha means "India's War" or "War of Bharat".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bharatayuddha</span>

Bharatayuddha or Bharat Yudha is a term used in Indonesia for the Kurukshetra War, and to describe the Javanese translation and interpretation of the Mahabharata. The Mahabharata was translated into (old) Javanese under the reign of king Dharmawangsa of Medang. The current version was started by Sedah in 1157, and finished by mpu Panuluh. Mpu Panuluh also wrote the Kakawin Hariwangsa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sita</span> Major goddess in Hinduism and consort of Rama

Sita, also known as Siya, Janaki, Maithili, Vaidehi, Bhumija and Seetha is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic Ramayana. Sita is the consort of Rama, the avatar of god Vishnu, and is regarded as an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She is the chief goddess of the Rama-centric Hindu traditions and is known as the goddess of beauty and devotion. Sita is known for her dedication, self-sacrifice, courage, and purity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urmila</span> Hindu goddess and wife of Lakshmana in epic Ramayana

Urmila, is a Hindu goddess and the princess of Videha in the Hindu epic Ramayana. She is considered to be an avatāra of Nagalakshmi, the serpent goddess. Urmila was married to Lakshmana and is known for her dedication towards her husband, for her courage and sacrifice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kausalya</span> Queen of Kosala and mother of Rama in epic Ramayana

Kausalya is a queen of Kosala in the Hindu epic Ramayana. She is the first queen consort of Dasaratha, who ruled Kosala from its capital Ayodhya. She is the mother of Rama, the male protagonist of the epic. She is a secondary character in the Ramayana, so only aspects of her life are described in detail.

Kakawin are long narrative poems composed in Old Javanese, also called "Kawi", written in verse form with rhythms and meters derived from Sanskrit literature. Poets used a formalized literary language, rather than the vernacular. Poets composed and performed the poems at the courts of central and east Java kings between the 9th and 16th centuries, and in Bali.

Hikayat Seri Rama is the Malay literary adaptation of the Hindu Ramayana epic in the form of a hikayat. The main story remains the same as the original Sanskrit version but some aspects of it were slightly modified to a local context such as the spelling and pronunciation of names. Numerous branch stories had also been developed as accretions to or extensions of this epic with the upgrading of minor characters to major ones, or the invention of totally new characters. For example, Malay writers and storytellers have produced variations in which Laksmana (Lakshman) plays a larger role, sometimes becoming more important than Rama the elder prince much like the Lao Phra Lak Phra Lam. Rama, although righteous and virtuous, was perceived to be weak and his character is often moved to the background while the younger Laksmana is admired for his courage and willingness to react decisively.

<i>Kakawin Sutasoma</i> Old Javanese poem

Kakawin Sutasoma is an Old Javanese poem in poetic meters. It is the source of the motto of Indonesia, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, which is usually translated as Unity in Diversity, although it means '(Although) in pieces, yet One'. It is not without reason that the motto was taken from this kakawin as the kakawin teaches religious tolerance, specifically between the Hindu and Buddhist religions.

Versions of the <i>Ramayana</i> Different versions of the Indian epic poem Ramayana

Depending on the methods of counting, as many as three hundred versions of the Indian Hindu epic poem, the Ramayana, are known to exist. The oldest version is generally recognized to be the Sanskrit version attributed to the sage Narada, the Mula Ramayana. Narada passed on the knowledge to Valmiki, who authored Valmiki Ramayana, the present oldest available version of Ramayana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balakanda</span> Part of Ramayana describing Ramas childhood

Bala Kanda is the first Book of the Valmiki Ramayana. The Bala Kanda, in part—if not in its entirety—is generally regarded as an interpolation to the original epic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rama</span> Major deity in Hinduism

Rama is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Being.

Bhaṭṭikāvya is a Sanskrit-language poem dating from the 7th century CE, in the formal genre of the "great poem" (mahākāvya). It focuses on two deeply rooted Sanskrit traditions, the Ramayana and Panini's grammar, while incorporating numerous other traditions, in a rich mix of science and art, poetically retelling the adventures of Rama and a compendium of examples of grammar and rhetoric. As literature, it is often considered to withstand comparison with the best of Sanskrit poetry.

<i>Shribhargavaraghaviyam</i> Poem composed by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya

Śrībhārgavarāghavīyam (2002), literally Of Paraśurāma and Rāma, is a Sanskrit epic poem (Mahākāvya) composed by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya (1950–). It consists of 2121 verses in 40 Sanskrit and Prakrit metres and is divided into 21 cantos (Sargas) of 101 verses each. The epic is the narrative of the two Rāma Avatars – Paraśurāma and Rāma, which is found in the Rāmāyaṇa and other Hindu scriptures. Bhārgava refers to Paraśurāma, as he incarnated in the family of the sage Bhṛgu, while Rāghava refers to Rāma as he incarnated in the royal dynasty of king Raghu. For the work, the poet was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for Sanskrit in 2005, and several other awards.

<i>Arjunawiwaha</i> 11th century Balinese palm-leaf manuscript

Arjunawiwāha was the first kakawin to appear in the East Javan period of the Javanese classical Hindu-Buddhist era in the 11th-century. It was composed by Mpu Kanwa during the reign of King Airlangga, king of the Kahuripan Kingdom, circa 1019 to 1042 CE. Arjunawiwaha is estimated to have been finished in 1030.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Javanisation</span>

Javanisation or Javanization is the process in which Javanese culture dominates, assimilates, or influences other cultures in general. The term "Javanise" means "to make or to become Javanese in form, idiom, style, or character". This domination could take place in various aspects; such as cultural, language, politics and social.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trijata</span> Demoness in the Hindu epic Ramayana

Trijata is a rakshasi (demoness) in the Hindu epic Ramayana who is assigned the duty of guarding Sita who was kidnapped by the demon-king of Lanka Ravana. In later adaptions of Ramayana, Trijata is described as a daughter of Vibhishana, the brother of Ravana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kawaca</span> A Javanese term for war attire

Kawaca is a term for war attire mentioned in Old Javanese texts. Its name comes from the Sanskrit kawaca which means armor, cuirass, a type of chain mail, any kind of cover, corset, jacket.

References

  1. Coedès, George (1968). Walter F. Vella (ed.). The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. trans.Susan Brown Cowing. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN   978-0-8248-0368-1.
  2. Robson, Stuart. Old Javanese Ramayana. Tokyo: Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, 2015.
  3. Stutterheim, W.F.: 1921: Rama-legenden und Rama reliefs in Indonesien. Mueller, Munich: 1925.
  4. Hooykaas C. The Old Javanese Ramayana Kakawin. The Hague: Nijhoff: 1955.
  5. Museum manuscript Kropak no. 1102 Ramayana of the Sundanese Lontar Collection (Koleksi Lontar Sunda of 'Museum dan Kepustakaan Nasional Indonesia', Jakarta National Museum.
  6. Netscher E. iets over eenige in de Preanger-regentschappen gevonden Kawi handschriften in Tijdschrift van het Bataviaasch Genootschap. Volume 1. pp469-479. Chapter Het verboden Tschiboeroej in Pleyte CM Soendasche Schetsen (Bandung Kolff C 1905. pp160-175.)
  7. Nurdin. J aka J. Noorduyn: 1971.Traces of an Old Sundanese Ramayana Tradition in Indonesia, Vol. 12, (Oct., 1971), pp. 151-157 Southeast Asia Publications at Cornell University. Cornell University: 1971
  8. Hatley, Barbara: 1971. "Wayang and Ludruk: Polarities in Java" in The Drama Review: TDR, Vol. 15, No. 2, Theatre in Asia (Spring, 1971), pp. 88-101. MIT Press: 1971
  9. "Suryo S. Negoro. Semar. in Joglo Semar (Semar's mansion)". Archived from the original on 11 July 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
  10. http://google.com/scholar?q=cache:kmHqUDWeIYAJ:scholar.google.com/+javanese+ramayana+differences+to+indian+ramayana&hl=en&as_sdt=2000 [ dead link ]
  11. http://google.com/scholar?q=cache:NkfJ43PTUU0J:scholar.google.com/+javanese+ramayana+differences+to+indian+ramayana&hl=en&as_sdt=2000 [ dead link ]
  12. http://google.com/scholar?q=cache:vJC5vH4_cT8J:scholar.google.com/+javanese+ramayana+differences+to+indian+ramayana&hl=en&as_sdt=2000 [ dead link ]
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. Desai, Santosh N. (1970). "Ramayana--An Instrument of Historical Contact and Cultural Transmission between India and Asia". The Journal of Asian Studies. 30 (1): 5–20. doi:10.2307/2942721. JSTOR   2942721. S2CID   162031262.

http://www.joglosemar.co.id/semar.html Archived 11 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine