Simbol adalah sesuatu yang mewakili sesuatu yang lainnya, khususnya objek material yang mewakili objek abstrak. Sedangkan mitos adalah cerita tradisional, khususnya cerita tentang awal mula seorang tokoh atau fenomena alam, dan biasanya melibatkan sifat-sifat supranatural atau kejadian-kejadian tertentu.
Berbicara tentang simbol dan mitos, kedua hal ini tidak dapat dilepaskaitkan. Karena satu simbol bisa saja bermula dari mitos tertentu yang telah tercipta sebelumnya. Apalagi ketika kita berbicara tentang kedua hal ini tidak hanya pada tataran seni, tetapi sudah masuk kepada tataran kebudayaan. Kebudayaan primitif telah mengajarkan kepada kita betapa pentingnya kedudukan sebuah simbol dalam kehidupan manusia –pada zaman itu-. Ketika komunikasi oral belum terlalu dikenal sehingga percakapan yang terjadi –sebenarnya- tidak efektif, mereka mewakilkan percakapan ataupun hal-hal yang rumit itu kepada sebuah simbol. Bisa jadi pula, simbol-simbol yang ada itu memperkuat mitos yang ternyata baru tercipta di kemudian hari.
Setiap masyarakat di negara manapun pasti memiliki mitos dan simbol tertentu. Simbol dan mitos yang ada pada satu masyarakat bisa saja bertentangan atau diinterpretasikan berbeda di masyarakat lainnya. Disinilah latar belakang kehidupan budaya sangat berpengaruh. Karena itulah orang tidak bisa sembarangan begitu saja dalam menerjemahkan sebuah simbol. Satu simbol bisa diartikan dengan sangat berbeda di dua daerah yang memiliki latar belakang berbeda.
Hal lain yang mempengaruhi keberadaan satu simbol di satu masyarakat -selain latar belakang budaya- adalah pengalaman sejarah dan doktrin agama. Karena hal itulah kita tidak akan menemukan simbol berupa salah satu bagian tubuh manusia di tanah Aceh sebagaimana simbol itu berdiri megah di negara-negara Eropa.
Di tanah Sunda, ada satu simbol yang cukup berpengaruh dalam aspek militernya. Kodam Siliwangi memiliki logo berupa gambar kepala harimau yang memiliki latar belakang warna hitam dan tulisan siliwangi di bawahnya. Simbol ini bermula dari mitos yang sangat melegenda di tengah masyarakat Sunda, yaitu legenda Prabu Siliwangi. Yang pada tahap selanjutnya, gambar harimau ini juga pernah digunakan sebagai logo klub sepak bola besar asal Bandung, Persib.
Bagaimana sejarahnya simbol harimau ini menjadi bagian yang penting bagi masyarakan Jawa Barat?
Zaman dahulu, pernah berdiri satu kerajaan hindu yang cukup besar di tanah Sunda, yaitu Kerajaan Pajajaran. Kerajaan ini dipimpin oleh raja yang bergelar Prabu Siliwangi. Prabu Siliwangi dipercaya sebagai seorang yang memiliki kekuatan yang sangat hebat. Sehingga orang-orang menjadikan harimau sebagai penggambaran dari Prabu Siliwangi.
Ada legenda yang menyatakan bahwa Kerajaan Pajajaran dilindungi oleh sekumpulan harimau, penjagaan yang begitu hebat inilah yang membuat Kerajaan Pajajaran menjadi satu kerajaan yang besar pada masanya. Diyakini masyarakat Sunda bahwa hancurnya kerajaan pajajaran itu semata karena tulisan takdir.
Ada juga mitos yang hanya dipercaya sebagian kecil masyarakat Sunda bahwa harimau menjadi simbol dari raja Pajajaran karena dahulu kala ketika Prabu Siliwangi terdesak oleh musuhnya, Sang Prabu pergi ke sebuah gunung dan disana dia menjelma menjadi harimau yang mampu mengalahkan musuhnya. Tapi kemudian setelah itu keberadaan Sang Prabu tidak diketahui kejelasannya. Ada yang mengatakan Sang Prabu telah berubah menjadi rakyat biasa karena sudah melihat tanda-tanda kehancuran kerajaannya. Ada juga yang percaya bahwa Sang Prabu telah menjadi begitu suci sehingga dia diangkat menjadi Sang Hyang, yang artinya “yang teragung”. Itulah kenapa tanah Sunda mendapat julukan parahyangan. Ini berasal dari kata para dan hyang, yang jika diartikan secara utuh artinya tanah tempat para mereka yang agung.
Kepercayaan sebagian besar masyarakat Sunda yang meyakini bahwa Prabu Siliwangi begitu kuat dan pasukan keamanan kerajaan merupakan sekumpulan harimau-lah yang membuat lambang kepala harimau sekarang dipakai sebagai lambang dari kesatuan militer di jawa barat, Kodam Siliwangi. Apalagi di kodim 0607 Sukabumi, lambang kepala harimau begitu tegas dengan latar belakang yang diberikan berupa warna hijau dan merah.
Begitu pula dengan klub sepak bola Persib Bandung. Julukan yang begitu melekat pada klub ini adalah Maung Bandung. Stadion yang menjadi markas mereka pun bernama Stadion Siliwangi. Hal ini juga tidak bisa dilepaskan dari kepercayaan masyarakat Bandung tentang betapa kuatnya kekuatan Prabu Siliwangi dan sekelompok harimau yang menjadi pasukan keamanan kerajaan pajajaran itu. Mereka mengharapkan besarnya kekuatan Prabu Siliwangi juga mengalir di darah pemainnya dan selalu membawa Persib menjadi juara.
Begitulah, betapa sebuah simbol yang sederhana ternyata mewakili hal yang begitu rumit. Kekuatan sebuah mitos yang dipadukan dengan besarnya sebuah harapan, melahirkan satu aspek budaya yang bernilai tinggi, simbol.
Kamis, 14 April 2011
THE CONSENTRATION OF THE TRANSLATOR
Translation in puppet show is one unique way in developing the show of puppet it self. Some people said that one of the problems in enjoying the puppet show is the lack of understanding of its origin language. With this translation, that problem has been over came. There are two kind of translation, carefully prepared translation and spontaneous one. In the first way of translation, we could avoid the mistakes by well preparation. In the second one, spontaneous translation, we have some things to be anticipated like the translation for the joke and proverb. The translator said that those things are the difficult thing to be translated. From the show on October 19th, I saw how spontaneous translation needs not only the great ability but also the great struggle.
The translator only could prepared the tools she need like the good viewer and good computer for typing. The sound system also has to be prepared well, because the translator has to listen what puppet man said carefully. She did not know what kind of story the puppet man would perform, so the translator has to master all aspects of the puppet very well, such as the behavior and the certain character of the puppet. It requires the great attempts to do that kind of work.
The practical aspect has to pay attention of is the translator concentration. She does the translation mainly rely on only her listening. She could not concern even a little bit of the movement of the puppets. She also has to think in really short time from what the puppet man say to be typed. It can’t be avoided in spontaneous translation that the translator will mistype some words. For example when Kumbakarna said brother, the translator type it brothehrs.
Another thing that could influence the translator concentration is the situation of the show. The show that held outdoor really possibly makes the translator feel stifling because there are a lot of people there whereas there is no AC at that time. The translator also has no assistant who will help. For example, in the middle of translating the translator feel thirsty, she has to consider hardly when the exact time she could drink. Because if she careless even just for a second, she will late the story and of course it will be the great problem for her translation.
Thus why I said for this kind of work the person need the great struggle for do the work as well. It is because for the spontaneous translation, the practical aspects affect the translator concentration really easily.
The translator only could prepared the tools she need like the good viewer and good computer for typing. The sound system also has to be prepared well, because the translator has to listen what puppet man said carefully. She did not know what kind of story the puppet man would perform, so the translator has to master all aspects of the puppet very well, such as the behavior and the certain character of the puppet. It requires the great attempts to do that kind of work.
The practical aspect has to pay attention of is the translator concentration. She does the translation mainly rely on only her listening. She could not concern even a little bit of the movement of the puppets. She also has to think in really short time from what the puppet man say to be typed. It can’t be avoided in spontaneous translation that the translator will mistype some words. For example when Kumbakarna said brother, the translator type it brothehrs.
Another thing that could influence the translator concentration is the situation of the show. The show that held outdoor really possibly makes the translator feel stifling because there are a lot of people there whereas there is no AC at that time. The translator also has no assistant who will help. For example, in the middle of translating the translator feel thirsty, she has to consider hardly when the exact time she could drink. Because if she careless even just for a second, she will late the story and of course it will be the great problem for her translation.
Thus why I said for this kind of work the person need the great struggle for do the work as well. It is because for the spontaneous translation, the practical aspects affect the translator concentration really easily.
Broadway and Glee
As we know, Broadway was so popular on its era. People were so attracted to every performance it brought such as Witched, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserable, The beauty and the Beast, etc. Every performance had its own issue to tell to the public. We can see in the documentary how people were willing to wait to get the ticket of the performance. In theater world, Broadway had built its own history. We can’t avoid that this earlier successful of Broadway somehow impact the development of modern version of this kind of performance: Glee.
The popularity and the quality of Broadway actresses and performances somehow challenge the young generation to follow that path of success, even to give their best in performing. Broadway is seems to be the senior of Glee generation. We can see that from some Broadway artists that take part in some of Glee shows.
Why has Glee become such a popular show today? The answer is perhaps not so far from the answer of Broadway case. As we know these two shows not only deliver a story to its spectators as we usually enjoy in play, but they also include other forms of performance that is music and dance. I myself, as a youth, like something that is mixed. It is more attracted to enjoy a various things in the same time than a monotone one. It is more lively than the ordinary performance.
Glee captures the reality of youth’s life, the dynamics of dreams, hopes, competitions, and love stories. Probably it is because the story that is so close to their life so people continue to respond to this show. In one of the episodes of Glee, I see the story talks about sex among youth. As I saw in the documentary of Broadway, there was also a time where this subject was banned somehow from the public topic. Again, I found the same way of some people to talk about this topic in different way that is through performance. There are also some scenes of the show that talks about gender issues and feminism. So actually Glee is not a performance of entertainment only but also a way to deliver many issues. Beside that, Glee like remind how Disco was so popular in 93’s and they give new touch by mixing it with rap. It’s pretty cool, for me.
People do not mind to follow the development of this show and other forms of performance such as movies because these shows somehow fulfill their need of entertainment and thought. By watching these shows, they not only get the relaxation of the string of music and the beauty of dance moves, but also they can see what actually happen in the society through the please delivery.
In addition, some people especially youth make the characters of the show the role model of their identity. After watching the show, some youth are inspired by the character for what they did in the story. Then they want to imitate that in their reality.
The popularity and the quality of Broadway actresses and performances somehow challenge the young generation to follow that path of success, even to give their best in performing. Broadway is seems to be the senior of Glee generation. We can see that from some Broadway artists that take part in some of Glee shows.
Why has Glee become such a popular show today? The answer is perhaps not so far from the answer of Broadway case. As we know these two shows not only deliver a story to its spectators as we usually enjoy in play, but they also include other forms of performance that is music and dance. I myself, as a youth, like something that is mixed. It is more attracted to enjoy a various things in the same time than a monotone one. It is more lively than the ordinary performance.
Glee captures the reality of youth’s life, the dynamics of dreams, hopes, competitions, and love stories. Probably it is because the story that is so close to their life so people continue to respond to this show. In one of the episodes of Glee, I see the story talks about sex among youth. As I saw in the documentary of Broadway, there was also a time where this subject was banned somehow from the public topic. Again, I found the same way of some people to talk about this topic in different way that is through performance. There are also some scenes of the show that talks about gender issues and feminism. So actually Glee is not a performance of entertainment only but also a way to deliver many issues. Beside that, Glee like remind how Disco was so popular in 93’s and they give new touch by mixing it with rap. It’s pretty cool, for me.
People do not mind to follow the development of this show and other forms of performance such as movies because these shows somehow fulfill their need of entertainment and thought. By watching these shows, they not only get the relaxation of the string of music and the beauty of dance moves, but also they can see what actually happen in the society through the please delivery.
In addition, some people especially youth make the characters of the show the role model of their identity. After watching the show, some youth are inspired by the character for what they did in the story. Then they want to imitate that in their reality.
Being religious in Hinduism
For being religious is an obligation for everyone who has the faith to its religion. It can be showed by how people behave and interact with others. It also could be seen in their traditions which are connects them to the God. As Hinduism is a religion that very respect local culture, the practical of the tradition or pray is quite different from one place to another.
I’ve done an interview with Arak Agung Sagung Dwivandari Oka, the student of Faculty of Laws who is coming from Denpasar, Bali. She said that in Hinduism, the follower is asked to be honest to the god, Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wase and mainly to their selves. Because the main doctrine of Hinduism is that the followers could realize their own obligation, whether it is to god or human and nature. In praying for example, the followers suggested to pray (go to Pura) three times a day. They are when the sun rises, the sun in the middle of day, and the sun sets. No body will watch over them. It depends on the follower consciousness to do that pray as it suggested or not.
One of Hindu tradition that shows the relation of the followers and God is they will go to the beach one day before Nyepi to wash their selves by the sea water. The sea water is the media from Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wase to clean their body and their soul from the sin.
Another tradition of Hinduism is Masangih. It is the ceremony of shaping the teeth for teenager who will enter its adult. Commonly, people do this in the age of 15. One day before the ceremony, that person doesn’t allowed to go anywhere. Teeth that be shaped is the fang because It is a symbol of bad soul of Buta Kala. This ceremony symbolize the abolition of bad lust of human.
I’ve done an interview with Arak Agung Sagung Dwivandari Oka, the student of Faculty of Laws who is coming from Denpasar, Bali. She said that in Hinduism, the follower is asked to be honest to the god, Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wase and mainly to their selves. Because the main doctrine of Hinduism is that the followers could realize their own obligation, whether it is to god or human and nature. In praying for example, the followers suggested to pray (go to Pura) three times a day. They are when the sun rises, the sun in the middle of day, and the sun sets. No body will watch over them. It depends on the follower consciousness to do that pray as it suggested or not.
One of Hindu tradition that shows the relation of the followers and God is they will go to the beach one day before Nyepi to wash their selves by the sea water. The sea water is the media from Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wase to clean their body and their soul from the sin.
Another tradition of Hinduism is Masangih. It is the ceremony of shaping the teeth for teenager who will enter its adult. Commonly, people do this in the age of 15. One day before the ceremony, that person doesn’t allowed to go anywhere. Teeth that be shaped is the fang because It is a symbol of bad soul of Buta Kala. This ceremony symbolize the abolition of bad lust of human.
Approaching New People
Talking about the way of approaching new people and also about polite and impolite question, actually we are talking about a standard. As we already knew, different country and different culture have the different standard. That’s why we have to understand other’s culture standard in order to avoid misunderstanding about we as Indonesian people with the foreigner.
I met a friend from Medicine Faculty according to this matter. Her name is Ng Hui Ying. She is a Malaysian Chinese who studies in semester three at UGM. She told me that in her culture, it is so important to keep the privacy of people there. We can’t do or say something to them as we want without asking their permission. It is really contrast with our culture where someone used to ask everything about people even the one who they just meet.
In Indonesia, it is common to invite the new people to come to our house for dinner or just little discussion. But in her culture, it is a bit strange to do that. Because they just invite someone to their home if there is an important thing to talk. She told me that if you bring your boy friend to your home, it means you want to marry him. But it is different case if you bring your friends for only having fun at your home.
If we ask people there about their family or their job, it is polite. Also when we ask them about religion, it is still polite. Because there are so many believes, so they will tolerate about the difference of believe. But it is not polite ask them about age. They will be very annoyed, especially the ladies.
I met a friend from Medicine Faculty according to this matter. Her name is Ng Hui Ying. She is a Malaysian Chinese who studies in semester three at UGM. She told me that in her culture, it is so important to keep the privacy of people there. We can’t do or say something to them as we want without asking their permission. It is really contrast with our culture where someone used to ask everything about people even the one who they just meet.
In Indonesia, it is common to invite the new people to come to our house for dinner or just little discussion. But in her culture, it is a bit strange to do that. Because they just invite someone to their home if there is an important thing to talk. She told me that if you bring your boy friend to your home, it means you want to marry him. But it is different case if you bring your friends for only having fun at your home.
If we ask people there about their family or their job, it is polite. Also when we ask them about religion, it is still polite. Because there are so many believes, so they will tolerate about the difference of believe. But it is not polite ask them about age. They will be very annoyed, especially the ladies.
ANIMISM IN MODERN ERA
Animism is a belief that a soul or spirit existed in every object, even if it was inanimate. In a future state this soul or spirit would exist as part of an immaterial soul. The spirit, therefore, was thought to be universal. This belief developed among primitive, prehistoric people led to changes that really affected their global life. In its practical order, the followers of this belief consider certain places sacred, which they believed were the resident place of the forefather soul who had certain great power. These people practice certain rites at certain times to worship the soul or to ask help from these souls of their descendants.
Trading activities done by Indonesian traders and some traders from other regions out of Indonesia brought new religions which would develop in Indonesian societies in the future. Those religions are Hinduism, which arrived in Indonesia around the second century, Buddhism in fourth century, Islam in fourteenth century, and Christian in sixteenth century. In history, animism has faded in the face of these new religions. –However-, there are Indonesian people who still hold on this belief. In West Borneo, approximately 7.5 million Dayak people still believe in animism.
In the regions that have been touched by modern technology and modern thinking -conscious or not- animism is still upheld by some in the society. One of the realizations of this belief is meditation, which is done in certain places to interact with forefather soul. Followers ask their forefather’s help to facilitate their certain businesses and other matters of importance like trade, carrier, even love.
In Sukabumi, this kind of activity can be found in one place named Gua Kuta Maneh. This cave is located in Kuta Maneh, Cikujang Village, which is located in the Sukabumi Regency, West Java. People know this place as the place where the soul of Prabu Siliwagi resides, one of the kings of Pajajaran Kingdom who had very powerful magic power. It is because of this association with great power that the military symbol of West Java cavalry is a tiger. Siliwangi means tiger.
PRABU SILIWANGI GO INTO THE EARTH
This folk story is about the escape of Prabu Siliwangi because of Islamization done by Kiansantang, one of Prabu Siliwangi sons.
Long time ago in Sunda land, stood a huge Hindu kingdom named Pajajaran Kingdom. Its capital was in Pakuan, a region in West Java today we know as Bogor. The first king who ruled this kingdom of Pajajaran was Sri Baduga Maharaja, who was known by the West Java people as Prabu Siliwangi.
Prabu Siliwangi had sons, one of them was Kiansantang. Kiansantang was born to Dewi Kumala wangi, one of Prabu Siliwangi’s wives who lived in Garut. Kiansantang was a very strong youth. There was no one who could beat his power. One day, an old man appeared suddenly in front of Kiansantang and told him that there was someone whose power was equal with him. This man was Sayyidina Ali, Prophet Muhammad’s son in law from Mecca. Kiansantang went to Mecca with the intention to fight with Sayyidina Ali. Kiansantang could not beat Sayyidina Ali because his power was so far under Sayyidina Ali’s. So, Kiansantang became interested in what Sayyidina Ali believed, Islam.
Kiansantang was just interested in Islam firstly, but when he visited Mecca for the second time, he declared firmly that he believed in Islam. With knowledge about Islam he got from Sayyidina Ali, Kiansantang went back to Pajajaran and intended to convince his father, Prabu Siliwangi, to believe in Islam too.
At the same time when Kiansantang came back from Mecca, Prabu Siliwangi was in Pamijahan, one region in Tasikmalaya, West Java. Kiansantang went to Garut first to meet his mother before went to Pamijahan. People believe that Kiansantang met Prabu Siliwangi by him self, with no guardian accompanying him. Prabu Siliwangi also met Kiansantang without a guardian. It was just two of them.
Finally Kiansantang met his father in Pamijahan. Kiansantang told his father his purpose was to convince him to believe in Islam clearly. Prabu Siliwangi was really shocked by what Kiansantang said. Because of his prestige and his shame, Prabu Siliwangi rejected Kiansantang’s invitation. It was because he felt if he follows Kiansantang, it would mean he was conquered by his own son. In other words, he would lose.
Prabu Siliwangi was obstinate with his principal, while Kiansantang was obstinate too with his intention. Finally, a historical event occurred. Prabu Siliwangi escaped from his son’s exhortation. The chase started from Pamijahan then moved to the west part of West Java. Prabu Siliwangi rested in some places in his escape, so did Kiansantang. Both of them were really tired.
Finally, Prabu Siliwangi arrived in one place in Sukabumi. He was flat exhausted because of Kiansantang’s chase. In that place Prabu Siliwangi swore, “I will go into the earth in this place. Someday in the future, if my grand grandsons ask for help in my name, I will help them”. After finishing his oath, Prabu Siliwangi went into the earth; its track now is known as Gua Kuta Maneh. Kuta itself means King of Pajajaran, while Maneh means here. So, Kuta Maneh means here is King of Pajajaran’s track.
Kiansantang lost the track of his father because the end of that cave –as people believe- has many branches. They are Curug Supit in Cianjur, Rawa Kalong in Pelabuhan Ratu, Gunung Bentang in Nyalindung, Pamijahanin in Tasikmalaya, Gunung Jati in Cirebon, Cikaduen in Banten, Luar Batang in Jakarta, Ujungkulon in Banten, Pulau Bata in Karawang, even in Mecca.
THE POWER OF PRABU SILIWANGI
It is not known exactly when people began visiting this cave. According to Mr. Unung, the third generation caretaker of Gua Kuta Maneh, the first caretaker was known around 1970s. From day to day the number of people who visit this cave to ask Prabu Siliwangi’s soul for help is increasing. There are many people who have already proven the effect of the meditation rites in this cave. The existence of this cave has become more known from verbal information.
Relating this condition to the Islamization tried by Kiansantang is one proof of Prabu Siliwangi’s convention of his power. Who would have guessed that in the future, the grand grandsons of Prabu Siliwangi would still believe in his power even they are already believe in Islam. Prabu Siliwangi’s oath plays the important role in this belief, because if Prabu Siliwangi did not swear like that, his grand grandsons will never do these kinds of rites.
For people around Kuta Maneh it self, there is nothing special about that cave. They do not make it special because for them, this cave is just like the common cave. People who meditate in that cave come from places so far as Sukabumi, like Jakarta, Cirebon, some places in East Java and Center Java, even from Malaysia and Singapore.
Because of this carelessness, the meditation process in Gua Kuta Maneh doesn’t get special position in society there. Islamic figures there also do not care about this meditation. They are not complaining nor supporting. Considering the location of this cave which is close to the people quarter, it proves that people who care about the existence of this cave are they who believe in the Pajajaran doctrine. This doctrine ensures its followers that the great power of Prabu Siliwangi can be gotten by meditating in this cave.
In conclusion, let us go back to the introduction about animism. We have seen that animism, which we know was a part of primitive human beings, still survives in this modern era although it is not in the exact form. It has not become the main belief, but it has transformed to the alternative ways when certain needs have already insist the related people to ask some help from the great power they believe.
Trading activities done by Indonesian traders and some traders from other regions out of Indonesia brought new religions which would develop in Indonesian societies in the future. Those religions are Hinduism, which arrived in Indonesia around the second century, Buddhism in fourth century, Islam in fourteenth century, and Christian in sixteenth century. In history, animism has faded in the face of these new religions. –However-, there are Indonesian people who still hold on this belief. In West Borneo, approximately 7.5 million Dayak people still believe in animism.
In the regions that have been touched by modern technology and modern thinking -conscious or not- animism is still upheld by some in the society. One of the realizations of this belief is meditation, which is done in certain places to interact with forefather soul. Followers ask their forefather’s help to facilitate their certain businesses and other matters of importance like trade, carrier, even love.
In Sukabumi, this kind of activity can be found in one place named Gua Kuta Maneh. This cave is located in Kuta Maneh, Cikujang Village, which is located in the Sukabumi Regency, West Java. People know this place as the place where the soul of Prabu Siliwagi resides, one of the kings of Pajajaran Kingdom who had very powerful magic power. It is because of this association with great power that the military symbol of West Java cavalry is a tiger. Siliwangi means tiger.
PRABU SILIWANGI GO INTO THE EARTH
This folk story is about the escape of Prabu Siliwangi because of Islamization done by Kiansantang, one of Prabu Siliwangi sons.
Long time ago in Sunda land, stood a huge Hindu kingdom named Pajajaran Kingdom. Its capital was in Pakuan, a region in West Java today we know as Bogor. The first king who ruled this kingdom of Pajajaran was Sri Baduga Maharaja, who was known by the West Java people as Prabu Siliwangi.
Prabu Siliwangi had sons, one of them was Kiansantang. Kiansantang was born to Dewi Kumala wangi, one of Prabu Siliwangi’s wives who lived in Garut. Kiansantang was a very strong youth. There was no one who could beat his power. One day, an old man appeared suddenly in front of Kiansantang and told him that there was someone whose power was equal with him. This man was Sayyidina Ali, Prophet Muhammad’s son in law from Mecca. Kiansantang went to Mecca with the intention to fight with Sayyidina Ali. Kiansantang could not beat Sayyidina Ali because his power was so far under Sayyidina Ali’s. So, Kiansantang became interested in what Sayyidina Ali believed, Islam.
Kiansantang was just interested in Islam firstly, but when he visited Mecca for the second time, he declared firmly that he believed in Islam. With knowledge about Islam he got from Sayyidina Ali, Kiansantang went back to Pajajaran and intended to convince his father, Prabu Siliwangi, to believe in Islam too.
At the same time when Kiansantang came back from Mecca, Prabu Siliwangi was in Pamijahan, one region in Tasikmalaya, West Java. Kiansantang went to Garut first to meet his mother before went to Pamijahan. People believe that Kiansantang met Prabu Siliwangi by him self, with no guardian accompanying him. Prabu Siliwangi also met Kiansantang without a guardian. It was just two of them.
Finally Kiansantang met his father in Pamijahan. Kiansantang told his father his purpose was to convince him to believe in Islam clearly. Prabu Siliwangi was really shocked by what Kiansantang said. Because of his prestige and his shame, Prabu Siliwangi rejected Kiansantang’s invitation. It was because he felt if he follows Kiansantang, it would mean he was conquered by his own son. In other words, he would lose.
Prabu Siliwangi was obstinate with his principal, while Kiansantang was obstinate too with his intention. Finally, a historical event occurred. Prabu Siliwangi escaped from his son’s exhortation. The chase started from Pamijahan then moved to the west part of West Java. Prabu Siliwangi rested in some places in his escape, so did Kiansantang. Both of them were really tired.
Finally, Prabu Siliwangi arrived in one place in Sukabumi. He was flat exhausted because of Kiansantang’s chase. In that place Prabu Siliwangi swore, “I will go into the earth in this place. Someday in the future, if my grand grandsons ask for help in my name, I will help them”. After finishing his oath, Prabu Siliwangi went into the earth; its track now is known as Gua Kuta Maneh. Kuta itself means King of Pajajaran, while Maneh means here. So, Kuta Maneh means here is King of Pajajaran’s track.
Kiansantang lost the track of his father because the end of that cave –as people believe- has many branches. They are Curug Supit in Cianjur, Rawa Kalong in Pelabuhan Ratu, Gunung Bentang in Nyalindung, Pamijahanin in Tasikmalaya, Gunung Jati in Cirebon, Cikaduen in Banten, Luar Batang in Jakarta, Ujungkulon in Banten, Pulau Bata in Karawang, even in Mecca.
THE POWER OF PRABU SILIWANGI
It is not known exactly when people began visiting this cave. According to Mr. Unung, the third generation caretaker of Gua Kuta Maneh, the first caretaker was known around 1970s. From day to day the number of people who visit this cave to ask Prabu Siliwangi’s soul for help is increasing. There are many people who have already proven the effect of the meditation rites in this cave. The existence of this cave has become more known from verbal information.
Relating this condition to the Islamization tried by Kiansantang is one proof of Prabu Siliwangi’s convention of his power. Who would have guessed that in the future, the grand grandsons of Prabu Siliwangi would still believe in his power even they are already believe in Islam. Prabu Siliwangi’s oath plays the important role in this belief, because if Prabu Siliwangi did not swear like that, his grand grandsons will never do these kinds of rites.
For people around Kuta Maneh it self, there is nothing special about that cave. They do not make it special because for them, this cave is just like the common cave. People who meditate in that cave come from places so far as Sukabumi, like Jakarta, Cirebon, some places in East Java and Center Java, even from Malaysia and Singapore.
Because of this carelessness, the meditation process in Gua Kuta Maneh doesn’t get special position in society there. Islamic figures there also do not care about this meditation. They are not complaining nor supporting. Considering the location of this cave which is close to the people quarter, it proves that people who care about the existence of this cave are they who believe in the Pajajaran doctrine. This doctrine ensures its followers that the great power of Prabu Siliwangi can be gotten by meditating in this cave.
In conclusion, let us go back to the introduction about animism. We have seen that animism, which we know was a part of primitive human beings, still survives in this modern era although it is not in the exact form. It has not become the main belief, but it has transformed to the alternative ways when certain needs have already insist the related people to ask some help from the great power they believe.
Characters in A Streetcar Named Desire
A Streetcar Named Desire is a great story. The way the play writer delivers the story is attracting. I can understand the story easily because the language and dialogue he used is simple. The issue he brought in this story, desire and loneliness, is also attract my attention because I love to discuss that kind of topic.
According to my reading there are four main characters in this play. They are Stella, Blanche, Stanley, and Mitch. None of these characters is perfect because they have their own weak point of themselves. But before talk further about the characters, there is a statement that has relation somehow to them. It is a statement by the play writer of A Streetcar Named Desire: “Desire is rooted in a longing for companionship, a release from the loneliness that haunts every individual.”
I can find the meaning of this statement in the four characters that are mentioned above. All of them have their own desire to fulfill. They look for it from person (or people) near to them. They are afraid of their loneliness, so they try so hard to find the proper companion for them.
Stella, the first main character of the play deal with the desire of respecting her sister, Blanche, and in the same time wants to please her husband, Stanley. It is a hard thing for her because in fact Stanley doesn’t like the presence of Blanche in their house. She has a dilemma of facing this situation. Even though in the end she follows Stanley’s will, she still feels sorry for Blanche.
Stanley, the second main character has the problem of companionship with Blanche. He feels that way because Blanche bothers the please relationship between him and Stella. He feels that his honor as a husband and as a man is bothered by Blanche’s attitude. He wants to enjoy his companionship with Stella without another Blanche with all of her problems and lies.
Blanche has a problem with loneliness. She wants many people around him to listen to her, give compliment to her, and love her. She did manipulation of her experience in order to make people especially men adore her. But at the last, Mitch, the man who likes her feels disappointed when he knows the fact about Blanche’s lies. It hurts him a lot so he doesn’t want to meet her again.
Mitch has a desire to release his loneliness by looking for the companion, a woman. In the first time he was happy with the presence of Blanche. But then when he knows about her lies, he feels hurt. It is because a relationship can not be build by the lies. Finally he chooses to be alone again than to be companied by that such woman.
According to my reading there are four main characters in this play. They are Stella, Blanche, Stanley, and Mitch. None of these characters is perfect because they have their own weak point of themselves. But before talk further about the characters, there is a statement that has relation somehow to them. It is a statement by the play writer of A Streetcar Named Desire: “Desire is rooted in a longing for companionship, a release from the loneliness that haunts every individual.”
I can find the meaning of this statement in the four characters that are mentioned above. All of them have their own desire to fulfill. They look for it from person (or people) near to them. They are afraid of their loneliness, so they try so hard to find the proper companion for them.
Stella, the first main character of the play deal with the desire of respecting her sister, Blanche, and in the same time wants to please her husband, Stanley. It is a hard thing for her because in fact Stanley doesn’t like the presence of Blanche in their house. She has a dilemma of facing this situation. Even though in the end she follows Stanley’s will, she still feels sorry for Blanche.
Stanley, the second main character has the problem of companionship with Blanche. He feels that way because Blanche bothers the please relationship between him and Stella. He feels that his honor as a husband and as a man is bothered by Blanche’s attitude. He wants to enjoy his companionship with Stella without another Blanche with all of her problems and lies.
Blanche has a problem with loneliness. She wants many people around him to listen to her, give compliment to her, and love her. She did manipulation of her experience in order to make people especially men adore her. But at the last, Mitch, the man who likes her feels disappointed when he knows the fact about Blanche’s lies. It hurts him a lot so he doesn’t want to meet her again.
Mitch has a desire to release his loneliness by looking for the companion, a woman. In the first time he was happy with the presence of Blanche. But then when he knows about her lies, he feels hurt. It is because a relationship can not be build by the lies. Finally he chooses to be alone again than to be companied by that such woman.
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