Mahabharata

Mahabharata is another sample of the old Malay literature that is enormously influenced by Hinduism. Etymologically, the word “Mahabharata” is derived from two words: “maha” that means “great” and “bharata” (nation); thus, the word Mahabharata means a great nation.

Amongst the Hindu followers, Mahabharata is regarded as a Holy Book, which is commonly called Veda. This literary work is commonly used as the guidance for the Hindu people to accomplish and create harmonious social intercourse. For its populist themes, a number of episodes within the book often touch the heart of every single person reading this literary work. The most two highlighted episodes are Bagawadgita and Syakuntala.

Many researchers argue that Mahabharata was written down by Vyasa, who was likewise the author of Veda, Vedanta, and Puruna. Many existing opinions believe Vyasa was not a person, but a title for an administrative ruler in the past. The opinion is coined from the finding that Mahabharata was composed in 400 B.C. and just finished in 400 A.D. As well as writing Mahabharata; the writing of Veda, Vedanta, and Puruna, according to several sources, spent more than a hundred years that is from 3000 B.C. to 400 A.D. Hence, the writing of Mahabharata certainly required a number of authors who lived during that period of times.

The dissemination of Mahabharata in the Land of Java had taken place since 200 B.C. to 1.100 A.D. along with the arrival of Indian travellers who wanted to open a new land in another country. They came to the Land of Java while not only bringing goods and commerce commodities, but also the new cultures and certainly, literary works. One of the literary works brought by the Indian travellers is Mahabharata that became popular amongst the Javanese people since the similarity on the way of thoughts that both the ancestors of the Javanese and the Indian were deities.

Referring to J. Kats‘ remarks, the ancient Javanese people assumed their deceased ancestors would attentively safeguard and look out their descendants. The Javanese sent prayer to the ancestors by giving offerings and reciting certain mantras. Still from J. Kats, the wayang performance (shadow puppetry show) was a means for the Javanese people to meet their ancestors.

However, the Javanese preferred the figure of Indian ancestors to the Javanese ancestors on every wayang performance. The Javanese seemed the figure of Javanese ancestors on the wayang performance could not attract many people. The acculturation between the Javanese and Indian cultures went on as such. Hence, there is argumentation that the story of Mahabharata, which was actually based on the Indian cultural background, also happened in the Land of Java.

From the Land of Java, the journey of Mahabharata in colouring the literature tradition in the Malay Archipelago broadened to Bali Island, following the establishments of Hindu-based Kingdoms in East Java such as Kediri Kingdom, Jenggala Kingdom, Singasari Kingdom, and Majapahit Kingdom. Those kingdoms and their literary works, according to Hazeu, greatly influenced the socio-cultural life of the Balinese people. Astadasyaparwa is one of the literary works of the Balinese, and wayang parwa is another outcome of acculturation occurring in Bali.

Moving northern direction of Bali Island, Mahabharata also reached Madura Island. The influence of Mahabharata took form in “bayang palbah,” a modification of wayang purwa that is found in Bali. Not only in Bali and Madura, Sunda (now is known as West Java) likewise suffered from the cultural “penetration” of Mahabharata. In West Java, the influence of Mahabharata took form in “wayang golek,” woods shaped in such ways so that they resemble the figures as in common wayang performance.

The Indian cultural expansion also occurred in Sumatra Island, as the development of Hinduism‘s arrival in the fifth century. The establishment of Jambi Kingdom in the seventh century is one of the evidences. Taking a note from an ancient book entitled Negarakertagama written by Empu Prapanca, a royal poet of Majapahit Kingdom, Jambi and Palembang were two conquests of Majapahit Kingdom. These two regions were subjugated after King Kertanegara, who was originally from Tumapel had successfully headed an expedition called “Pa Malayu.”

In addition, there were a number of the Javanese coming and settling in both Jambi and Palembang. Like in Madura and Bali, the Hindu-based literary works composed by the Javanese became popular amongst the Jambi and Palembang people. They loved reading the literary works of the Javanese people. Arriving from those facts, the Hindu influence, especially on literature, in the Land of Malay did not originally come from India, but from literary works developing massively in the Land of Java.

FX. Indrojiono (sas/6/10-08)

Translated by Irfan Nugroho (ter/78/11-08)

Work Cited:

• Baharo, Noresah, dkk. Kamus Dewan. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. 2007. Edisi Ke-IV.
• Mat Piah, Harun, dkk. Kesusasteraan Melayu Tradisional. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. 2006.
• http://www.e-dukasi.net/mol/mo_full.php?moid=121&fname=sej107_04.htm
• http://smsotutong.tripod.com/seminar3.htm
• http://www.geocities.com/pendidikmy/cikgupjj/nota1.html

Photo Credit: www.flickr.com (dragonunit)

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