Halo^^
As I've said in my 'Aksara Jawa' post last month, here's the story of Ajisaka, the man attributed to creating Aksara Jawa. There are a lot of versions about his life, so I've compiled it into this post.
Now, on to the story in English and in Bahasa Indonesia~
The Legend of Ajisaka
Prologue: The Origin of Aji Saka
It was told that there once lived a young man from Bumi Majeti named Aji Saka. Before being renowned by his might and contribution as the king of Medang Kamulan, Aji Saka was simply a descendant of the God of Divine Weapon Maker for the Gods in Hindustan (India). Before he was born, his father, Batara Anggajali, was called by Batara Guru to make a heavenly weapon, which made Aji Saka never met his father. After reaching adulthood, Aji Saka asked for his maternal grandfather’s and mother’s, Dewi Saka, blessings to find his father. Following the leads from his grandfather, Aji Saka then found his father making weapon with his hands in the middle of the ocean. Even though the two have never met before, Batara Aggajali instantly recognized Aji Saka as his son. However, when Aji Saka, who was amazed by his father’s supernatural powers, asked to be his student, Batara Anggajali refused him by saying that Aji Saka’s grandfather, Batara Ramayadi, is far more powerful than himself.
Aji Saka then went to find his grandfather by following the leads from his father and found his grandfather sitting afloat on the air whilst making weapon with only his gaze. However, when Aji Saka asked to be his student, Batara Ramayadi also refused him by saying that Batara Guru is far more powerful than himself. Batara Ramayadi followed by saying that Batara Guru is the king of gods in heaven, thus he would surely never accept Aji Saka as his student. Batara Ramayadi then advised Aji Saka to study under Batara Guru’s most powerful son, Batara Wisnu. After a long journey, Aji Saka found Batara Wisnu who was exchanging knowledge with Priest Usmanaji. After introducing himself, Aji Saka was accepted as a student of the two. Batara Wisnu proceeded to teach various supernatural knowledge and wisdom, whilst Priest Usmanaji taught mysticism and spiritualism to Aji Saka.
Once Batara Wisnu must go back to heaven, Aji Saka separated from his teachers and went on a journey. During his journey, Aji Saka collected tirtamarta kamandalu, which is the immortality water owned by the gods in heaven. Armed with said water that can make any and all stop aging, Aji Saka went on a journey for hundreds of years to develop his supernatural knowledge and mysticism.
Part 1: Aji Saka versus Dewata Cengkar
During the same era as Aji Saka, the island of Java was first inhabited by a race of vicious, oppressing, and human-meat loving race of giants. This kingdom called Medang Kamulan was led by a giant king named Prabu Dewata Cengkar. Because of Dewata Cengkar’s love of eating human meat, many of Medang Kamulan’s people felt afraid and chose to seek refuge rather than being the king’s meal. Hearing of this condition, Aji Saka decided to go on a journey with his two loyal servants, Dora and Sembada, to Java to save Medang Kamulan Kingdom’s people from the cruelty and viciousness of King Dewata Cengkar once and for all.
During their journey to Medang Kamulan, Aji Saka and his two loyal servants arrived at Kendeng Mountain. There, Aji Saka left his sacred keris and asked one of his two loyal servants, Sembada, to guard it. He also told Sembada that not a single soul is allowed to retrieve that weapon other than Aji Saka himself. Afterwards, Aji Saka took his other loyal servant, Dora, to Medang Kamulan’s capital city. However, before arriving, Aji Saka left Dora outside of the capital as Aji Saka planned to go to Medang Kamulan by himself.
Now alone, Aji Saka continued his journey and met the vice regent of Medang Kamulan, Patih Judul Muda, who was in a pinch looking for humans to be sacrificed to his king. Aji Saka who wanted to meet Dewata Cengkar then offered himself as a meal for the giant. Even though he’s confused, Patih Judul Muda still brought Aji Saka to Dewara Cengkar. However, before being eaten, Aji Saka proposed a condition, which is to be given a compensation in the form of land as wide as the turban he wore. Hearing that very simple condition, Dewata Cengkar didn’t think twice and told Aji Saka to quickly open his turban.
However, when Aji Saka started to open his turban, said turban kept on lengthening and widening, far exceeding the border of Medang Kamulan Kingdom, reaching until the edge of the South Sea (Indian Ocean). Outraged and feeling cheated, Dewata Cengkar tried to catch Aji Saka to eat him as soon as possible. However, Aji Saka who has been cultivating his supernatural power was able to dodge and turned to wrapped Dewata Cengkar with his turban. A fight between Aji Saka and Dewata Cengkar was inevitable. In the end, Aji Saka succeeded in throwing Dewata Cengkar to the South Sea. Following his victory, Aji Saka was crowned as the king of Medang Kamulan with the name Prabu Wisaka by the joyous people, whilst Dewata Cengkar survived but turned into a white crocodile.
Part 2: The Origin of Aksara Jawa
One day, Aji Saka remembered about his sacred keris at Kendeng Mountain, guarded by Sembada. Aji Saka then told Dora to retrieve said sacred keris. Dora departed and met before catching up with his close friend, Sembada, who was still uncompromisingly waiting in Kendeng Mountain. Dora then told him the reason for his arrival, which was to fulfil Aji Saka’s order and take back the sacred keris left in Sembada’s hand. However, even though Sembada didn’t doubt Dora’s words, he refused to give it because, as Aji Saka ordered him before, not a single soul is allowed to retrieve that weapon other than Aji Saka himself. On the other hand, Dora also resued to go back empty handed because, as Aji Saka ordered him, he has to bring back that sacred keris. Inevitably, Aji Saka’s two loyal servants each suspected that the other schemed to steal the weapon, which made the two fought to uphold their own responsibilities to the death.
When Aji Saka, who was confused as to why his sacred keris has not come yet, decided to follow to Kendeng Mountain, he found that his two servants had died due to a misunderstanding which led to the tragedy. Sembada had desperately followed his order to not hand over his sacred keris to anyone other than Aji Saka himself, whilst Dora had desperately asked for the sacred keris as he had ordered. Aji Saka felt extremely guilty for having forgotten his order to Sembada and caused the death of his two loyal servants so, in front of the dead bodies of his two servants, Aji Saka created a poem:
Hanacaraka, meaning there are two messenger/loyal servant
Datasawala, meaning they conflicted
Padhajayanya, meaning they are equally as strong
Magabathanga, meaning this is their bodies
This poem made to honour Aji Saka’s two servants’ loyalty was then known as Hanacaraka or Aksara Jawa, which letters are still used until now.
Side story: The Tale of the Giant Snake
During Aji Saka’s reign, when he was known as Prabu Wisaka, in a village called Dadapan, on old woman found an egg and decided to keep it inside a granary. After a few days, the egg disappeared and in turn a giant snake appear inside the granary. The villagers tried to kill the snake, but mysteriously the snake could talk and said that he is Aji Saka’s son. The snake was then brought upon Aji Saka, who agreed to recognize the snake as his son if the snake can defeat the white crocodile who was Dewata Cengkar’s incarnation in the South Sea. The snake agreed and, after a fierce battle with the white crocodile, succeeded in fulfilling Aji Saka’s condition.
As promised, Aji Saka took the snake in as his son and named him Jaka Linglung, which means ‘a stupid boy’. However, while in the palace, Jaka Linglung cleanly devoured all royal pets. Aji Saka then banished Jaka Linglung to Pesanga Forest to punish him. There, Jaka Lingling was tied tightly until he could not move even an inch, and Aji Saka declared that Jaka Linglung may only eat things that enter his mouth on their own.
One day, nine boys were playing in that forest. Suddenly, rain fall down and made them scramble around to look for shelter. Luckily, they found a cave in the middle of that forest. However, only eight boys entered to seek shelter, as the last boy was banned from following the other into the cave due to his skin disease. Suddenly, the cave collapsed and the exit was closed, making the eight boys trapped and missing inside the cave.
In reality, that cave was Jaka Linglung’s mouth.
Epilogue: The End of Aji Saka’s Reign
Aji Saka, adopting the name Prabu Wisaka during his reign as King of Medang Kamulan, not only created and spread the aksara jawa, but also implemented a calendar system known as the Saka Calendar. Prabu Wisaka also married and sired several children. He then relinquished the throne to his child before once again went on a journey using the name Aji Saka. In the end, he was elevated as a member of the god family led by Batara Guru and received the title of Batara Aji Saka.
Legenda Ajisaka
Prolog: Asal mula Aji Saka
Dikisahkan terdapat seorang pemuda dari Bumi Majeti yang bernama Aji Saka. Sebelum dikenal dengan kejayaan dan kontribusinya sebagai raja Medang Kamulan, Aji Saka merupakan keturunan dari Dewa Pembuat Pusaka Kadewatan untuk Para Dewa di Tanah Hindustan (India). Sebelum kelahiran Aji Saka, ayahnya, Batara Anggajali, dipanggil oleh Batara Guru untuk membuat pusaka kayangan, sehingga Aji Saka tidak pernah bertemu ayahnya. Setelah menginjak usia dewasa, Aji Saka meminta izin dari kakek dan ibunya, Dewi Saka, untuk mencari sang ayah. Mengikuti petunjuk dari kakeknya, Aji Saka pun menemukan ayahnya sedang membuat senjata dengan tangannya di tengah samudra. Meski belum pernah bertemu sebelumnya, Batara Anggajali langsung mengakui Aji Saka sebagai putranya. Namun ketika Aji Saka, yang kagum dengan kesaktian ayahnya, memohon untuk menjadi muridnya, Batara Anggajali menolak dengan alasan kakek Aji Saka, Batara Ramayadi, jauh lebih sakti dibanding dirinya.
Aji Saka pun mencari kakeknya mengikuti petunjuk dari ayahnya dan menemukan sang kakek duduk melayang di udara sembari membuat senjata hanya dengan tatapannya. Namun ketika Aji Saka memohon untuk menjadi muridnya, Batara Ramayadi juga menolaknya dengan alasan Batara Guru jauh lebih sakti dibanding dirinya. Batara Ramayadi melanjutkan dengan mengatakan bahwa Batara Guru adalah raja para dewa di kahyangan sehingga beliau pastinya tidak akan menerima Aji Saka sebagai muridnya. Batara Ramayadi pun menyarankan Aji Saka untuk berguru pada putra Batara Guru yang paling sakti, yaitu Batara Wisnu. Setelah perjalanan panjang, Aji Saka pun menemukan Batara Wisnu yang sedang bertukar ilmu dengan Pendeta Usmanaji. Setelah memperkenalkan diri, Aji Saka diterima sebagai murid oleh keduanya. Batara Wisnu pun mengajarkan berbagai ilmu kesaktian dan kebijaksanaan, sedangkan Pendeta Usmanaji mengajarkan ilmu kebatinan dan kerohanian pada Aji Saka.
Ketika Batara Wisnu harus kembali ke kahyangan, Aji Saka pun berpisah dari gurunya dan pergi mengembara. Dalam pengembaraannya, Aji Saka memperoleh tirtamarta kamandalu, yaitu air keabadian yang dimiliki para dewa di kahyangan. Berbekal air yang mampu membuat segala mahluk tidak menua tersebut, Aji Saka mengembara selama beratus-ratus tahun untuk memperdalam ilmu kesaktian dan kebatinannya.
Bagian 1: Aji Saka melawan Dewata Cengkar
Alkisah pada masa yang sama dengan Aji Saka, Pulau Jawa pertama-tama dihuni oleh bangsa raksasa yang biadab, penindas, dan gemar menyantap daging manusia. Kerajaan bernama Medang Kamulan ini dipimpin oleh raja raksasa bernama Prabu Dewata Cengkar. Akibat kegemaran Dewata Cengkar pada daging manusia, banyak rakyat Medang Kamulan ketakutan dan memilih mengungsi dibandingkan menjadi santapan sang raja. Mendengar kondisi ini, Aji Saka memutuskan untuk mengembara bersama dua abdi setianya, Dora dan Sembada, ke Jawa demi menyelamatkan rakyat Kerajaan Medang Kamulan dari kekejaman dan kelaliman Raja Dewata Cengkar untuk selamanya.
Dalam perjalanan ke Medang Kamulan, Aji Saka dan kedua abdinya tiba di Pegunungan Kendeng. Di sana, Aji Saka meninggalkan keris pusakanya dan meminta salah satu abdi setianya, Sembada, untuk menjaganya. Ia juga berpesan bahwa tidak ada seorang pun yang boleh mengambil pusaka itu kecuali Aji Saka sendiri. Setelah itu, Aji Saka membawa abdinya yang lain, Dora, ke ibu kota Medang Kamulan. Namun sebelum tiba, Aji Saka meninggalkan Dora di luar ibu kota sebab Aji Saka berencana pergi ke Medang Kamulan seorang diri.
Kini seorang diri, Aji Saka melanjutkan perjalanannya dan bertemu dengan Patih Medang Kamulan, Patih Judul Muda, yang sedang kebingungan mencari manusia untuk dipersembahkan pada rajanya. Aji Saka yang ingin menemui Dewata Cengkar pun menawarkan dirinya sebagai santapan sang raksasa. Meski heran, Patih Judul Muda tetap membawa Aji Saka ke hadapan Dewata Cengkar. Namun sebelum menjadi santapan, Aji Saka mengajukan satu syarat, yakni meminta imbalan berupa sebidang tanah seluas sorban yang ia kenakan. Mendengar syarat yang sangat mudah tersebut, Dewata Cengkar tidak berpikir panjang dan menyuruh Aji Saka untuk segera menggelar sorbannya.
Namun, ketika Aji Saka mulai menggelar sorbannya, sorban tersebut memanjang terus-menerus, jauh melewati batas kerajaan Medang Kamulan, hingga mencapai pinggir Laut Selatan (Samudra Hindia). Tidak terima, Dewata Cengkar pun berusaha menangkap Aji Saka untuk segera menyantapnya. Namun Aji Saka yang telah melatih kesaktiannya dapat menghindar dan berbalik melilit Dewata Cengkar dengan sorbannya. Pertarungan antar Aji Saka dan Dewata Cengkar pun tidak terelakkan. Pada akhirnya, Aji Saka mampu melemparkan dan menenggelamkan Dewata Cengkar ke Laut Selatan. Menyusul kemenangannya, Aji Saka dinobatkan sebagai raja Medang Kamulan dengan nama Prabu Wisaka oleh rakyat yang berbahagia, sedangkan Dewata Cengkar selamat tetapi berubah menjadi buaya putih.
Bagian 2: Asal-usul Aksara Jawa
Suatu hari, Aji Saka teringat akan keris pusakanya di Pegunungan Kendeng yang dijaga oleh Sembada. Aji Saka pun memerintahkan Dora untuk mengambil keris pusaka tersebut. Dora berangkat dan bertemu kembali sebelum berbincang akrab dengan sahabat dekatnya, Sembada, yang masih setia menunggu di Pegunungan Kendeng. Dora pun menyampaikan maksud kedatangannya, yaitu untuk memenuhi perintah Aji Saka dan membawa kembali keris pusaka yang ada di tangan Sembada. Namun, meski Sembada tidak mencurigai kata-kata Dora, ia menolak memberikannya sebab, sesuai perintah Aji Saka kepadanya sebelumnya, tidak ada yang diperbolehkan untuk menjemput pusaka itu selain Aji Saka sendiri. Di sisi lain, Dora pun menolak untuk kembali dengan tangan kosong karena, sesuai perintah Aji Saka kepadanya, ia harus membawa kembali keris pusaka tersebut. Alhasil, kedua abdi setia Aji Saka saling mencurigai bahwa masing-masing bermaksud untuk mencuri pusaka itu, sehingga keduanya bertarung untuk memertahankan tanggung jawabnya masing-masing hingga tewas.
Ketika Aji Saka, yang heran mengapa keris pusakanya belum juga datang, memutuskan untuk menyusul ke Pegunungan Kendeng, ia menemukan dua abdinya telah meninggal akibat kesalahpahaman yang berujung pada tragedi tersebut. Sembada telah mati-matian menjaga perintahnya untuk tidak memberikan keris pusaka titipannya kepada siapa pun selain kepada dirinya sendiri, sementara Dora telah mati-matian meminta keris pusaka itu sesuai perintahnya. Aji Saka merasa sangat bersalah telah melupakan perintahnya pada Sembada dan menyebabkan tewasnya kedua abdi setianya sehingga, di depan jasad dua abdinya itu, Aji Saka menciptakan sebuah puisi:
Hanacaraka, artinya terdapat dua utusan
Datasawala, artinya mereka berbeda pendapat/berselisih
Padhajayanya, artinya (mereka) berdua sama kuatnya
Magabathanga, artinya inilah mayat (mereka)
Puisi yang diciptakan untuk mengenang kesetiaan kedua abdi Aji Saka ini kemudian dikenal sebagai Hanacaraka atau Aksara Jawa, yang masih digunakan hingga kini.
Cerita selingan: Kisah Ular Raksasa
Alkisah pada masa pemerintahan Aji Saka yang saat itu dikenal sebagai Prabu Wisaka, di sebuah desa bernama Dadapan, seorang wanita tua menemukan sebutir telur dan memutuskan untuk menyimpannya di dalam lumbung padi. Setelah beberapa hari, telur tersebut menghilang dan sebagai gantinya muncullah seekor ular besar di dalam lumbung tersebut. Orang-orang desa berusaha membunuh ular tersebut, tetapi secara misterius ular tersebut dapat berbicara dan menyatakan bahwa dirinya adalah anak Aji Saka. Ular tersebut pun dibawa ke hadapan Aji Saka, yang bersedia mengakui ular tersebut sebagai anaknya bila ular tersebut dapat mengalahkan buaya putih perwujudan Dewata Cengkar di Laut Selatan. Ular tersebut menyanggupi dan, setelah perkelahian sengit dengan buaya putih tersebut, berhasil memenuhi syarat dari Aji Saka.
Sesuai janjinya, Aji Saka mengangkat ular tersebut menjadi anaknya dan menamainya Jaka Linglung, yang berarti ‘anak lelaki yang bodoh’. Namun selama di istana, Jaka Linglung menyantap habis semua hewan peliharaan istana. Aji Saka pun mengusir Jaka Linglung ke Hutan Pesanga untuk menghukumnya. Di sana, Jaka Linglung diikat erat sehingga tidak dapat bergerak sedikir pun, dan Aji Saka menyatakan bahwa Jaka Linglung hanya boleh makan apapun yang masuk dengan sendirinya ke mulutnya.
Suatu hari, sembilan anak lelaki bermain di hutan tersebut. Tiba-tiba, hujan turun dan membuat mereka berlarian mencari tempat berteduh. Untungnya mereka menemukan sebuah gua di tengah hutan tersebut. Namun hanya delapan anak yang masuk untuk berteduh, sedangkan satu anak lagi dilarang ikut masuk ke gua akibat penyakit kulitnya. Tiba-tiba, gua tersebut runtuh dan pintu keluar pun tertutup, membuat delapan anak tersebut hilang terkurung di dalam gua.
Sesungguhnya, gua tersebut adalah mulut Jaka Linglung.
Epilog: Akhir pemerintahan Aji Saka
Aji Saka, dengan nama Prabu Wisaka selama memerintah sebagai raja Medang Kamulan, bukan hanya menciptakan dan menyebarkan aksara jawa, melainkan juga menerapkan sistem penanggalan yang dikenal sebagai Kalender Saka. Prabu Wisaka juga menikah dan memiliki beberapa anak. Ia pun memberikan tahta kerajaan pada anaknya sebelum kembali mengembara dengan menggunakan nama Aji Saka. Pada akhirnya, ia diangkat menjadi keluarga dewa yang dipimpin Batara Guru dan memperoleh gelar Batara Aji Saka.
Right, that's short version of The Legend of Aji Saka. I said short because the first time I know this story was from a book which elaborates more and tend to use conversation rather than description like I use this time.
As is usual with legends and folklores, there are some different versions to the story. Many said Aji Saka actually came from a village called Medang Kawit, not far from Medang Kamulan itself. The story of Jaka Linglung is also not that common, with Dewata Cengkar actually never turned into a white crocodile and was defeated (as in killed) not by Jaka Linglung but by Aji Saka instead.
The legend of Aji Saka is most commonly associated with the making of aksara jawa (check out my post on Aksara Jawa to know more about this lettering), and the moral of the story is supposed to be that people has to give their all to fulfil the commands given to them because then they will receive honour afterwards. Which, in my personal opinion, is kinda…stupid? I mean, I don’t want to disparage Dora nor Sembada, but why couldn’t they just compromise rather than let their stubbornness led them to their death? I haven’t even touched Aji Saka who, I guess like many higher ups even today, tend to be wilful where everything they say becomes the truth at that singular moment only.
Anyway, regardless of any…opinion I have on this story, it can’t be denied that this legend is a popular one, especially in Central and East Java.
Lastly, here are some specific terms which often come up in the legend of Aji Saka:
Keris, which is a Javanese short sword
Turban, which is a small headband Javanese often wear by wrapping it around their head
That’s all for now, see you next time~
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