The Mythological Creature
Indonesian mythology part 2 (God of Ruci)

Lord ruci

god ruci is the name of a dwarf god who was met by bima or werkudara on a journey to find the water of life.

Lord Ruci, in the story of puppetry, is the name of a dwarf god who was found by Bima or Werkudara on a journey looking for the water of life. The name of Dewa Ruci is also a play or title puppet show about the god, which contains the moral teachings and philosophy of Javanese life. The puppet play is an interpolation for the Mahabarata, so it is not found in the original Mahabharata manuscript of India.[1] The Lacon of Lord Ruci tells the story of the obedience of the student to the teacher, the independence of action, and the struggle to find identity.[2] According to Javanese philosophy, the introduction of the identity will bring a person to know the origin of the self as a creation from God. The introduction of God gives rise to the desire to act in harmony with the will of God, even in union with God, which is referred to as Manunggaling Kawula Gusti (the union of the servants of Gusti).[2][3][4]

Although not an original part of the Mahabharata by Krishna Dwaipayana Byasa, the story takes on the main character of the Mahabharata, Bima, one of the most powerful Pandavas. This insertion story is popular in Javanese society and is staged by most masterminds in Java.[2]

The story of Dewa Ruci which is a reference to the puppeteers and narrators of the present refers to the writings of Yasadipura I (presumed to be the teacher of the poet Ranggawarsita) from Surakarta, who lived during the time of Pakubuwono III (1749–1788) and Pakubuwono IV (1788–1820).[3] Yasadipura I himself was dubbed as the poet "closing" of the Surakarta Palace.[3]

Copies of the story of Lord Ruci were also published several times by a number of publishers, including:[3]

The first printed Dewa Ruci fiber was published by Mas Ngabehi Kramapawira in 1870, printed by Printing Van Dorp, Semarang, with Javanese script.

Serat Dewa Ruci in Javanese and also Javanese with Mas Ngabehi Mangunwijaya writing and published by Tan Khoen Swie, Kediri, in 1922.

The story of Dewa Roetji was published in the Dutch magazine Djawa in 1940, with R.M contributors. Poerbatjaraka's.

Dewa Ruci Kidung Fiber from Kakawin Form published by Publisher Dahara Prize Semarang in 1991, Latin, Javanese, and there is a textual Indonesian translation. In this version only mentioned the author is a poet Surakarta.

Reviewed from several manuscripts, including those by Yasadipura I, the theme of the story of Dewa Ruci is full of the diabolical teachings of Javanese society, which contains the search for the identity of a human.[3] The story of Lord Ruci was heavily edited by the authors of Javanese ethics books, such as Frans Magnis Suseno,[4] Hazim Amir,[5] Ignas G. Saksana,[6] and Djoko Dwijanto.[6]

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In the play of Lord Ruci it is said that a mighty knight named Bima (aka Werkudara) was assigned by his teacher named Drona (Durna) to seek the water of life (tirta perwita) that can make Bima reach perfection lived. This commandment is in fact only a strategy to eliminate the Milky Way so as not to participate in the Battle of Bharatayuddha being prepared.[7] Bima also carried out the decree of the teacher. He set out for dangerous places that Drona had determined.

First, Bima was sent to the Candramuka mountain cave. After finding that the water he was looking for was not there, then he ransacked the cave so that it surprised the two giants who lived there, namely Rukmuka and Rukmakala. Then there was a fight between them, which was finally won by Bima. While resting after the battle, he leaned against a banyan tree. Shortly thereafter, an intangible voice coming from Batara Indra and Bayu told that the two giants that Bima killed were indeed being punished by Batara Guru. Then they ordered Bima to return to Astina because there was no water in the cave.[8]

Arriving in Astina, Bima again faces Drona. The teacher said that he was only testing Bima. Then, he ordered Bima to go to the ocean to get the water of life. Before leaving, all Bima's relatives forbid and warned that all of it was just a trap. But Bima remained firm and determined to go for the sake of carrying out the orders of the teacher. Arriving at the edge of the ocean, he calmed the inner upheaval within himself, before entering the ocean. Thanks to the power of Aji Jalasegara which he got from Batara Bayu on the previous trip, Bima was able to enter the ocean floor by way of water scattering; even he could breathe in it. A dragon inhabiting the ocean floor immediately wrapped around Bima. After a long struggle, he stabbed his nails (Pancanaka) into the dragon's body, which eventually claimed the dragon's life.[8]

In the same ocean, Bima meets a dwarf god named Lord Ruci whose face resembles Bima himself. The size of Lord Ruci is no bigger than the palm of Bima. Lord Ruci ordered Bima to enter his left ear. But—with a miracle—Bima managed to get into the ears of the dwarf god, and in it Bima found a world that was omnipotent. Lord Ruci said that the water of life is not everywhere, because the water of life is within man himself. Bima understands the true nature of Lord Ruci is a representation of himself, who appears and teaches him because he has obeyed the orders of his teacher (Drona) with all his heart.[2][7][8]

There are four kinds of light that are visible to Bima, namely black, red, yellow, and white. According to Lord Ruci, the light is called Pancamaya, it is in the heart of man. While the one that was red, black, yellow, and white, it was a heart barrier. The black one symbolizes anger, which hinders and masks good actions. The red one shows good lust, all desires come out of it, covering the conscious heart to vigilance. The yellow ones just like to spoil. While the white one means real, a holy calm heart without prejudice, superior in peace. So that black, red and yellow are the eternal obstructions of mind and will, the union of the Noble Sukma.[8]

Then Bima saw the radiating light glittering, curving rainbow. According to Lord Ruci, it is the human ability to be vigilant, referred to as Pramana. Pramana is one with self but does not share joy and concern, dwells in the body, does not eat and drink, does not feel pain and suffering.[8] Lord Ruci also explains about the True Sukma as well as the union of man/male and creator/Gusti.[8] After hearing the words of Lord Ruci, Bima became happy.[8]

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The story of Lord Ruci is an allegory about human desire that continues to track the existence of God, and with reason he does exploration.[9] According to Javanese philosophy, man is referred to as the little universe or microcosm (small world), while the universe is referred to as the macrocosm or big universe which is a manifestation of God himself.[9] The mycosmic plane is as vast as the macrocosmic universe. There, the secret of his divinity was instructed: "Who knows himself, he will know his Lord." This belief settles in the beliefs of the Javanese in the past.[9]

Bima's journey defeats the giants to find the water of the guardians, defeat the dragons, and meet with Lord Ruci full of symbols about the struggle of humans to defeat the passions that can prevent him to perfection, for example appetite, power, arrogance, and the like. Bima reached perfection because of the disposition and nature of willing, obedient, vigilant, eling (not forgetting themselves), and humble. A person who has known himself will do these things on the grounds that he practices his duties in the world.[2][9]