The Mythological Creature
Mythology from Indonesia (Semar)

*SEMAR*

Semar is the name of the main character in the Punakawan in Java and Sunda. This character is said to be the nanny and advisor of the knights in the epic performance of Mahabharata and Ramayana of India. However, the name Semar is not found in the original manuscript of the two epic (in Sanskrit), because this character is a pure creation of Javanese pojangga..

PHYSICAL FORM^

Semar has a very unique physical shape, as if it is a symbol of the depiction of the universe. Its spherical body is a symbol of the earth, the dwelling place of mankind and other creatures. Semar is always smiling, but puffy-eyed. This is a symbol of joy and sorrow. His face was old but his haircut was in the style of a child-like tuft, as a symbol of old and young. He is male, but has breasts like women, as a symbol of men and women. He was the incarnation of a god but lived as a commoner, as a symbol of superiors and subordinates.

***History***

According to historian Prof. Dr. Slamet Muljana, Semar figure was first found in the Majapahit Kingdom period literary work entitled Sudamala[1]. In addition to the form of kakawin, Sudamala story is also carved as a relief in Sukuh Temple which dated 1439[citation needed].

Semar is said to be the servant or servant of the main character of the story, namely Sahadeva from the Pandawa family. Of course, Semar's role is not only as a follower, but also as a humor thrower to melt the tense atmosphere.

In the next era, when Islamic kingdoms developed on Java, puppetry was used as one of the media da'wah. The stories staged are still about the Mahabharata which at that time was firmly attached to the memory of Javanese society. One of the scholars who are famous as cultural experts, for example Sunan Kalijaga. In the puppet show, Semar still maintained its existence, even more active role than in the Sudamala story.

In subsequent developments, Semar's degree is increasing again. The Javanese poets in their literary works tell Semar not just ordinary commoners, but the incarnation of Batara Ismaya, the brother of Batara Guru, the king of the gods.

_HISTORY_

There are several versions about the birth or origin of Semar. But all of them refer to this figure as the incarnation of a god[citation needed].

In the script of Serat Kanda narrated, the ruler of kahyangan named Sanghyang Nurrasa has two sons named Sanghyang Tunggal and Sanghyang Wenang. Because Sanghyang Tunggal has an ugly face, then the throne kahyangan bequeathed to Sanghyang Wenang. From Sanghyang Wenang then bequeathed to his son named Batara Guru. Sanghyang Tunggal then became the caretaker of the knights of Batara Guru descent, with the name Semar.

In the manuscript Paramayoga narrated, Sanghyang Tunggal is the son of Sanghyang Wenang. Sanghyang Tunggal then married Dewi Rakti, a daughter of the crab king named Sanghyang Yuyut. From the marriage was born a mustika in the form of an egg which then turned into two men. Both were named Ismaya for black, and Manikmaya for white. Ismaya felt inferior so as to make Sanghyang Tunggal less pleasing. The throne was handed down to Manikmaya, who later held the title Batara Guru. Meanwhile, Ismaya was only given a position as the ruler of the Sunyaruri realm, or the residence of the class of refined beings. Ismaya's eldest son named Batara Wungkuham has a round-bodied son named Janggan Smarasanta, or abbreviated as Semar. She became a caregiver of Batara Guru's descendants named Resi Manumanasa and continued to his children. In special circumstances, Ismaya can enter Semar so that Semar becomes a figure that is very feared, even by the gods though. So according to this version, Semar is the grandson of Ismaya.

In the Purwakanda script narrated, Sanghyang Tunggal has four sons named Batara Puguh, Batara Punggung, Batara Manan, and Batara Samba. One day word came that the throne would be handed down to Samba. This made her three brothers envious. Samba was kidnapped and tortured to be killed. But this was known to their father. Sanghyang Tunggal also condemned his three sons to be ugly. Puguh changed its name to Togog while Punggung became Semar. Both are revealed to the world as caretakers of Samba descent, who later titled Batara Guru. Meanwhile, Manan got pardon because he just followed along. Manan then held the title Batara Narada and was appointed as an advisor to Batara Guru.

In the Purwacarita script narrated, Sanghyang Tunggal married Dewi Rekatawati daughter Sanghyang Rekatatama. From that marriage was born a luminous egg. Sanghyang Tunggal with a feeling of annoyance slammed the egg so that it broke into three parts, namely the shell, white, and yolk. Each of them became a man. The one from the shell is named Antaga, which comes from the egg white is named Ismaya, while the one from the yolk is named Manikmaya. One day, Antiah and Ismaya were at odds because each wanted to be the heir to the throne. Both held a mountain race. Jaga tried to devour the mountain with one swallow but actually had an accident. His mouth was torn and his eyes were widened. Ismaya uses another way, namely by eating the mountain little by little. After passing through the day, all parts of the mountain were moved into the body of Ismaya, but he did not succeed in removing it. Since then Ismaya has been round. Sanghyang Tunggal was angry to know the ambition and greed of his two sons. They were also sentenced to be the caretakers of the descendants of Manikmaya, who was later appointed as king of kahyangan, titled Batara Guru. Jeez and Ismaya came down to the world. They each used the names Togog and Semar..

Genealogy and family Editing

In the story, Batara Ismaya while still in Kahyangan was betrothed to his cousin named Dewi Senggani. From that marriage were born ten children, namely:

•Surya 'Batara

•Candra's Town

Tamburu Batara

Batara Siwah's

Batara Kuwera

Yamadipati Batara

Kamajaya Batara

Mahyanti Batara

Darmanastiti Batari

Semar as the incarnation of Ismaya served for the first time to Resi Manumanasa, the ancestor of the Pandavas. One day Semar was attacked by two red and white tigers. Manumanasa archery both so that it changed to the original form, which is a pair of angels named Kanistri and Kaniraras. Thanks to the help of Manumanasa, the two angels have been freed from the curse they live. Kanistri later became Semar's wife, and was commonly called Kanastren. Meanwhile, Kaniraras became Manumanasa's wife, and her name was changed to Retnawati, as Manumanasa's older sister was also named Kaniraras.

Couple punakawan

In the Central Java puppet, Semar is always accompanied by his children, namely Gareng, Petruk, and Bagong. But in fact, these three are not Semar's biological children. Gareng was the son of a priest who was cursed and freed by Semar. Petruk was the son of a Gandharwa king. While Bagong is created from Semar shadow thanks to the powerful word Resi Manumanasa.

In the Sundanese puppetry, the order of Semar's children is Cepot, Dawala, and Gareng. Meanwhile, in the Timuran Javanese puppet, Semar was accompanied by only one child, named Bagong, who also had a child named Besut.

Privileges

Semar is a puppet character created by local pojangga. Although his status is only as a servant, but his nobility parallels that of Prabu Krishna in the story of Mahabharata. If in the Baratayuda war according to the original version, the Pandavas' advisor was only Krishna, then in the puppet, the number was increased to two, and the other was Semar.

Semar in literary works is only shown as the caretaker of the descendants of the Manumanasa Resi, especially the Pandavas who are the main characters of the Mahabharata story. But in the puppet show themed Ramayana, the puppeteers also usually display Semar as a caregiver of the family of Sri Rama or Sugriwa. It is as if Semar always appears in every puppet show, no matter what title is being told.

In the puppetry, Semar acts as the nanny of the knights, while Togog as the caretaker of the giants. It is certain that Semar's foster children can always defeat Togog's foster children. It is really a symbol. Semar is a picture of the fusion of small people as well as the god kahyangan. So, if the governments - symbolized as the knights of Semar's upbringing - listen to the voice of the little people who are like the voice of God, then the country they lead must be a superior and sentous nagara.