Legenda Asal Mula Pulau Jawa, Inilah Isi Kitab Tantu Pagelaran, Peninggalan Kerajaan Majapahit

Summary

The script recounts the mythological origins of Java Island as described in the ancient Javanese text, Tantu Pagelaran, dating back to the 15th century during the Majapahit Kingdom. It tells the story of how the gods, led by Batara Guru, worked to stabilize and populate the floating island of Java. The gods, using various animal forms, moved Mount Mahameru from India to anchor the island. The text explores the geography, culture, and religious significance of Java's mountains, particularly Mount Semeru, and establishes a divine connection between the island’s landscape and Hindu mythology.

Takeaways

• 😀 The legend of the origin of Java Island is found in the Tantu Pagelaran manuscript, a significant relic from the Majapahit Kingdom.
• 😀 The Majapahit Kingdom ruled for nearly two centuries, controlling much of the Nusantara region, leaving behind temples, inscriptions, and literary works as evidence.
• 😀 Besides the temples and inscriptions, literary works like the Kitab Negarakertagama, Pararaton, and Sutasoma are key historical texts from the Majapahit era.
• 😀 The Tantu Pagelaran manuscript is an ancient Javanese text written in Kawi, dating back to the 15th century, and narrates the myth of Java's origin.
• 😀 In the Tantu Pagelaran, the gods Batara Guru, Brahma, and Vishnu are tasked with populating the floating island of Java, which is unstable and shaking.
• 😀 Vishnu transforms into a giant tortoise to carry Mount Mahameru from India, while Brahma becomes a giant serpent to support the mountain during transport.
• 😀 The gods initially place Mount Mahameru in western Java, but its weight causes the eastern part of the island to rise, prompting them to move it to the east.
• 😀 As Mount Mahameru is relocated eastward, debris from the mountain forms a mountain range that stretches from west to east across Java.
• 😀 The gods then cut a portion of the mountain and place it in the northwest, creating Mount Pawitra (later known as Mount Pananggungan), while the main part of the mountain becomes Mount Semeru.
• 😀 Vishnu becomes the first ruler of Java, known as Gandhi Awak, establishing governance, society, and religious practices on the island.

Q & A

What is the Tantu Pagelaran manuscript?

The Tantu Pagelaran is an ancient Javanese manuscript written in the Kawi language. It is a significant relic from the Majapahit Kingdom, dating back to the 15th century. The manuscript tells the mythological story of the origin of Java Island.

Who are the deities involved in the creation of Java Island according to the Tantu Pagelaran?

The deities involved in the creation of Java Island in the Tantu Pagelaran are Batara Guru, Dewa Brahma, and Dewa Wisnu. They work together to transform the floating island into the present-day Java.

What is the role of Gunung Mahameru in the Tantu Pagelaran story?

Gunung Mahameru, the sacred mountain from India, plays a central role in stabilizing the floating Java Island. Dewa Wisnu, in the form of a giant turtle, carries the mountain, while Dewa Brahma, as a giant serpent, supports it, ensuring the mountain is safely placed on the island.

Why did the deities move Gunung Mahameru to different parts of Java Island?

The deities initially placed Gunung Mahameru in the western part of Java, but its weight caused the eastern part of the island to rise. After moving it to the eastern part, the island still remained unbalanced, leading the deities to cut a portion of the mountain and place it in the northwest, forming Gunung Pawitra (now known as Gunung Pananggungan).

What does the myth in the Tantu Pagelaran tell us about the geographical features of Java Island?

The myth explains the mountainous geography of Java Island. It suggests that the island's mountainous terrain, from west to east, was created by the movement of Gunung Mahameru, a sacred mountain in Hindu mythology.

What is the significance of Gunung Semeru in this myth?

Gunung Semeru, which is the main part of Gunung Mahameru, is depicted as the dwelling place of the god Siwa in the Tantu Pagelaran myth. It is considered sacred in Hinduism and represents a connection between the earthly and divine realms.

How does the Tantu Pagelaran connect to Hindu mythology?

The Tantu Pagelaran connects to Hindu mythology by incorporating elements such as Gunung Meru (Mahameru), the abode of the gods, and the role of deities like Batara Guru, Dewa Brahma, and Dewa Wisnu. The myth mirrors the Hindu belief of the mountain as a cosmic axis and a bridge between heaven and earth.

What was the first form of leadership on Java Island, according to the script?

According to the script, Dewa Wisnu became the first ruler of Java Island, taking the name Gandhi Awak. He governed the people and religious practices on the island after its creation.

How does the story in the Tantu Pagelaran relate to the occurrence of earthquakes on Java Island?

The Tantu Pagelaran myth provides an explanation for earthquakes in Java Island by attributing them to the disturbances caused by the island's shifting geography, such as the movement of Gunung Mahameru and the island's attempts to stabilize.

What are some other famous literary works from the Majapahit era, mentioned in the script?

Other famous literary works from the Majapahit era include the Kitab Negarakertagama, Pararaton, and Sutasoma, which, like the Tantu Pagelaran, provide historical and mythological insights into the Majapahit Kingdom.