“Srikandi: The Heroine in the Shadow of the Bharatayuddha War”

By ; M.RIFKI

Wayang golek srikandi

Long ago, in the kingdom of Pancala, a beautiful princess named Srikandi was born, the daughter of King Drupada. Srikandi was different from other women. Since childhood, she preferred playing with swords and archery over dressing up or sewing. She often sneaked into the training grounds of the knights to observe their combat techniques.

Seeing his daughter’s talent, King Drupada eventually allowed Srikandi to learn the art of war. Under the guidance of Resi Drona, Srikandi grew into an exceptional archer. However, behind her courage and strength, a great destiny awaited her.

One day, a handsome prince named Arjuna from the Pandava family arrived. During a tournament, Srikandi demonstrated her exceptional archery skills, captivating everyone, including Arjuna. Not long after, Srikandi and Arjuna were married. However, Srikandi was not a wife who simply stayed in the palace. She always wanted to be involved in struggles, standing equal to the knights.

As her daughter grew into a young woman, she expressed her feelings to Arjuna. She continued her journey to win Arjuna’s heart. The origin of this heroine was connected to Arjuna’s heart. When Arjuna married Dewi Wara Sumbadra, the heroine approached them, gazed at the newlyweds, and longed to be a bride herself. In truth, her only wish was to meet Arjuna.

One day, the heroine witnessed Arjuna’s teachings being passed on to Rarasati, one of Arjuna’s consorts. This moved the heroine deeply, and she frequently came to learn more from Rarasati. In truth, her only desire was to meet Arjuna.

Srikandi’s actions, however, angered Dewi Drupadi, the queen of King Yudhisthira (Puntadewa), Arjuna’s brother. Drupadi viewed Srikandi’s behavior as improper. Because of this, Srikandi’s connection with Arjuna led to her demise, as Arjuna killed her. After this event, the heroine became a fervent admirer of marriage between sons and daughters.

The heroine’s courage and determination made her a fierce warrior, a leader inspired by the daughter of a fighter. To this day, women who address significant issues, particularly concerning Indonesia, are guided by the spirit of Srikandi. When angry, she was not one to be underestimated, as she inspired fear in others.

A fiery yet quick-tempered princess, Srikandi would calm down quickly after an outburst. If she was angry, taking her to eat and speaking kindly would soothe her. However, in moments of great anger, her wrath could lead to destruction, as if unleashing predatory birds. The heroine’s anger and its effects could be illustrated by a puppeteer’s poetic storytelling, which was both captivating and inspiring.

‘the situation of the heroine when she was in war’

When the great Bharatayuddha war broke out between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, Srikandi insisted on joining the battle. The Pandavas were initially hesitant, but Srikandi demonstrated that she was no less capable than any other warrior.

On the side of the Kauravas, there was an undefeated commander named Bhishma. Bhishma was an elderly warrior, extremely strong and wise, but he had a weakness: he would not fight against women.

On the battlefield, Arjuna was tasked with defeating Bhishma. However, he needed Srikandi’s help. With her courage, Srikandi advanced to the frontlines. She stood before Arjuna, facing Bhishma. Bhishma, recognizing Srikandi as the reincarnation of Amba — a princess he had wronged in the past — refused to fight her. In silence, Bhishma accepted his fate.

From behind Srikandi, Arjuna released his sharp arrows, piercing Bhishma’s body. Bhishma fell from his chariot, his body lying atop a bed of arrows. With Bhishma’s defeat, the Kauravas’ position began to weaken, marking the beginning of the Pandavas’ victory.

In the midst of the Bharatayuddha war, Srikandi was appointed commander against Bhishma. She was a heroic figure and the daughter of a warrior. Not only did she fight in routine battles, but in the Bharatayuddha war, she also served as both a soldier and an officer. After the war ended, Srikandi was celebrated as a hero. She not only helped the Pandavas win the war but also proved that courage and justice transcend gender boundaries.

In the hearts of the people, Srikandi was remembered as a brave female warrior, one who was willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of truth. After the Bharatayuddha war, the hero was tragically killed by Ashwatthama, the son of Drona. Her neck was severed while she was asleep.