“Semar: A Symbol of Wisdom and Balance in Javanese Puppetry”

BY ; M.RIFKI

WAYANG GOLEK SEMAR

Samar is the name of the main shop in punakawan in Javanese puppetry. This figure is told as a caregiver and advisor to the knights in the performance of the Mahabharata and Ramayana heroes. However, Semar’s name is not found in the original manuscript of the two heroes (in Sanskrit), because this character is a genuine creation of a Javanese poet. Semar has a very unique physical shape, as if it is a symbol of the depiction of the universe. Its round body is a symbol of the earth, inhabited by humanity and other creatures. Semar is always smiling, but wide-eyed. This depiction is a symbol of joy and sorrow. His face is old but his haircut is in the style of a child, as a symbol of old and young. She is male, but has breasts like a woman, as a symbol of men and women. He is the incarnation of a god but lives as a commoner, as a symbol of superiors and subordinates.

It is said that the ruler of the world named Sang Hyang Batara Nurrasa had two sons named Sang Hyang Batara Tunggal and Sang Hyang Batara Wenang / Sang Hyang Asip Prono or Sang Hyang Asip Rono. Because Sang Hyang Tunggal had an ugly face, the throne of Kahyangan was inherited to Sang Hyang Wenang. From Sang Hyang Wenang it was then inherited to his son named Batara Guru. Sang Hyang Tunggal then became the caretaker of the knights descendants of Batara Guru, under the name Semar.

In the Paramayoga manuscript, it is narrated that Sang Hyang Tunggal is the son of Sang Hyang Wenang. Sang HyangTunggal then married Dewi Rakti or Batari Rakti, a daughter of a king of crab jinn named Sang Hyang Yuyut. From the marriage was born a mustika in the form of an egg which then turned into two men. Both of them were named Ismaya for the black one, and Manikmaya for the white one, respectively. Ismaya felt inferior, which made Sanghyang Tunggal less pleased. The throne of kahyangan was also inherited to Manikmaya, who was later titled Batara Guru. Meanwhile, Ismaya was only given the position of the ruler of the Sunyaruri realm, or the dwelling place of the spirit beings. Ismaya’s eldest son, Batara Wungkuhan, has a round-bodied child named Janggan Smarasanta, or Semar for short. He became the caretaker of the descendants of Batara Guru named Resi Manumayasa and continued to his children and grandchildren. Under special circumstances, Ismaya can possess Semar so that Semar becomes a figure that is very feared, even by the gods. So according to this version, Semar is the grandson of Ismaya.