Semar or Sang Hyang Ismaya, the oldest and most important of the panakawan, was originally a god, ‘the twin brother of heaven’. He is the elder brother of the highest god, Batara Guru. As a punishment for a misdeed he was given a grotesque form and sent to earth to serve the descendants of the gods (ksatrias). He is the guide of the hero on a journey full of tribulations which the hero must overcome before achieving his goal.

Kresna

Kresna was the king of Dwarawati, the wisest man in the world

Kresna was t he king of Dwarawati, the wisest man in the world, the incarnation of Wisnu, had been assigned by Batara Guru to become a referee in Baratayuda. (see Baratayuda and The Kingdom of Dwarawati).

The war had to be in accord with the script known as Jitapsara. The ksatrias with very strong supernatural power were not permitted to participate. Before the Baratayuda, a son of Bima, Antasena and son of Arjuna, Wisanggeni had disappeared mystically to guarantee the victory of Pendawa, upon the advice of Sang Hyang Wenang, the grand-father of Guru.

Another son of Bima, Antareja was killed after following Kresna’s advice (See The Kingdom of Amarta). He was too strong to every enemy, furthermore there was a prediction, if he took part in Baratayuda he should meet Baladewa, Kresna’s brother. Kresna knew that his brother could not match Antareja.

Baladewa was told by Kresna to meditate in a lonely place. When the war began, he should be informed. Baladewa stopped his meditation only after the Baratayuda. Kresna although an incarnation of Wisnu, wise and clever, probably he could make a mistake too. It was human, as the case of Antareja. He was trusted by Guru to act fairly and diplomatically. In fact, he was a great diplomat. .

Rahwana

Rahwana, the ogue giant king of Alengkadiraja, his other name was Dasamuka, a scary giant with ten faces. (see Ramayana and the Kingdom of Alengka). Since his youth, he had a bad behavior, a real giant (giant in Javanese is Buto means blind, a "blind" man can’t differentiate the goods and the bads). He thought only for himself, his own pleasure. He was not interested, the feeling or the fate of others. He would crush everyone who was against his wish.

All his whole life, since a boy until his death, he was unbearable. He was the worst of the worst, pursuing only his interests. He could not be a good person since the very beginning. He was a fruit of Kama salah (bad sperm) according to Javanese traditional teachings (Kejawen).

The lusty Begawan Wisrawa had committed a shameful mistake as a saint/Begawan. He, as a wise Begawan had to abandon the material world and lust, was tempted to the beauty of Sukesi, the fiancée of his son Danaraja. He was not able to control his evil desires.

The love making of a man and a woman, with their minds loaded with lusts would produce Kama Salah (bad sperm). In the process, it should be a person with bad character. The moral education from their parents or teachers would not affect much. That was the case with Dasamuka.

Gunawan Wibisono, the fourth son of Wisrawa and Sukesi was a wise person seeking for the truth. How could it be?. He was a fruit of good Kama/sperm. The parents, especially Wisrawa, he had gain back his true consciousness when he made love with his wife. Of course as a normal human-being, he was sexually aroused, but he had a clear and peaceful mind (lejar in Javanese). A child behavior and fate was mostly pre-determined by the parents’ mind (notably the father) during intercourse, not the parents occupation or position in the society.

Gototkaca

Gototkaca is the son of Bima / Werkudara and Dewi Arimbi, the daughter of Prabu Arimbika, the giant king of Pringgondani with a giant woman namely Hidimba. Gatotkaca has two half brothers that were Raden Anantareja --as the son of Bima and Dewi Naganini-- and Raden Anantasena –as the son of Bima and Dewi Urangayu--.

Moment still baby, Gatotkaca became candidate of God to destroying Prabu Pracona and his docile, Sakipu who running amuck in Jonggringsaloka because his propose of marriage at Batari Prabasini was refused by Batara Guru. Before confronted in battlefield, Gatotkaca was input into kettle of Candradimuka, later the kettle was swirled with various weapons property of God. Of his service, he got God reward in form three miracle patrimonies that were:

1. Baju/Kutang Antakusuma
2. Caping Basunanda
3. Sepatu Pada Kucarma

After he was adult, Gatotkaca became the king of Pringgondani, to replace his mother. Gatotkaca has three wives and three sons, they were:

1. Arya Jayasupena, from Dewi Sumpani
2. Arya Sasikirana, from Dewi Pergiwa
3. Suryakaca, from Dewi Suryawati

Gatotkaca has characters brave, firm, strong, clever, nimble, skilful, attentive, and has big responsibilities. Gatotkaca very powerful, he has magic of Narantaka, the given of Resi Seta.

Shinta

Shinta named Sintadewi, Rakyan Sinta, Janaki, or Maithali. The daughter of Janaka. Shinta was reinkarnation of Dwi Sri Widowati. She was Rama's faithful wife.

His arrow heirlooms became a man, The Holy Book became a god and goddess Savitri, standing behind Rama. Then he walked slowly, followed by Barata, Satrugna and others. All of them wore flowers and perfume. No one was sad, they were happy and sure they would go to heaven together with Rama.

They reached the river of Serayu (in Banyumas regency, in the south-west part of Central Java). Rama meditated solemly on the river bank for three consecutive days. The weather was pleasant in the tranquil nature. The wind blew gently. The situation was mystically calm. In the third day after the sunset, Rama drank a bit the clean and fresh water of the river, it was a water offering (sesaji Tirta). River Serayu was a holy river.

Rama meditated for a while and then all of a sudden Rama was surrounded by bright light and a voice was heard: "Go on Batara Wisnu, all your dewa/god family welcome you back, please transform to your original form as Wisnu, the preserver of the world".

Rama vanished and Wisnu appeared. The gods led by Brama welcomed sincerely Wisnu by bathing him with petal of flowers. Wisnu asked Brama politely and confidently to permit all his good and faithful followers, after releasing their physical bodies to enter to heaven together with him. All Rama’s followers Begawans, Satrias, workers, giants and animals, were permitted to live in heaven in their own appropriate places.

After Rama went back to where he belong, the kingdom of Ayodya was empty. Only after five generations, Wisnu incarnated in Rama’s descendant Kresna. Laksmana incarnated to Baladewa. Previously he incarnated to Arjuna but it was not last long Laksmana was never married, he could not be in Arjuna who had many wives. Sinta incarnated to Sembadra, the sister of Kresna and the wife of Arjuna. (by Suryo S. Negoro)

Nakula & Sahadewa

Nakula & Sahadewa are the fourth and Fifth of Pendawas (They are twin brthers). Like their step-brothers, both of these warrior has supernatural power. Eventhough they have different mother, Nakula and Sadewa are always loyal to their three step-brothers.

Arjuna

Arjuna is the third Pendawa. He is a handsome warrior. He is also powerful. He practices meditation; therefore he has received lots of powerful weaponry. He is very skilled in the art of archery.

Bima

Bima or Werkodara is the second Pendawa . He has a large, strong body and has very sharp thumbnails. He never uses formal language to anyone (except to Dewaruci). He represents the power of Five Pendawas.

Puntadewanata or Yudistira

Puntadewanata or Yudistira is the oldest of Five Pendawas. He is so patient so that he is often called as having the white blood. He would never fight or go to war. He has a powerful amulet named Kalimasada.

pandawa

Pandawa adalah para keturunan Raden Pandu dari kedua istrinya yaitu Dewi Kunti dan Dewi Madri. Dimulai dengan para pandawa pada saat muda dimana pada saat itu mereka masih bernama (dimulai dari yang paling tua) :

• Raden Puntadewa, yang lebih dikenal dengan nama Yudistira
• Raden Bratasena, yang lebih di kenal Bima
• Raden Pamade, yang lebih di kenal dengan nama Arjuna
• Raden Nakula dan Raden Sadewa, karena kembar maka wayang yang digunakan juga sama

Rama and Sinta

Rama and Sinta are the two main characters in the story of the Hindu epic RAMAYANA. In the story of RAMAYANA, the Princess (Sinta) sees a golden deer and she asks the Prince (Rama) to hunt the golden deer for her. Before Rama leaves, he made a magic circle to protect Sinta. Sinta is supposed to stay within the circle while Rama is away. After Rama leaves, the Evil King (Rahwana) tempted Sinta to leave the magic circle by disguising himself into a golden deer. When Sinta sees this golden deer, she forgets her promise to Rama and she goes out the magic circle. Rahwana then kidnaps and take her to his Palace in Alengka Kingdom. One of Prince Rama’s friend, an eagle named Jatayu, tries to save the Princess but he fails. But before he dies, he leaves a clue for Prince Rama, telling him that Princess Sinta has been kidnapped by Rahwana. Prince Rama, with the help of the King of Monkey (Hanoman), goes to the Evil King’s palace and save Princess Sinta. However, Rama is doubtful whether his beloved wife is still pure. To prove her innocence, Rama grants Sinta’s request to burn herself. The fire does not consume Sinta, proving that she is faithful and still pure. RAMA/SRI RAMA (The Principal hero in the Ramayana epic) Rama is the descendant of Batara Wisnu, the God of humanity. He is married to Dewi Sinta. When his wife is kidnapped by Rahwana, a gigantic King of Alengka Kingdom, Rama rescues her with the assistance of Laksmana (his loyal brother), Wibiksana (Rahwana’s brother), Sugriwa (kind of the monkeys), and Hanoman (brilliant general of the monkey army). He is a symbol of loving husband who takes care of his wife. SINTA/DEWI SINTA (The Principal heroine in the Ramayana epic) Sinta is the daughter of King Janaka of Mantili. In Ramayana story, she is kidnapped by Rahwana. Yet she maintains her honor and is ultimately reunited with her beloved husband, Rama. To prove that she is still pure, she offers to burn herself but the fire does not harm her. She is a symbol of faithfulness, honor, and loyalty.

Rama

Rama was a real ksatria, hororing without reserve the principle of truth and ethics.

In pedalangan (wayang performance) he is called Prabu Rama (Prabu-king) or Rama Wijaya. He was a real ksatria, hororing without reserve the principle of truth and ethics. (see Ramayana). He obeyed his father decision to leave the palace and had to live in the jungle for years. He did it without protest. He was quite aware, that his father-Dasarata had to follow the principle of Sabdo Pandito Ratu (words or promise by a priest or a king must be fullfilled). His father had promised to his second wife Kekayi to grant her whatever wish she had in mind, after she could cure him from his illness. His half-brother, Barata, Kekayi’s son who loved Rama sincerely protested the decision. He asked Rama to stay in the palace as he was the only legitimate and capable heir to the throne of Ayodya.

Rama was touched by his brother’s request but he could not do anything. He told Barata to take care of the country during his absent. Rama taught him the Hasta-Brata, the eight points to be a good leader. He gave these same principles to Gunawan Wibisana to govern Alengka, after the death of Rahwana.

In his fight to free his wife, Sinta from Alengka, Rama had helped Sugriwa in his fight for justice against Subali. Rama had accepted Wibisana to be in his side. Wibisana, although a brother of Rahwana, he was honest and a fighter of truth. The wise Rama, had helped the needy sincerely. As a result thereof, many people adored him. After his victorious return to Ayodya, Rama was confused when his people were suspicious of Sinta’s loyalty during her long years of stay in Alengka.

After all the wise Rama was only a normal human-being. He made a decision to expel Sinta, a decision which he regretted the whole life. Although he was an incarnation of Wisnu, sometimes he forgot and made mistake. It was a lesson to everybody especially the ones with responsible positions and rulers to never forget his duties, by doing only good and correct actions.

Hanoman

Hanoman, or Hanuman , known also as 'Anjaneya' (son of Anjana), is one of the most popular concepts of servants of God in Hinduism and one of the most important personalities in the epic, the Ramayana. His most famous feat, was leading a monkey army to fight the demon King Ravana to free his prisoner Sinta.

Wayang Kulit, the Indonesian shadow puppets

Wayang Kulit in Central Java is probably one of the oldest continuous traditions of storytelling in the world, and certainly among the most highly developed.

The wayang is a flat or round puppets used for shows in Java.The wayang kulit is the flat one and it is made with buffalo leather. They are maipulated behind a white screen with a back light, so the attendance can see them as shadow puppets.
Wayang is well integrated in Javanese society, and it is considered to be a highlight of Javanese culture.
Wayang Kulit was already established in the East Javanese kingdoms one thousand years ago.

wayang

Wayang is an Indonesian word for theater. Bayang, the Javanese word for shadow or imagination, also connotes "spirit." When the term is used to refer to puppet theater, the puppet itself is sometimes referred to as wayang. There are many forms of wayang, including dances performed with masks and dramas performed with wooden, jointed puppets, but the most famous is wayang kulit, "shadow puppet theater." Only the silhouette shadows of the puppets are seen, projected onto a cotton screen. Performances of shadow puppet theater are accompanied by gamelan in Java, and by "gender wayang" in Bali. Although wayang may have existed before the arrival of Hindusim in Indonesia, many of the stories in wayang dramas are taken from the Mahabarata or the Ramayana, and portray the ongoing battle between good and evil. Later, wayang was also adapted to promulgate Muslim teachings and beliefs. Wayang plays can last as long as eight hours and are frequently performed during sacred temple ceremonies, at private functions such as weddings, and for the public in the villages.
Wayang today is both the most ancient and most popular form of puppet theater in the world. UNESCO designated wayang kulit as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on November 7, 2003.