Sengkalan: Mystery of words and forms<\/p>\n
Waluyo Wijayatno, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In past centuries, the Javanese -- particularly the scholarly
\nor the upper-middle tier of society -- had a unique way of
\nrecording or remembering those calendar years in which important
\nevents took place in their lives, such as births, marriages,
\ndeaths, building constructions and the like.<\/p>\n
They used certain objects as symbols of the numbers zero to
\nnine. The objects chosen were natural, universal and permanent in
\ntheir forms, characteristics as well as behavior, including
\nobjects of nature, parts of the human body, animals and plants.<\/p>\n
A general example, although there are many, of these numerals
\nand their corresponding symbols are: 0 = langit\/sky, 1 =
\nbumi\/earth, 2 = mripat\/eyes, 3 = geni\/fire, 4 = segara\/sea,
\n5 = maruta\/wind, 6 = rasa\/feeling, 7 = giri\/mountain, 8 =
\nliman\/elephant, 9 = bolong\/hole.<\/p>\n
The number 0 is represented by the sky, because it is a
\nshapeless void. As there is only one earth in the universe, it
\nrepresents 1. Man has two eyes, thus they denote 2. Fire
\nrepresents 3, because it has three properties: to heat, to burn
\nand to illuminate. And so on until 9. Such are the root meanings
\nof the symbols as relative to the numbers they represent.<\/p>\n
The Javanese words referring to these objects were then
\ncomposed into a phrase that apparently has a particular meaning,
\nbut was, in fact, a calendar year. In Javanese, this is known as
\nsengkalan -- derived from the word kala, meaning time or moment
\n-- which is called a chronogram in the West.<\/p>\n
The other unique feature of sengkalan is the arrangement of
\nwords in reverse order. The first word in the sengkalan phrase
\nrepresents the last digit of the calendar year.<\/p>\n
For instance, the chronogram Luhuring Sembah Trusing Allah,
\nwhen decoded, means 1920: luhur\/noble = 0, sembah\/respectful
\ngesture = 2, trus\/deep = 9, Allah\/God = 1, while Ganda Kusuma
\nSekaring Bumi means 1999: ganda\/scent = 9, kusuma\/bloom = 9,
\nsekar\/flower = 9, bumi\/earth = 1.<\/p>\n
Apart from phrases, images and illustrations could also be
\nused in representing a Javanese chronogram, and was known as
\nsengkalan memet, or complicated chronogram. Deciphering the
\ncalendar year from such images involves some intricate thought
\nindeed.<\/p>\n
An exceptional example can be found along the Bangsal
\nKemagangan, or the Hall of Royal Novices, at the Sultanate Court
\nof Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat in Yogyakarta, where two dragons are
\narranged back-to-back in a painting, with one facing left and the
\nother right, with their tails entwined in the middle. Translated
\nas a sentence, the painting becomes Dwi Naga Rasa Tunggal -- two
\ndragons share feelings -- and thus represents the year 1682
\naccording to the Javanese chronogram: Dwi = 2, Naga = 8,
\n Rasa = 6, Tunggal = 1. It records the year the court of
\nYogyakarta was first established.<\/p>\n
This same sengkalan memet, however, also has another
\ntranslation -- Dwi Nagara Satunggal, or two states unite.<\/p>\n
Both translations, in fact, have almost the same meaning,
\nserving as a slogan to describe the existence of two states, as
\nsymbolized by the dragons, which shared a common spirit in
\nopposing the Dutch colonizers of the time. However, this
\nopposition constituted a behind-the-scenes, or internal, policy
\nrather than open resistance. This is depicted by the entwined
\ndragon tails -- internal cooperation -- while their outwardly
\nfacing heads represent the external diplomacy of hospitality
\ntoward the colonizers.<\/p>\n
Most of the chronogram symbols fall into the category of
\ncandra sengkala. As candra means \"moon\", this type of sengkalan
\nis based on the lunar calendar, such as the Javanese and Islamic
\nor Hijriah years. The other group, following the solar calendar
\nbased on the earth's revolution around the sun, is called surya
\nsengkala, with surya meaning sun. The Christian calendar is based
\non this second type.<\/p>\n
Though it may seem confusing at first glance, sengkalan
\nactually brings some benefits. It is easier to memorize sengkalan
\nphrases than the years themselves. Therefore, the last two digits
\nare mentioned first so that the crucial digits -- which people
\ntend to forget -- can be promptly recalled. Figures in the
\nhundreds and thousands are usually easier to remember or
\nestimate.<\/p>\n
In addition, sengkalan phrases generally define or provide
\nclues as to the significance of the situation, impression or
\nexpectation according to the moment in time for which the
\nchronogram was created. Sirna Ilang Kertaning Bumi, or gone is
\npeace on earth, represents the year 1400, signifying the fall of
\nthe Majapahit Kingdom amid social chaos and political crisis.<\/p>\n
Other examples include the year of national independence, or
\nthe founding of the Republic of Indonesia, declared in 1945 A.D.
\nIts surya sengkala can thus be composed as Marganing Karya Ambuka
\nNagari, 5-4-9-1, with the following phrasal meaning: By endeavor
\nrises the state.<\/p>\n
The Bali bombing in 2002, on the other hand, can be recorded
\nin a solar chronogram as Sakedhep Sirna Tan Kaeksi, or literally
\ntranslated, disappeared in the blink of an eye...<\/p>\n
... As with this glimpse of sengkalan, the Javanese scholarly
\ncustom of \"documentation\".<\/p>",
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