Yogyakarta reread 'Arjuna Wiwaha'

Yogyakarta reread 'Arjuna Wiwaha'

Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Arjuna, one of the five heroes of Pandawa in the Indian epic
story of Mahabarata, is generally known as a handsome and
courageous hero popular among women.

Writer Landung Simatupang and artist Petrus Agus Herjaka have
made an attempt to re-interpret this figure in their respective
areas and presented their creation at an event titled Arjuna
Wiwaha: A Continuous Transformation at the Balai Roepa Tembi,
Bantul, Yogyakarta, recently.

The story says that when he is meditating in a cave, Arjuna
has to go through a tough test by the deities, including being
seduced by beautiful fairies. Arjuna is known to be susceptible
to seduction. However, as he is wholly determined to keep control
over his own desires, he can finally perform his meditation.

It is also told in the story, the deities send Arjuna to fight
a powerful enemy, Niwatakawaca, a giant. Arjuna, the third
sibling of Pandawa, wins the fight and receives Goddess Supraba
as his gift.

Kakawin Arjuna Wiwaha, written by Mpu Kanwa during the reign
of King Erlangga (1019 to 1042) was made a subject to analyze in
the dissertation of Dr. I Kuntara Wiryamartana SJ in 1987. It is
this translation by Romo Kuntara, a Catholic priest, that was
used as a reference by Landung Simatupang and Petrus Agus Herjaka
in their respective works.

That night, Landung Simatupang read 11 verses of a total 37
verses in Kakawin Arjuna Wiwaha, while Agus Herjaka exhibited 31
paintings. Landung's poetry reading and Herjaka's art exhibition
both transported the ancient story to the present-day world in
their respective interpretation of the story of Arjuna.

In the first section of his reading, which included about five
verses, Landung evocatively took the audience to explore the cave
where Arjuna was being seduced by the fairies.

The scene came alive when we saw a painting titled Godha
Rencana (Plan for Temptation) by Herjaka.

Using every method possible, the fairies attempted to
interrupt Arjuna's meditation. Unfortunately, these fairies find
themselves to be seduced by Arjuna.

The particular verse about this scene reads: Others are no
less resourceful and hug him from behind. Pushing and going on
top of him with great passion, touching, caressing and sighing.

Warm and fragrant breasts that are bathed in turmeric
concoction are rubbed against his body. In great desire, they put
Arjuna's arms around their necks. They take his hands and stroke
them against their waists. Their clothes are translucent, showing
clearly a thin piece of cloud on the roundness of the moon.

Although he is seduced with whispering and movements that will
arouse his sexual desires, Arjuna is undisturbed. The passion
that the fairies show make them even more desperate in winning
the heart of the handsome hero in his medication in the White
Stone Cave.

One is lithe and never gives up. She is very skilled at
arousing desire. Flirting and wooing, she squeezes the hero's
hands. Oh, madly in love, she strokes his hands against her
breasts. Her heart, as if hearing the moaning sound of bamboo
pieces rubbing against each other, melts and is carried away.

At this juncture, Arjuna shows an admirable attitude. He is
not in the least tempted while the gods themselves are enticed by
the fairies of their own creation when they witness them
departing.

Even when they have just been carved, all the deities caress
them. After they become perfect creations, they walk to the
right, in worship to the deities, circling three times.

Right away Hyang Brahma assumes four faces. Betara Indra shows
his many eyes. They are ashamed of being discovered to have
turned their heads. In fact, they are greatly disappointed when
the fairies are behind them.

Meanwhile, Agus's painting, Godha Rencana lends greater
vividness to our imagination of this passionate seduction. In his
oil painting made on a 75 cm by 145 cm canvas, Agus very
carefully gives prominence to the figure of Arjuna with his eyes
closed, deep in meditation.

He is fully undisturbed in the presence of the fairies all
showing their breasts. The seven fairies seem to be offering
their firm breasts to Arjuna.

Agus Herjaka denied, however, that he was simply exploiting
the seduction of the fairies. In his other painting Girigoda, he
said, he also depicts the beautiful body of a woman.

Arjuna, also known as Herjuna, Agus said, is made up from her
(water) and ju (a large clay vessel).

Herjuna, therefore, means a vessel containing water that is
needed to sustain life. Water symbolizes life and everyone should
look for this source.

Therefore, in his opinion, everyone should take Herjuna as
their model and go in search of a source of pure water, the water
of life, Agus said. It is not easy to find this source.

We have to be ready to strengthen our souls by sublimating
physical needs in deep meditation, defeat mundane desires and
have the courage to wage war to neutralize the poison in
ourselves.