graphs of my Universe
You sell some wisdom
That unwraps with mere breathing
Dimensions and faith.
—
6 sheets of handmade batik are currently flying to my home; they are wisdom scribed on white cotton by some humble Javanese women who are willingly dedicating life as tradition protectors
matur nuwun 💕
Life spiralling in
Revisiting same axis--
Deep understanding
—-
Javanese dragon (nogo, naga, makara, makoro) is described as a magically strong creature. It is a giant snake. It wears a crown adorned with gemstones and hair. At times Javanese dragon is pictured as wearing jewelry like dangling earrings, necklace, ring at the tail.
Not only Javanese mythology has dragon in its mythology; Chinese and European do, too . Although in general Javanese, Chinese and European dragons are all mythologically the same natural roles and functions, each of those three is unique in itself. Javanese dragon has no feet and wears crown and jewelry. Chinese dragon has four feet and long moustache above its mouth. European dragon is more like a giant long-necked lizard with big wings.
The most dragon in Javanese mythology is Antaboga or Sanghyang Antaboga, a meditating (sleeping) giant snake residing beneath the earth.
modified Antaboga, the most wellknown dragon in Javanese mythology — the wing is occasionally off
Antaboga (useful link, I prefer to out this one among many because this does not include too much unnecessary foreign culture): https://id.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antaboga
Sanghyang Antaboga, in Javanese leather puppet (wayang) with no wings
In Javanese culture dragon is a symbol or fertility and blessings. It is considered as water creature that is able to optimize the water quality and make the soil fertile. With the fertile soil, agriculture the inland part Java’s most popular life sector has been benefited and blessed with the good quality of water and soil.
Dewi Sri (Javanese goddess of fertility and agriculture) is mythologically alleged to be the incarnation of one of Sanghyang Antaboga’s eggs.
Dragon also signifies protection and patronage. Protection is more about physical security. Patronage is more about mental and spiritual security. Dragon carvings are commonly found at around old building gates, entrances, stair banisters to protect the buildings from those entering.
Sanghyang Antaboga is said to be the protector of the weak and the good. He is crowned as the lord of underworld in Javanese mythology.
dragon in the stairs flight in Candi Kidal
Talking about dragon….
I just received a new batik sheet from Ibu Tien. The pattern is called Parang Nogo. Parang Nogo is a batik pattern combining parang as the background with nogo (Javanese dragon) as “ceplok” or highlighted/clustered pattern.
Parang as recently discussed is about not giving up, sustainability, agility, noble ideals and loyality. Nogo itself as earlier introduced is about protection, patronage, fertility and blessings.
So Parang Nogo is a pattern that is intended to combine the spirit of all those values into one work of art.
Parang as recently discussed is about not giving up, sustainability, agility, noble ideals and loyality. Nogo itself as earlier introduced is about protection, patronage, fertility and blessings.
Sultan Hamengkubuwono X in Parang Nogo (the Yogyakarta Sultanate cum the Governor of DIY Yogyakarta)
As a “batik larangan” (batik with sacred pattern that can be worn only by royal family for certain occasions/function), Parang Nogo was meant to be worn by king and his family as a reminder to hold and practice the values attached in the Parang Nogo. Their behaviour and attitudes could give assurance to the people that the kingdom was managed and protected by trusted human beings. Yogyakarta king still wears batik Parang Nogo in some occasions; probably to assure the people that things are well managed under his governance.
Parang Nogo – handmade, my collection from Ibu Tien
Makara, the sea dragon with a lion in its mouth in Candi Borobudur
How would you greet the dragon within you? The coiling coloured energies sleeping to be awaken–
Salaam.
Diagonally
Between axes: x and y.
Dynamic and free—
——
Batik Parang Rusak
As one of the oldest patterns in Java island, “batik parang” is loaded with wisdom of life. Designed by one VVIP in Mataram, Panembahan Senopati, it is not surprising that this pattern is considered special and sacred.
Parang was previously a “larangan” pattern meaning that this pattern was allowed to wear only by royal family in certain occasion/function. Nowadays it is worn by anyone loving it; yet in Java island almost no one will wear it for wedding functions — most Javanese believe that wearing batik parang will bring negative impact and disputes among the family of the bride’s and groom’s and/or bring inharmonious life to the marriage.
The word “parang” was adopted from the word “pereng” that means the slope or the cliff of a mountain/hillside or the steep of a shore so that is why it is diagonally structured. The word “lereng” is also used to name this batik to show the same meaning with “pereng”.
Basic shape of “parang” pattern is an “S” connecting to one another with an angle of 45 degree. This signifies unbroken wavy lines. They are silently moving like waves that are able to move anything at certain level of the ocean surface. The waves will move as long as there are winds. The winds will not stop as long as there are movement of pressures in the air. And the pressures will sustain as long as there are celestial bodies especially the sun interacting with the earth. Forever — until death do us apart.
Some people say “parang” also means “perang” or war in Englihs but I am not into that discussion. Linguistically “parang” should never be “perang” in Javanese. It just happened to be historically told that this “batik parang” was worn by soldiers returning from war (“perang” in Javanese) to show the king that they won. So, it doesn’t suit my logic to call “parang” as “perang”.
Parang Barong handmade, my collection from “Barong Gung”, an original brand from Tulungagung
From all symbols I agree above, I’ve learnt lessons from “batik parang”.
Here it is.
1. Don’t give up
Like waves in the ocean, we should not stop. Just feel the winds and move. FInd your wind and move unstoppably! Live like moving waves, playfully and flexibly responding to the different pressure of air. Push the ships to destination shore. Let the pressure be an activating force, not a demotivating factor.
2. Sustain
Connecting S — it is unbroken S’ surfing on the waves. Good behaviours and attitude generated from objective contemplation and reflection should sustain. It takes a good management system to sustain good practices in an institution including life.
Let’s make a management system more human-based. 🙂
There should be values adopted by a human being — no value, no valuable life.
Values in life (useful link): https://liveboldandbloom.com/11/self-improvement/values-in-life
From the values there is born a boundary. If I value friendship, I will make sure I act as a fair friend to everyone around me. What is fair: take and give (might not be 50/50 but I won’t be happy if it is imbalanced 70/30 and above, and never about material needs sharing).
From the boundary there will be discerning of pros and cons. If I set a boundary, I am listing a do’s and don’ts based on the pros and cons around my boundary. From the do’s and don’ts, there shall be born priorisation of action. You can do this but not that. You can do this first, that later.
From the prioritation of actions there shall be a materialization of consistent decision to choose preferred actions. And….
… The preferred actions are to be observed and surveilled. Who observes or surveils? And how?
Who: Ourselves, our family, our friends, our community, our environment, angels, god and godess, universe, ultimate creator.
How: through re-evaluation of values — this it tricky as it can be as easy as making immediate decision of the day or as complicated as trial and error the whole life
Then go back to setting boundary, etc, etc…. A cycle of self love 💕
Management system (useful link): https://www.iso.org/management-system-standards.html
2 pieces of collection from Batik Keris — it is a printed batik, not handmade (black: modern Batik Parang; white: Batik Parang Sekar Jati)
3. Agility, Noble Ideals & Loyality
Agility: Only when I am agile, I can surf the waves of life. My life is not others’ life so the waves are not the same. Your waves might be taller than mine but they might not make you higher quality than me if you don’t develop agility to surf your life; as a result my life seems easier and nicer although I have to deal with more beasts below my wave while you have nothing under yours. And of course vice versa– 💕
Noble Ideals: Only those having values can believe with noble ideals. And having noble ideals make human beings believe that whatever situation life gives them, there are always meanings to deploy. And it is meanings in life that make human beings live with no regret although they know that their role in this vast universe is just a tiny teeny weeny mini (almost unseen) dot.
Loyalty: Only if I am loyal to my values, I can sustain life. The life I run might not be the most dreamt one; yet it is the best-suited one for me with all the pluses and minuses.
my collection of handmade Batik Parang coloured in natural colouring agents from Mbak Izzah, the daughter in law of Ibu Tien the best batik artisan from Imogiri
Care to try wearing “batik parang”? 💕
Salam.
rike jokanan 
You must be logged in to post a comment.