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Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey
Raden, I find your analysis of the word "susuhunan" interesting, but I must put the question to you:- is this your own theory on the way in which the word "susuhunan" may have been formed from the word "sunan", or can you quote a reliable philological or lexicographic source?
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Alan,
Specific to a word "susuhunan", it is blindly my own intepretation. Now, I am in Africa. I do not have any opportunities to check it to old Jawa person before posting here. However, I do not intepret a word "susuhunan" without any foundation. There are both lexicography and philosophy.
Lexicography
Repetition used in Jawa language for several purposes. One of them is to intensifying (even to make superlative). I want to reveal other words for example:
Lembut (Jawa) means soft
Lelembut (Jawa) means extremely soft
then... Jawa people used word "LELEMBUT" to describe "GHOST as general" because they believe the characteristic of matter of Ghosts is very very soft.
Selo (high Jawa) means stone
Seselo (high Jawa) means a lot of stones
Seselo is the name of place which there are a lot of stone there. This place was a home of the respectful ancestor of Mataram (then both Jogja and Surakarta, or four including Pakualaman and Mangkunegaran). His popular name was Ki Ageng Selo.
Responding to the statement of Penangsang that Mataram dinasty cames from "peasants". It seems the story (history) started from here. To Demak Kingdom or Northern Jawa Coastal Kingdoms, blue bloods means it had to have mixed blood between arabic (including some part of India, Asia Minor and even part of China) blood and majapahit royal line. It can be understood because at that time the hegemony of Islam begun. Simplicity, Arabic blood means the prophet Muhammad blood. He was the real King who had legitimate royal blood line. Selo and his offsprings were pure Jawa. They were considered as ordinary people. Ordinary people who inhabitted in remote/hinter land were PEASANT.
For Selo people, they tried to win the battle of realm politics at that time by making other intepretation. They used Mojopahit as a base of legitimation to rule Jawa. The father of Panembahan Senopati (first ruler of Mataram) was Ki Ageng Mataram. He was son of Ki Ageng Nis, grandson of Ki Ageng Selo, great grandson of (Ki Ageng Bondan Kejawen, Ki Ageng Getas Pendowo, Ki Ageng Lembu Peteng). Ki Ageng Lembu Peteng was son of King Brawijaya the Fifth (the last King of Majapahit Empire) from the cucumbent. According to Selo people point of view and pulled from Majapahit, even not son of the Queen, the royal blood line of Ki Ageng Pendowo was more legitimate (bluer)from Raden Patah of Demak. To integrate to hegemony at that time, Islamic era, Selo also needed GURU. Part of politics, respectful Sunan as Sunan Kudus refused these peasants. So these peasants chose Syeh Siti Jenar. At the end, because conflict of interest (blended politics, power and religion), the fate of Syeh Siti Jenar and his followere were "murdered", including Kebo Kenongo, father of Mas Karebet (wellknown as Joko Tingkir). After that, only Sunan Kalijogo accepted as "their GURU". So, Selo people had complete requirement to show in politic stage at that time (including Joko Tingkir).
Okay... back to Susuhunan for Alan
Philosophy,
King Hanyokrokusumo needed "Islamic" legitimation for ruling Jawa at that time. It was normal pattern of Kingdoms in Jawa. Kind of legitimation was an acknoledgement from the most sacred place/people. According to people at that time, the most sacred place was Mecca. the most sacred people was Rojo (h)ing ngeRum (the emperor of Turkey Ottoman) because Mecca was a province of ngeRum (turkey ottoman empire). King Hanyokrokusumo did not get this acknoledgement. He was very sad because while he did not get acknoledgment, one of his competitor got it (King of Banten). Thats why, Banten had never surrendered freely to King Hanyokrokusomo. And thats why, the use of Sultan came in the end of King Hanyokrowati reign. Even, the use of SULTAN AGUNG came long after his death. BUT, since then, the use of sinonym of KHALIFATULLAH was important in Mataram. Sultan, Sunan, Susuhunan were actually synonim of Khalifatullah. Khalifatullah means the representative of GOD to rule the world (of Jawa as centre of univerve). Why not directly using KHALIFAH. It was to high then could be cursed.
Two acknowledgement needed for ruler of Surakarta and Jogja (especially after Giyanti treaty). First and most important was an acknowlegment from NDORO EYANG KOMPENI (VOC or then DUTCH ADMINISTRATION). Without this acknowledgment, it could be end in abdication (softly or frontally) such as Hamengkubuwono II and VII or Mangkunegoro V. Second and not less important was an acknowlegment from society (moslem). The rebellion of Prince Diponegoro damage severely NDORO TUAN (dutch armies). Prince Diponegoro should be a ruler of Jogjakarta but NDORO TUAN did not acknowlegde/agree. However, the Jawa society (Islamic society) supported him. To sum up, Alan, this is one of explanation why ruler of Jogja and Surakarta need to use islamic term. Then, imho, both Sultan and Sunan are Islamic terms (lexicography and phulosophy).
warm salam,
Usmen