Jalak Budo

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by VVV

On the term budo/buda I have of course seen it before and knew the meaning.
But I have had the impression that it originated in referring to the old time customs of the Hindu-Buddhist times?
Similar to that you often find many Sanskrit words in Indonesian or Javanese that over the years somehow has slightly deviated from the Indian meaning.
I am sorry if I have got it all wrong as my interest on comparing these languages is higher than my kindergarten-level speaking abilities.

Michael

Dear Michael,

I hope your impression is right. According to Mr Bambang Harsrinuksmo, "zaman kabudan" (buda period) is a periodisation in keris in Java. He wrote in his Ensiklopedi, that this period was about from 6 to 9 or 10th century, or the same period of the building of Candi Borobudur (in central Java) to the era of Kahuripan kingdom. Bambang referred to some relief in the buddhist candi which pictured people were bringing weapons that ressemble keris that people called as buda keris. Not only in Borobudur, but according to Bambang, also in Prambanan temple (in Yogyakarta).

But according to Mr Haryono Guritno -- the writer of Keris Jawa antara Mistik dan Nalar -- the term "kabudan" is like "once upon a time" term. Old time, but not exactly when...

Beside "zaman kabudan", there is also another term of "zaman kadewatan". This term is more uncertain. Bambang wrote, that this period was before "zaman kabudan". Some people thought that this period was quite imaginary.

Serat Centini -- which was written by Javanese litterature writer Rongowarsito -- mentioned the name of empus, kings and keris dapur such as Empu Ramadi (empu), Prabu Destarata (king in wayang legend), and dapurs of Sempana, Carubuk, Kalamisani etc. Quite imaginary, although such dapurs still exist until now.

Ganjawulung