Prahasta - (Wayang Kulit)

Title	Prahasta - (Patih) - Arjuna Sasra Baha - Ramayana
Other names	Sukesa
Size	55 cm
Personal data	Prahasta is the son of Prabu Sumali, giant king of the Alengka Kingdom and Danuwati, princess of the Mantili Kingdom. Prahasta's real name is Sukesa, he has an older sister named Dewi Sukesi. Even though their father was a giant, Sukesa and Sukesi were born as ordinary humans like their mother. Sukesi gave birth to Ravana. Prahasta became a general of the Rahwana army.
Appearance	Prahasta is a wise figure who often gives valuable advice to Ravana.
Collection	Private collection

Prahasta - (Patih) - Arjuna Sasra Bahu - Ramayana

Prahasta is actually the crown prince of the country of Lanka. But because he was afraid of the supernatural powers that Ravana, the son of Dewi Sukesi and Resi Wisrawa, possessed, Prahasta gave up the throne of the country of Alengka that his father had given to Ravana and he was willing to occupy the position of governor.

When Ravana became heir to the throne of the Alengka kingdom, Prahasta often gave advice to his nephew in running the government. He was a wise figure but Ravana often did not listen to his advice. When Ravana kidnapped Sinta from Rama, Prahasta always advised that Sinta be returned to Rama. But his advice was not followed by Ravana. Until finally when the kingdom of Alengka was attacked by the Wanara people led by Sri Rama, Prahasta had to advance as a commander to face them. He went to war not to defend his nephew, but to defend his homeland which was attacked by the enemy.

One day, a sage named Wisrawa, who was a friend of Sumali Hendal, came and proposed to Sukesi to become his son-in-law. Wisrawa had a son named Danapati who fell in love and wanted Sukesi to be his wife. However, Sukesi only wants to marry a person who can teach enlightenment science, namely Sastrajendra Hayuningrat. Wisrawa claims to have mastered this knowledge but cannot teach it carelessly. Sumali was interested in this knowledge and asked that he be taught this knowledge. In the tertutuo studio, Wisrawa taught Sumali the knowledge of Sastrajendra Hayuningrat, Sumali also changed his form into an ordinary human. Sukesa, who was also curious about this knowledge, peeked from outside, but he was caught eavesdropping without permission, his body and form changed into a giant. And from then on his name became Prahasta.

Due to a mistake, Sukesi did not marry Danapati, but instead married Wisrawa, Danapati's father. From this marriage, they were blessed with four children, namely Ravana, Kumbakarna, Sarpakenaka and Wibisana.
When the Wanara troops under Rama's command attacked the city of Alengka, Ravana ascended to heaven to meet his half-brother, Danapati, who had the title Natara Kuwera. Kuwera received an assignment from Bathara Guru to look after an heirloom flower called the "Dewaretna flower", which was the key to the defeat of the Wanara nation who at that time supported Sri Rama.
Ravana wanted to take the "Dewaretna Flower" but was prevented by Kuwera. After going through an exciting battle, Ravana finally succeeded in capturing the Dewaretna flower. Kuwera could only take a beetle that was inhabiting the heirloom flower vase. He created the beetle into a Wanara named Kapi Pramuja.

Pramuja then came down to earth to ask for Sri Rama's blessing to succeed in reclaiming the Dewaretna Flower. After that, he infiltrated the heritage building in the Alengka palace where Ravana kept the flower. Prahasta , who was assigned by Ravana to look after the Dewaretna Flower, was successfully tricked by Pramuja's magic so he fell asleep for a moment. When he woke up the Dewaretna flower had been stolen by Pramuja. Ravana was furious at Prahasta's negligence. Prahasta went after Pramuja.

When the Alengka war broke out, Prahasta stepped forward as a war senator after the death of Dewi Sarpakenaka. Countless numbers of Prabu Rama's monkey soldiers died due to Prahasta's ferocity. Anila, the governor of the Kiskenda state, finally stepped forward to face Prahasta's might, using the war strategy of avoiding, retreating and attacking back. Prahasta continued to chase Anila, until the battle reached the edge of the forest. Anila, who was almost trapped, suddenly saw a stone statue. Using all his strength he lifted the statue and smashed it on Prahasta's head. Prahasta died instantly with his head crushed when the monument broke. The monument that Anila broke into and used to kill Prahasta turned into an angel named Indradi, who was none other than Sugriwa's biological mother. She was the wife of the sage Gotama who had condemned her to become a pillar for having an affair with Batara Surya. Prahasta's death by Anila's blow freed Indradi from her husband's curse.

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Blog: Hadisukirno – Yogyakarta – 2011