Abilawa - (Wayang Kulit)

Jagal Abilawa - Bima as butcher

Title	Abilawa - (Raden) - Mahabharata
Other names	Jagal Walakas, Jagal Abilawa, Bratasena, Wrekodara
Size	55 cm
Personal data	Jagal Abilawa is the pseudonym of Raden Bratasena, namely the name Wrekodara, when he was young.
Appearance	Jagal Abilawa is, like Bratasena and Wrekodara, black all over his body. The form and clothing of Jagal Abilawa were no different from Bratasena, only his hair was loose and in the form of dreadlocks. Bratasena, like Wrekodara, is black all over his body and colored puppets are played in the early morning. Other puppets painted black are Prabu Kresna, Semar, Gareng, Petruk and the method for producing them is also the same as with Bratasena.
Collection	Private collection

Jagal Abilawa – (Raden) – Mahabharata

The reason Bratasena (Bima) hid himself was because the Pendawa were being plagued by misfortune as a result of the actions of the Korawa. Bratasena and the other Pendawa brothers took refuge in the country of Wirata. They served the king of Wirata. As Jagal Abilawa, Bima disguised himself as a servant (butcher) in the kingdom of Wiratha. At that time in Wirata, thanks to the efforts of the king's son Raden Rajamala, a duel was held. Jagal Abilawa entered the arena and was able to defeat Rajamala. The Pendawa were freed from misery and the five brothers served in Wirata.

Before being named Raden Bratasena, the second son of the Pendawa was accompanying his mother, Dewi Kunti, and on the way met an elephant, named Gajah Sena, who had wind powers. Because of a disagreement, a war broke out between the sons of Pendawa and Gajah Sena. Gajah Sena lost and he surrendered his wind power. Gajah Sena claims to be a brother to Bratasena, because they share the same wind. Gajah Sena also gave up the name Sena. So since then the name Bratasena emerged.

Once upon a time, the five bridesmaids accompanying their poor mother were on a journey. Because they felt hungry, Bratasena and Pamade went looking for rice. Both managed to get rice. Bratasena because he can help people who are about to be eaten by giants and Pamade because he can bring together the bride and groom who don't want to approach each other. Bratasena's souvenir rice which they ate. Because they were very hungry, they ate very hastily and they all suffocated. They then found drinking water in a very clear pool, but because of Hyang Brama's actions the water was poisonous and they all died. The death of the five Pendawa made Semar very angry. He went up to Suralaya and thanks to Semar's anger, the five Pendawa were brought back to life.

Jagal Abilawa is the name of Bima when he disguised himself as a servant (butcher) in the kingdom of Wiratha. The king was indebted to this servant, because he had saved the king’s life twice.
The first time was in the story of Ampak-ampak Wiratha. In this story, the King’s three younger brothers Kincaka, Rupakinca and the youngest Rajamala wanted to overthrow their brother Prabu Matswapati. Kincaka and Rupakinca commanded their people to commit many crimes throughout the country (robbery, rapes, and many other crimes), in order to bring disorder to their brother’s kingdom. The two brothers then killed all of the criminals and thereby became good leaders in the eyes of the people. Kincaka and Rupakinca wanted to stage an adu Jago (human fight) between King Madswapati’s warriors, and their handpicked group of fighters. Rajamala was a fighter on the side the two brothers. Raden Seta (older son of the King) suggested that Jagal Abilawa be a fighter from the king’s side, but the royal family did not know that five Pandhawa brothers were all disguised as servants at the palace. Puntadewa was disguised as Dwijakangka (head of market officer), Puntadewa’s wife, Drupadi was Salindri (servant of princess Utari), Premadi was Wrehatnala (dance teacher) and Nakula and Sadewa were dressed as Tantripala and Bramaganti (horse caretakers).

During the fight, every time that Jagal Abilawa killed Rajamala, Kincaka and Rupakinca put his body into the magical spring, and he came back to life. When Wrehatnala noticed this blatant advantage, he quietly put his magical weapon Kris Pulanggeni into the spring to make the water boil. When they put the body of Rajamala into the spring, he was boiled to death. Kincaka and Rupakinca tried to take revenge on their brother, but because of dark night they could not find him. Kincaka was also trying to rape Salindri. When Jagal Abilawa, who was hiding behind the tree, saw his sister in law in danger, he jumped out and killed Kincaka and Rupakinca.

Jagal Abilawa saved the king’s life for the second time when the King Matswapati was kidnapped by the King Susarma in the story of Wiratha Parwa. In this story he pulled a big tree out of the ground, and swung it around, to get through the Korawa army during the war between Astinapura and Wiratha. He killed Susarma and saved the king. King Matswapati was so happy that he offered him a good position, which Jagal Abilawa refused.

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Source: History of Wayang Purwa - Hardjowirogo - PN Balai Pustaka – 1982