Wrekodara - (Wayang Kulit)

Wrekodara - second son of Prabu Pandu

Title	Wrekodara - (Raden) - Mahabharata
Other names	Werkodara, Werkudara, Bratasena, Raden Bima, Raden Bayu Putra, Raden Sena, Raden Ganda Wastratmaja, Raden Bungkus. As Bima he has the other names, Balawa, Birawa, Dandungwacana, Nagata, Kusumayuda, Korawa, Pandusiwi, Bayusuta, Wijasena, Jagal Abilawa.
Size	60 cm
Personal data	Raden Wrekodara was the second son of Prabu Pandu Dewanata and Dewi Kunthi Talibrata. When he was young and still named Bratasena, he married a princess named Dewi Nagagini, the daughter of Hyang Antaboga and gave birth to Raden Antasena. When the princess was pregnant, she was abandoned by Bratasena. From Dewi Arimbi, Wrekodara had a son named Raden Gatotkaca and from Dewi Nagagini he had a son Arya Antasena. And according to the Banyumas version, Bima has another wife, Dewi Rekawati and a son Srenggegini. Wrekodara has two siblings named: Puntadewa and Arjuna, and 2 other siblings from his mother, namely; Nakula and Sadewa.
Appearance	Raden Wrekodara has side-eyes, a sharp nose, a moustache, a beard and a thick forehead, a bun in the shape of a shrimp pin, a waderan cut and dressed in other ways like those found in Bratasena. Wrekodara is courageous, a mighty warrior of impulsive character - Great kindness - Did not care for learning and refinement - Straight forward and full of pride. Wrekodara is known as a strong Pandawa figure, who is rude and frightening to enemies, but actually has a soft heart. Wrekodara does not like to beat around the bush and never acts two-faced and never licks his own spit. Werkudara means "wolf's belly" in Sanskrit. He also has the nickname Bhimasena which means warlord.
Collection	Private collection

Wrekodara – (Raden) – Mahabharata

In the first part of the Mahabarata Wiracarita or Adiparwa, it is told that Pandu received a curse from Resi Kindama. One time when Pandu was hunting, Pandu accidentally shot Resi Kindama with an arrow. At that time Resi Kindama was having sex with his wife in the form of a pair of deer. Resi Kindama cursed Pandu, that he would die when having sex with his wife. Therefore, to have children, Kunti, Pandu's wife who mastered the Adityahredaya mantra, called on the God Bayu. From Kunti's relationship with Bayu, Bratasena was born.

Bratasena was born with his placenta still covering his body. For years, no one was able to break this placenta, and it was not until his three younger brothers became teenagers that he escaped. The Korawa tried to kill the baby while he was still in the placenta, but it was impossible. They could not catch the baby and when they did, he beat them up from inside the placenta. Finally, Bathara Gana (Ganisha) broke the placenta and released Werkudara. Ganisha then possessed him, making him one of the strongest brothers of Pandhawa. It is said that after he was possessed, he had the power of 1000 enraged elephants, because not only was Ganisha the god of power, but his physical being was always represented by an elephant. Raden Werkudara also had the magical power Blabak Pengantol-antol and Ungkal Bener (the ability to jump many miles with each step), which was transferred from Raden Gandamana (in the story of Gandamana Sayembara).

Wrekodara was Bratasena's name after adulthood. Clothes changed as well as the loop decorated by a princess, Betari Durga. After changing his appearance, Bratasena changed his name to Wrekodara.

Wrekodara is magical and strong. His weapon is his own claw called Pancanaka claw which is very sharp. According to the story seven times razor sharp. The long thumbnail marked his relationship to the wind deity Bathara Bayu and monkey General Hanoman. Wrekodara also has the power of wind and is able to dismantle mountains. It never goes slow. When walking it jumps. His leaping distance is seven times the sight of an elephant.

Wrekodara always upholds the honor of Pendawa. It is like Pendawa's parents. The motto is die one die all. Like the other Pandavas, Wrekodara (Bima) studied religion, law, and state administration with Resi Krepa together with their cousins, the Korawa. And after that they studied war from Drona. Wrekodara in this case focused more on mastering the science of using the Gada like Duryodhana. Bima and Duryodhana became students of Baladewa, namely Kresna's brother who was very skilled in using the Gada weapon.

Wrekodara a magical knight who, because he has the power of the wind, cannot be defeated. But his two sons, Antasena and Gatotkaca are actually more powerful. After his son Antasena (Antareja) grew up, he came to his father. Wrekodra is ready to acknowledge Antasena as his son, if he can prove that he is stronger than his father. Wrekodara was ambushed by Antasena, until he could no longer move. Because of his proof, Antasena was recognized by Wrekodara as his son. Losing in a duel with his children actually made Wrekodara proud. By Wrekodara his son is called Anak Anung which means divine son.

When he was an adult, Wrekodara reigned in Jodipati as a great knight, namely a knight with the position of king. In Gilingwesi he reigned as king with the name Tuguwasena.
In Sridenta's play, Wrekodara fought with Prabu Sridenta, the king of Jumapala. Wrekodara was slammed by his opponent, until half of his body went into the ground. Because he was helped by Arjuna, he was able to get out of the earth.

Since childhood, Wrekodara’s strength was unmatched. With his strength, he often played tricks on his cousins, the Kauravas. Because of his mischief, one of the Kauravas, Duryodana, became very hateful towards Wrekodara (Bima).
Until one day, Duryodana got the opportunity to avenge Bima's mischief. When the Kauravas and Pandavas went on an outing in the Ganges river area, Duryodana served Bima food and drinks that had previously been mixed with poison. Without suspecting anything, he immediately ate the food given by Duryodana.
Shortly after eating the food, Bima fainted. The Kauravas then tied his body up and threw him into the Ganges river. When the raft carrying Bima reached the middle of the river, the snakes that lived around the river bit his body. But the bites of the snakes actually became an antidote to the poison that Bima ate. After realizing it, he immediately released his bonds, then killed the snakes that bit him. Several snakes saved themselves and went to their King Antaboga. Hearing the news delivered by his men, Antaboga actually welcomed and helped Pandu's second son by giving him a divine drink.

Later, in the Baratayuda war, it was a duel, one against another with Suyudana (Duyudana). Bima managed to kill Duryodana with his Gada weapon on the last day of Baratayuda.
Bima died on his way to the top of the Himalayas with the Pandavas and Dropadi. And his soul reached peace in heaven.

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Source: History of Wayang Purwa - Hardjowirogo - PN Balai Pustaka – 1982
Blog: Hadisukirno – Yogyakarta - 2012