Srikandi

Dewi Srikandi - daughter of King Drupada

Title	Srikandi - (Dewi) - Mahabharata
Other names	Sikandini, Kandihawa, Prabu Erangbaya, Turangga Jati
Size	60 cm
Personal data	Srikandi is the second daughter of Prabu Drupada, king of the land of Pancala, with consort Dewi Gandawati, daughter of Prabu Gandabayu and Dewi Gandini. She is an incarnation of Amba. While still a young woman, she studied archery with Raden Arjuna, the third Pandawa. Later she married Arjuna and they got a son called Nirbita. Dewi Srikandi has two siblings named; Dewi Draupadi/goddess Kresna and Arya Drestadyumna. Dewi Srikandi is very fond of soldiers and is skilled in the use of arrows.
Appearance	Dewi Srikandi has double eyes and a long nose and looks up, indicating that she is a princess with a resonant voice. Large bun (name of the shape of the bun). Standing with the eagle behind it. Most of the hair is loosely shaped. Crescent moon necklace. Dressed in dodot princess clothes (clothes for princesses in the palace). Dewi Srikandi has the character of a man, namely she likes to fight and is therefore also called a warrior's daughter. She gets angry easily but also quickly calms down. Dewi Srikandi also always protects her husband's honor. Srikandi has been chosen as a figurehead by Indonesian feminists. Until now, women who have the courage to stand against things that are not good, especially against the Indonesian nation, are called Srikandi-Srikandi.
Collection	Private collection

Srikandi - (Dewi) - Mahabharata

Dewi Srikandi is a confident woman who is very fond of soldiers and enjoys manly activities such as archery, horse riding and fighting. She is a role model for female warriors. The origin of Srikandi studying archery with Arjuna was when she saw Arjuna's marriage to Sumbadra, saw the behavior of the two brides and also wanted to become a bride. One day Srikandi saw Arjuna teaching archery to his mistress, Rarasati. Then Srikandi came to Rarasati to learn archery. But this is really just a way to meet Arjuna. Srikand's behavior angered Dewi Draupadi, King Puntadewa's consort and Srikandi's elder sister. Draupadi thought his sister's actions were not right.

According to Javanese customs, a girl was previously forbidden to see the bride and groom. But times have changed and girls crowding the bride and groom are now considered normal. Dewi Wara Srikandi was once asked to marry by a king, Prabu Jungkungmardea from the country of Parangkubarja. King Drupada was interested in accepting the proposal, but Srikandi then complained to Anjuna.
Srikandi was defended by Arjuna and in the war that followed Jungkungmardea was killed. Moreover, Srikandi was married to Arjuna according to the royal custom of marrying a prince to a princess.

Dewi Srikandi is responsible for the safety and security of the Madukara Knights and everything within them. When she has an argument with her husband, she literally and figuratively throws everything at his head. Srikandi's anger was clearly described by the puppeteer and caused much laughter from the audience. Dewi Srikandi did not fight alone as people usually do. Even in the Baratayuda War she fought as an officer soldier. There she appeared as the commander of the Pandawa replacing Resi Seta, the warrior Wirata who had fallen to Resi Bisma, the supreme senapati of the Kurawa army. At that time, Rishi Bhishma knew that Srikandi was Amba's reincarnation, because he didn't want to attack when faced with a woman, Bhishma dropped his weapon. Arjuna hide behind Srikandi and took advantage of the opportunity to attack Resi Bhishma, the grandfather who he really respected and loved. It was with Srikandi's help that Arjuna was able to kill Resi Bhishma. However, in Javanese wayang, the one who killed Resi Bhishma was Srikandi with the Hrusangkali arrow, according to the curse of Dewi Amba, daughter of Prabu Darmahambara, king of Giyantipura, who was killed by Resi Bisma.

The end of Dewi Srikandi's story is told: she was murdered by Aswatama, the son of Resi Drona, who smuggled into the Astina Palace after the end of the Bharatayuda War. She was beheaded while she was sleeping soundly.

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Source: History of Wayang Purwa - Hardjowirogo - PN Balai Pustaka - 1982
Blog: Hadisukirno – Yogyakarta - 2011