Template:Rajamala

Rajamala – (Raden) – Mahabharata

Raden Rajamala was a knight in Wirata during the time of Prabu Matswapati. He was a powerful person and could not be defeated by anyone. Therefore, he wanted to face Butcher Abilawa, Jagalabilawa (Bima) who was none other than Bratasena, the second member of the Pendawa family who disguised himself with that name. So Rajamala opened an arena to fight and he himself volunteered as a champion.

Jagalabilawa advanced to the arena to fight Rajamala, but could not defeat his opponent, because Rajamala had a sacred pool which was his mother's creation. Every time Rajamala died and was bathed in the pool water, he came back to life.
Secretly Permadi (Arjuna) watches the fight between his brother and Rajamala. He deliberately hid and did not appear to his brothers so that he would not be known by the enemy. Likewise with Punokawan, Permadi asked Punokawan to disguise himself as an ordinary person.

One time, after Abilawa had defeated Rajamala for the umpteenth time, he ripped open his stomach and threw his intestines out. Permadi secretly observed Rajamala's body and it turned out that Raden Rupakenca and Kencakarupa had collected all the intestines and innards that had been torn apart and taken away to a place. Permadi immediately followed where Raden Rupakenca and Kencakarupa went. They arrived at a house, they both went to the backyard, Permadi followed them. He saw a small pond behind the thick leaves. Permadi saw Kencakarupa and Rupakenca carrying Rajamala's body and then slowly his body was placed into the pond.
Permadi was shocked to see that his body with the entrails that had come out had reunited and healed as before. Permadi understood that what revived Rajamala was the pond. He then thought of a way to help his brother.

Permadi then met his brothers and sisters. Permadi and Punakawan were then introduced to King Prabu Matswapati and his family members. The Pandawa then revealed their disguises. Puntadewa finally admitted that they were actually the Pandawa sons of Pandu from Astina. Prabu Matswapati was shocked and apologized for not treating them well. Permadi then explained about the pool that could revive Rajamala. Puntadewa asked to meditate to ask for guidance from the Gods. Puntadewa's request was granted by God Brama. He was given instructions that after Rajamala died by Bratsena, Permadi had to put the sacred arrow Bramastra that God Brama had given him into the pool.

The match between Bratasena and Rajamala continued. After receiving instructions from God Brama, Abilawa became excited to face his match this time. Finally, Rajamala was defeated, Bratasena then ripped open Rajamala's stomach. After Rajamala died, Bratasena and Permadi secretly withdrew from the arena and gave Kencakarupa and Rupakenca the opportunity to collect Rajamala's body parts. Abilawa and Permadi preceded them to Rajamala's sacred pool.
Right when Rupakenca and Kencakarupa immersed Rajamala's body into the pool, from afar Permadi shot an arrow at the pool with a Bramastra arrow. And at that time the pool became boiling hot. Rajamala's body did not unite but instead shattered until it could not be formed again.
Rupakenca and Kencakarupa were shocked to witness this, they were confused about how to face the very strong Abilawa butcher. Suddenly the Abilawa Butcher appeared, breaking their reverie. They were forced to face the two Pandawa knights. A fierce battle ensued between them, it did not take long for Bratasena to defeat Rupakenca, while Permadi was still chasing Kencakarupa. But in the end, Kencakarupa was killed by Permadi with his arrow.

The name Rajamala For Surakarta (Sala), Rajarnala is the name of the royal prahu, Sri Susuhunan's vehicle during floods to inspect all waterlogged areas. The name of the Rajamala boat was taken from the name of the Rajamala puppet, the son of Begawan Palasara and his marriage to Watari which is depicted in the form of the Rajamala puppet head on the bow of the boat. The boat is kept in Bengawan Sala, in Langenharjo. But in the rainy season, when the Bengawan overflows, the boat is rowed to the city to review the suffering of people whose houses are flooded. Meanwhile, before the flood comes, people have prepared rice cookers, water, and cuwik milkfish to eat later, as long as there is a flood.

In the past, there was a strange custom in Sala, namely that people had fun praon, riding a boat accompanied by gamelan, whenever there was a flood. In other words, the flood was made into a kind of fun. But after the boat was no longer used much, Rajamala's head was removed and stored in the Sriwedari museum. At times when there is a Night Market or other celebrations, Rajamala's head is often displayed. The boat head is considered sacred by many people, which is why it is called Kyai Rajamala. But the title Kyai was given not because the object was sacred, but because in general all royal objects were called Kyai, even Kanjeng Kyai.
Rajamala's head is appropriate to be called Kanjeng Kyai, its shape and appearance are scary.

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