Sumantri - (Wayang Kulit)

Sumantri - eldest son of Begawan Suwandagni

Title	Sumantri - (Patih) - Arjuna Sasra Bahu
Other names	Somantri, Suwanda
Size	50 cm
Personal data	Bambang Sumantri is known as Raden Suwanda. He is the eldest son of Begawan Suwandagni from the Ardisekar hermitage and Dewi Darini, a hapsari/fairy descendant of Batara Sambujana, son of Sang Hyang Sambo. Sumantri had a younger brother Sukrasana, a dwarf-giant in the form of Buto Bajang, who was more powerful than him. Since childhood, Sumantri and his younger brother Sukrasana have lived in harmony and loved each other even though their forms are very different. Sukrasana was always ready to help his brother whenever needed, including when helping to defeat other queens to carry Dewi Citrawati. Bambang Sumantri is Ramaparasu's cousin, the son of Resi Jamadagni.
Appearance	Sumantri has a handsome face, he is equipped with a weapon to destroy anger called Cakrabaskara. Bambang Sumantri is a little arrogant.
Collection	Private collection

Sumantri – (Bambang) – Arjuna Sasra Bahu

Bambang Sumantri really wanted to serve in the kingdom of Maespati led by Prabu Arjunasasrabahu. Various conditions were carried out by Sumantri, so that he would be accepted by Prabu Arjunasasrabahu, such as carrying Princess Dewi Citrawati as a request from Arjunasasrabahu to be made empress. It was not easy for Sumantri to realize this, because he had to compete with the queens of Sabrang who were more powerful than he himself.

After successfully moving Dewi Citrawati to Maespati, there was one request that Citrawati gave to Prabu Arjunasosrobahu, which was to make Taman Sriwedari and that request was also intended for Sumantri, as the last condition if he wanted to serve in the kingdom. Sumantri intended to serve Prabu Harjunasasrabahu in the Maespati Kingdom but with the condition that he must be able to win the contest for Dewi Citrowati from the Magada Kingdom. With his supernatural powers, Sumantri was able to defeat the Kings of Magada who intended to propose to Dewi Citrowati in the contest. Feeling great because he had defeated the contestants and succeeded in bringing Dewi Citrowati home.

However, after seeing the goddess he had another desire, which was to marry Dewi for himself and betray Arjuna Sasrabahu. This of course made Arjuna furious and caused a conflict between the two. Sumantri challenged Prabu Arjunasasrabahu.
Prabu Arjunasasrabahu whose supernatural powers far exceeded Sumantri's was of course able to conquer Sumantri. As a punishment for his actions, Sumantri was required to move the Sriwedari Garden in Kahyangan to the Maespati kingdom. Thanks to the help of his younger brother, the dwarf-giant Sukasrana, the Sriwedari Garden was successfully moved to the Maespati Kingdom Park.

Sumantri was embarrassed to invite Sukasrana because his appearance was scary, so Sukasrana was left in the Sriwedari park. When Dewi Citrawati saw him, she was frightened and immediately reported to Raden Arjuna. Then Raden Arjuna ordered Sumantri to kill the giant. Sumantri understood that the giant Citrawati meant was his younger brother Sukrasana.
Sumantri met Sukrasana and said from the beginning not to follow him because he loved Sukrasana so much. But Sukrasana didn't want to be separated and his intention was only to help his brother. Sumantri’s whereabouts were known directly by Dewi Citrawati. Sumantri's intention was to scare his brother with his arrow so that Sukrasana would run. Unfortunately the arrow was released, hit Sukrasana and he died. However, before meeting his death, Sukrasana swore that he would live together with Sumantri in Nirvana, and his death would be avenged through a Giant king.

Sumantri was very sad about the death of his brother, which he did unintentionally. Sukrasana's oath was fulfilled. When the country of Maespati was attacked by the Alengka army, Sumantri fought against Prabu Dasamuka (Rahwana), the giant king of the Alengka kingdom. The war lasted a long time. Sukrasana's spirit infiltrated Rahwana's fangs and Sumantri was bitten to death. Prabu Arjunasasrabahu was furious and together with all the kingdoms under Arjunasasrabahu's rule, they tried to attack Alengka and Rahwana.

In contrast to the character Rahwana, one of the characters who also has an important role in this play, is Sumantri. This character actually characterizes the loyalty of a patih to his Kingdom where he serves.
What is also interesting about this story is the loyalty of a patih, namely Sumantri, to defend the homeland of Negeri Maespati to the last drop of blood. Sumantri went down to the battlefield bravely even though he knew that he would die at the hands of Rahwana. The play Arjunasasrabahu - The Fall of Sumantri broadly tells the story of the attack carried out by Rahwana on the Kingdom of Maespati led by Prabu Arjunasasrabahu. The attack on the Kingdom of Alengka under King Rahwana was tried to be held back by Patih Suwada or Sumantri.

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