Gardapati - (Wayang Kulit)

{{Puppets |Title=Gardapati - (Prabu) - Mahabharata |Size=55 cm |Personal data=Gardapati is the son of Prabu Drestarasta, the king of Astina with his consort Dewi Gandari, the daughter of Prabu Gandara with Dewi Gandini from Gandaradesa. Gardapati has 100 siblings --{99 men and 1 woman} called Sata Kurawa. Among those known in puppetry are Duryudana (king of Astina), Bogadatta (king of Turilaya), Bomawikata, Citraksa, Citraksi, Carucitra, Citrayuda, Citraboma, Dursasana (Duke of Banjarjungut), Durmuka, Durmagati, Durgempo, Gardapura, Kartamarma (king of Banyutinalang), Kartadenta, Surtayu, Surtayuda, Wikataboma, Widandini (king of Purantara) and Dewi Dursilawati. |Appearance=Gardapati is stubborn, arrogant, clever and cunning. He is skilled in the skill of using mace and javelin weapons. Prabu Gardapati had white eyes and a stubbly nose. Three-tiered jamang with a large garuda facing back, berpraba, decorated with kluwih flowers. Hanging around. Wristed, pontohed, and croaking. Dressed in katongan complete with cindai pants. |Collection=Private collection }}

Gardapati – (Prabu) – Mahabharata

With his supernatural powers, he managed to seize the Bukasapta country, and made himself a king with the title Prabu Gardapati. His beloved brother Gardapura was made a young king with the title Prabu Anom Gardapura.

During the Bharatayuda war, Gardapati was made a Kurawa war general with the accompanying general Prabu Wresaya, the king of the Glagahtinalang country. Prabu Gardapati was a king officer who was invited to Astina during the Baratayuda war. This king was praised by the people of Astina who thought that he would be able to end the Baratayuda war. But in the end he also died in the war. The deaths of the kings who were asked for help discouraged the relatives of Astina. But King Gardapati was not discouraged. He volunteered to help and fought to the last drop of his blood.

Gardapati, the brother of Wresoyo, advanced in the paluhan round and had the same intention as Wresoyo, namely eliminating Arjuna and Bima from Alas Kurusetro.
Together with his brother, Prabu Gardamuka, he devised an effective strategy by dividing the Pandava army and trapping Bima and Arjuna. The proposed strategy was approved by Duryudana.
At first, Gardapati deliberately aroused Bima by challenging and making fun of him. Bima, who was eager to chase after King Gardapati, took out a powerful cis weapon, buried the ground behind him, and immediately the ground turned into a deep pool of mud. Without suspecting that there was a trap, Bima went inside. a deep mud puddle. Arjuna, who saw that his brother was in danger, immediately helped, but before he managed to pull Bima, Prabu Garadapati suddenly pushed him so he also fell into the trap.

After successfully trapping Bima and Arjuna, Prabu Gardapati immediately reported to Prabu Anom Duryudana to ask for further orders, whether the two mainstay Pandawa knights should be left to die slowly by sinking into the mud or killed immediately. On the advice of Patih Sengkuni, Prabu Anom Duryudana ordered Gardapati to... beheading Bima and Arjuna. The plan was to show the heads of the two mainstay Pandawa knights to the Pandawa family and soldiers to weaken their fighting spirit. If that happened, Duryudana was sure that the three remaining Pandawas would immediately surrender. Thus, Baratayuda would be won by the Kaurava side.

With this order, King Gardapati rushed back to the mud puddle. His heart was filled with satisfaction and pride, so he was less alert. With a sword he was about to cut off Bima's head, but that's when Bima jumped and grabbed Prabu Gardapati's hand who was swinging his sword, so he went too. fell into a mud puddle. Before Gardapati could dodge, Bima grabbed his body, buried him in the mud and used his opponent's body as a stepping stone to the top. So Bima survived and Arjuna, while Prabu Gardapati died drowning in the deadly mud of his own creation.

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