Kuwera - (Wayang Kulit)
| Title | Kuwera - (Batara) - Mahabharata |
|---|---|
| Other names | Danapati, Danaraja, Wisrawana, Bisawarna, Daniswara |
| Size | 50 cm |
| Personal data | Batara Kuwera resides in Kahayangan Gudapada, is the third son of Batara Ismaya with Dewi Senggani. Batara Kuwera married Dewi Sumarekti, the daughter of Batara Caturkanaka with Dewi Hira. |
| Appearance | Batara Kuwera has a dempak nose, telengan eyes, a helmet, a praba, a sling, a kris in front, a shirt, shoes and a Dewa rapakan cloth, this puppet is included in the wayang agungan. Batara Kuwera is a symbol of prosperity and humanity. He is tasked with providing guidance, fatwas, rewards, protection and help to humans in the Arcapada (World). Therefore, it is not surprising that in puppetry Batara Kuwera is also called the God of Wealth. But there are also those who interpret the lacip nose like Batara Indra, and some even interpret Batara Kuwera as also Batara Wisrawa. The existence of differences in interpretation in puppetry like this is very common, especially for puppets that are less popular or rarely come out in pakeliran. |
| Collection | Private collection |
Kuwera – (Batara) – Mahabharata
The other children of Batara Ismaya are: Batara Wungkuan, Batara Tamboro, Batara Wrahaspati, Batara Siwah, Batara Surya, Batara Candra, Batara Yamadipati, Batara Kamajaya and Dewi Darmanasti.
However, there are also sources that state that Batara Kuwera is also Batara Danapati, Daniswara or Danaraja, the king of Lokapala who died fighting Rahwana, the king of Alengka, his father's only brother, then by Batara Guru was appointed as a God who was tasked with guarding the Dewaretna flower.
In puppetry, there are often differences in stories, even though the names are the same, because of the many sanggit and compositions made by the wayang storytellers and the Dalang.
Apart from being a rich God, Batara Kuwera is also a great architect. The Amarta Palace built in the former Mretani forest looks very beautiful thanks to the help of Batara Kuwera. The floor is shiny, so when Prabu Duryudana visited Amarta when the Rajasuya Offerings were finished, he unconsciously lifted his cloth high for fear of getting wet. On the other hand, when there was really a pool, he thought it was the floor so he fell in and got soaked so that he was cheered by the kings of a hundred countries. From here arose Prabu Duryudana's shame, revenge and envy towards the country of Amarta, which finally invited him to play dice, so that because of the cunningness of Patih Sengkuni, the Pandavas lost and had to leave Amarta and finally a great war called Baratayuda arose.
In the play "Pandawa Matirta", because the Pandavas lost the dice game, they had to leave the country of Amarta. To obtain glory and prosperity again, Dewi Drupadi, the empress of Prabu Puntadewa, asked for Kembang Tunjung Sugandika as a condition. So Raden Bratasena was sent to try for the flower, but it was not known where the flower was. On the way he met Anoman who was meditating in the forest in the middle of the road begging the Gods to be able to meet his only brother Bayu, Raden Bratasena. Therefore it was very true, Anoman was able to meet his only brother Bayu and he told Raden Bratasena that the Tunjung Sugandika Flower was in Taman Andana in Kahayangan Gudapada where Batara Kuwera resided.
Upon arriving at Taman Andana Raden Bratasena met its guardians, two giants Ditya Wirupaksa and Ditya Wirakampana. Because the flower was not given, a fight broke out so that the two giants were defeated by stepping on their necks and could not move anymore. Batara Kuwera saw this situation, so he broke up the fight, so that the two giant servants of the garden were released. It was explained that the flower was indeed provided for Raden Bratasena, but because the two giants did not know that Raden Bratasena was also Raden Werkodara, a fight broke out.
Source: Wayang Kulit Purwo - Suwadi Krijo Taruno – 2012
