Template:Bagong
Bagong – () – Mahabharata
In several stories, it is mentioned that Bagong is not actually Semar's biological son. Bagong originally came from Semar's shadow. It is mentioned in the story, that when Sanghyang Ismaya (Semar) received the order to go to Arcapada (the world), he could not find it. So he asked his father Sanghuang Tunggal (God) to give him a friend.
God said, "Your shadow will be your companion." At that moment, Semar's shadow took human form and was given the name Bagong, which means moving by taking the movement of Semar's shadow as an example.
According to the history of masterminding, in the Mataram era there was a mastermind named Panjanmas. The descendants of Panjangmas traveled in East Java and played Semar, Gareng and Petruk there. As for the descendants who traveled in West Java, using Semar and Bagong. According to history, when the offspring is female. then the husband should be the mastermind, but before masterminding, he must first ask permission from his wife.
The four of them, Semar, Gareng, Petruk and Bagong, are called Panakawan, and in Mahabharata they are the servants of the five Pandhawa brothers (Javanese version). In the Ramayana epic they are the servants of Rama and Laksmana (Javanese version). If the puppet performance takes place during the daytime (in the villages of Java shadow puppet shows happen during the day or the night).
The character Bagong usually does not appear with Semar, Gareng and Petruk, but if the puppet performance takes place at night all four will appear together. This generally has to do with the fact that the daytime performances are shorter than the all-night shows.
In the story of Bagong dadi Ratu (Bagong became a king), accidentally keeps Jamus Kalimasada (the magical weapon of King Puntadewa the oldest brother of five Pandhawa). With Jamus Kalimasada, Bagong be comes very sakti (great in manipulating his supernatural power), invisible, and is given the ability to transform into any kind of creature or person. The story of Bagong dadi Ratu ends with the return of Jamus Kalimasada to Puntadewa, and the reunion between Bagong and his family.
Source: History of Wayang Purwa - Hardjowirogo - PN Balai Pustaka – 1982
Blog: Hadisukirno – Yogyakarta – 2012
