Irawan - (Wayang Kulit)
| Title | Irawan - (Raden) - Mahabharata |
|---|---|
| Other names | Jaganala, Gambiranom |
| Size | 50 cm |
| Personal data | Bambang Irawan is the son of Raden Arjuna, one of the five Pandava warriors, and Dewi Ulupi or Palupi, daughter of Bagawan Kanwa (a priest on Mount Yasarata), from the Yasarata hermitage. There are also those who say that Dewi Ulupi was the daughter of Naga Korawya. Bambang Irawan has 13 other brothers and sisters from his mother, named; Abimanyu, Sumitra, Bratalaras, Kumaladewa, Kumalasakti, Wisanggeni, Wilungangga, Endang Pregiwa, Endang Pregiwati, Prabukusuma, Wijanarka, Antakadena and Bambang Sumbada. Irawan was born in the Yasarata hermitage and lived in the hermitage with his mother and grandfather since his childhood. Irawan is married to Dewi Titisari, one of the daughters of Prabu Kresna and Dewi Rukmini. |
| Appearance | Irawan is friendly and cheerful, self-confident but sometimes impulsive and cannot always hide his pride. Irawan has a calm character, jatmika, diligent and wingit. Bambang Irawan has big eyes and a pointed nose. Twisted lizards, Kembuk kluwih worked, Crescent-shaped putran necklace. Bells, bangs and curls. Dressed in turbans and cindai pants. To portray Prabu Gambiranom, the puppet King Seberang is used. |
| Collection | Private collection |
Irawan – (Raden) – Mahabharata
Bambang Irawan always lives with his mother in the hermitage. Only when necessary does he come to the country of Pendawa. Because of his power, he once became a king, named Prabu Gambiranom and when he became a king, he managed to take Arjuna's heirloom arrow, named Ardadedali, and because of that, Irawan's power increased.
In puppetry, Bambang Irawan is also known by other names, namely Gambir Anom and Bambang Jaganala. The name Gambir Anom was used when Irawan became king in Paranggupita, in a carangan play. In the play, King Gambir Anom had a female senopati named Dewi Ladrangmungkung who was very powerful. Irawan was asked by his mother to capture Raden Arjuna and Dewi Ulupi's request was granted. But Ladrangmungkung even succeeded in killing Arjuna and bringing his body before Prabu Gambir Anom. After touching Dewi Ulupi's hand, Arjuna came back to life. This is the habit of Arjuna.
Arjuna was an extremely naughty character throughout his life, but he was also a valiant warrior who protected people from evil. Once upon a time Prince Arjuna helped the ogre Jatha Gimbal, because Jatha Gimbal wanted to marry a beautiful woman named Dewi Bratajaya (one of Arjuna’s wives). Prince Arjuna told Jatha Gimbal that if he wanted to marry a beautiful woman, he must first look like Arjuna. With his magical powers he turned to the ogre into someone that looked like Arjuna.
At the same time, Jatha Gimbal’s sister, Jatha Gini went to Dewi Sembadra, and asked if she could be one of Arjuna’s wives.
With her magic powers, Sembadra turned Jatha Gini into someone that looked like Sembadra. When the two fake characters met, they fell in love and got married.
Upon finding out that they were brother and sister, and that Jatha Gini was pregnant, Jatha Gimbal claimed that all of his future generations would try to kill Arjuna and his future generations. Seven generations of Jatha Gimbal’s relatives still hunted Arjuna’s family.
When Irawan was old enough and heard the news that Bahratayudha would soon break up, he asked his mother and grandfather to go to his father. He wanted to join his other brothers to help the Pandavas. Irawan's intentions were approved by his mother and grandfather. However, it turned out that Bambang Irawan never reached his destination.
On the way, he was intercepted by a powerful giant king of demons named Kalasrenggi, the son of King Jatagempopol, the giant king from the country of Gowabarong and Dewi Jatagini, who fought on the side of the Kurawa / Astina family.
Kalasrenggi has a grudge against Arjuna, the son of Prabu Pandu with Dewi Kunti from the country of Amarta, because his father Prabu Jatagempol was killed by Arjuna. Kala Srenggi appeared at the same time as the beginning of the Bharatayuda war. When he was hovering above Kurusetra, Kala Srenggi saw a knight who looked like Arjuna. He immediately swooped down and grabbed him.
It turned out he had the wrong target. Because the knight was not Arjuna, but Bambang Irawan, the son of Arjuna with Dewi Palupi or Ulupi. Kala Srenggi managed to bite Irawan's neck until it broke with his venomous fangs. Irawan died instantly.
Hearing the news of his son's death, Arjuna then went on a rampage and hunted down Kalasrenggi. Arjuna released the Hardadali arrow which hit Kala Srenggi's chest who was flying. Kala Srenggi's body fell to the ground and died instantly.
There is also another version that tells that when Irawan was dying from being bitten by Kala Srenggi, Irawan drew his keris and stabbed it into his opponent's stomach so that they died together.
The death of Irawan was deeply mourned by the Pendawa family, as he died before reaching the battlefield.
In general, the puppeteers in telling the story of Irawan's death give the impression that Irawan died because he was a sacrifice for the glory of the Pandavas in Baratayuda.
However, in the Mahabharata version, Irawan was killed on the eighth day of Baratayuda by Prabu Alambasa who sided with the Kurawas. Alambasa then died on the 14th day at the hands of Irawan's cousin, Gatotkaca.
Source: History of Wayang Purwa - Hardjowirogo - PN Balai Pustaka – 1982
Blog: Hadisukirno – Yogyakarta - 2012
