Kediri Bertutur

A staunch believer in storytelling, Kandi has a passion to keep alive the traditional arts that are fast dying out. She states, “The way our ancestors communicated before the advent of technology was through storytelling – whether it was via the Wayang theatrical performance, through craftsmanship of Candi reliefs, or the subtle movements of the Javanese dance – these old methods of storytelling have taught me that communication is at the heart of humanity.”

Through performances of Kediri Bertutur, tales are retold and reenacted amongst today’s communities in the kampung and revealed for those who seem to have lost touch with their cultural roots.

Memayu Hayuning Bawana:It is the belief of Javanese that God is a universal force and is the unlimited power over all living and non-living things. Humans are given the capacity and the energy to live life on this earth. Our ancestors taught us that humans are of quality when they live and behave accordingly in harmony and in synergy along with the wisdom of the universe.

The human spirit and actual behavior will determine quality of life. Rituals symbolize and crystalize one’s spiritual being.

A good example is the existence of SESAJEN / OFFERINGS for the purpose of encouraging for the sustenance of life thus creating and living a purposeful, good life for the right reasons. This means walking the road of life for MEMAYU HAYUNING BAWANA (for peace, happiness and welfare of life on earth.).

The intention of such offering is the effort to maintain harmony by enabling the creative spirit to become one and connect the aura/energy of human beings along with God’s creations, living side by side on this earth especially with the forces of mother nature and all its beings.

Sesaji Bumi Sekartaji is an appreciation of our utmost thanks to our motherland Kediri, God and mother nature for the blessings and seek for their protection and sense of peace. Kediri is a sacred land whereby the gods and humans interact in harmony.

During the kingdom era of Airlangga (1019-1042), he came on this earth as the avatar of God Wisnu with his trusted mode of vehicle Garuda (of which in Javanese mythology, Garuda is a creature of strength, resilience, and great power) to save the land from the dangers of being divided.

The kingdom of Airlangga was at peace and the welfare of the people was at its best then. The capital city was located at Kahuripan in 1031. One of Airlangga’s main achievement was to pioneer unity of Indonesia covering East Java, Central Java and Bali.

When Airlangga was about to leave his throne to pursue a life of meditation to seek the meaning of life, he divided his kingdom into two parts, KADIRI (PANJALU) and JANGGALA to avoid family feud and war between his sons: Sri Samarawijaya and Sang Mapanji Garasakan.

In this effort to divide the kingdom, a ritual was performed to ensure peace and harmony. The God whispered, “that the earth will melt when water falls down from the sky.” Spiritual leader Barada walked in the sky and poured water from kendi (water jug made out of clay) and divided the kingdom into two parts by creating a river in between: JANGGALA KELING in the north of the river (Sang Garasakan) and PANJALU KEDIRI in the south of the river (Sang Samarawijaya).

Upon the departure of Airlangga’s next journey, Prince Grasakan remembered his father’s request to take care of his siblings (Sanggramawijaya/Dewi Kilisuci and Samarawijaya) and avoid any family feud. However, this was a difficult task especially when the siblings were children of different mothers. Often the two kingdoms (Panjalu dan Janggala) were at war with eachtoher. There came a time when this feud ended with the marriage of the next generation of both families. The marriage of Panji Wireswara the prince of Janggala with Dewi Sekartaji the princess of Kadhiri Panjalu united Panjalu jayati and Janggalapraja.

Kediri Bertutur continously showcases the story of “Prince Panji and Princess Sekartaji/Galuh Candrakirana," a legendary myth travelled through word of mouth from village to village, popular in the old Java land. The history of Kediri’s kingdom was the setting for such love story between Panji and Sekartaji/Candrakirana. Sekartaji/Candrakirana was a princess of Panjalu (Daha) whose beauty surpasses all the goddesses in the heavens. Janggala (Kahuripan) was ruled by the prince of Raden Inu Kartapati/Panji Asmarabangun. The marriage between Raden Inu Kertapati and Dewi Sekartaji was intended to unite Janggala and Panjalu in becoming a great strong nation.

The character of Panji Asmarabangun in the world of wayang is depicted as “Prince Arjuna," handsome prince of Pandawa Lima of Mahabharata.

Princess dewi Sekartaji/Candrakirana is not only a woman of sincere beauty. In the story of Panji Semirang, she disguises herself as a prince warrior leading soldiers into battles. She is a strong and independent woman who has the heart of a true warrior.

The love story of "Raden Panji and Galuh Candrakirana/Dewi Sekartaji" is a journey with many challenges through battles, wars and roads of discoveries. Behind every moment of battles & journeys lie virtues and values, messages of morals covering aspects of politics, government, society, economy, culture, religion and harmonization of humans and mother nature.

Andhe-andhe lumut, Kethek Ogleng, Panji Laras, Keong Emas, Timun Emas, Panji Anggreni, Panji Angkronakung are popular folklore stories amongst hundreds being told from word of mouth in the society of old Java and in the keraton.

The forms of performances of Panji stories are shared and performed in the arts of wayang beber (wayang textile), wayang krucil (wooden wayang), wayang godong (wayang from leaves), tari topeng (mask dance), tembang (macapat/ javanese mantras), candi reliefs, arca (stone statues) and the arts of storytelling. The stories of Panji dan Candrakirana no longer has a place in today’s technology advance society therefore lost and hidden and perceived to be ancient and old.

Our ancestors have given us an exotic and refined culture. Bertutur/storytelling is one of “local genious” art to travel from kampung to kampung. Musical mantras and folklores are traditional forms of storytelling. Only by creating forms of leaves, stems of greenery, hay/grass, a wayang puppet is formed. Combining musical mantras and wayang leaves, you have a storytelling performance at the kampung.

The tradition of storytelling can be performed whenever and wherever. At the hut in the middle of paddy field, at the front yard, beneath the bamboo tree, nearby the river or in an empty land in the kampung, musical storytelling is as versatile as the many varieties of setting available.

The stories of Panji has transformed in many dimensions in its process of storytelling. Many Panji folklore stories convey moral messages to guide the behaviors, actions and perspectives of the people. The description of Panji Inu Kartapati contains many virtues and values of living life well especially the true virtue of being a hero and warrior in helping the weak, fighting for the people and the nation without expecting anything in return.

Through the performances of Kediri Bertutur, the stories of Panji and Candrakirana are retold and reenacted amongst today’s society in the kampung and revealed for those who seem to have lost touch with their cultural roots.

Ranging from the arts of the people called jaran kepang, the tradition of storytelling from our ancestors ie. "wayang made out of merang (the stems of padi) and leaves“ and wayang krucil (wooden wayang) are all forms of Kampung Bertutur (storytelling in kampung) meant to keep, preserve and sustain the richness of Panji Culture known not only in Java but also in other countries in Thailand, Malaysia, etc.

Through Kediri Bertutur, the genious of our ancestors ritual and traditions are once again present in today’s technology advance society.