Sanggar Aksara Jawa Kidang Pananjung Cikedung-Indramayu
Script:
Javanese
Writing support:
Palm-leaf
Watermark?:
No
Countermark?:
No
Manuscript cover?:
No
Binding?:
No
Manuscript cover dimension:
23.5 x 2.5 cm
Manuscript paper dimension:
22 x 3 cm
Text block dimension:
20 x 1 cm
Number of pages:
106 pages
Rubrication?:
No
Illumination?:
No
Illustration?:
No
Manuscript condition:
Good
Description of manuscript content:
In the old days, Indramayu society strongly held on to the traditions they inherited from their ancestors. Jawoka/mantras have a special place in the hearts of the Indramayu people. The elderly and those considered as elders are believed to have special, charismatic qualities they derive from using mantras. Mantras in Indramayu are influenced by those from Cirebon, Central Java, East Java, and Buddhism etc. These mantras offer a picture of Indramayu culture as it was in the past. Although the manuscript only contains 53 mantras, it gives a picture of the way people used to live. Indramayu society believes in malevolent and benign ghosts and spirits. The mantras are closely linked to daily life and are, for instance, used to dispel spirits and ghosts that threaten agriculture, inner rest, safety and offer herbal alternatives can be used to change character traits and the influences of the calendar on births and so forth.
Other notes:
The mantras were copied to preserve the old vocabulary and ways of expression used in them that have almost disappeared. The text ends abruptly so the manuscript is incomplete.