Astrajingga, A Sundanese Icon

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“Assalamualaikum (may the peace upon you)”. It was the opening sound of Wayang Golek show, and it was Cepot sound by the legendary dalang (master puppeter) Asep Sunandar Sunarya.

Every Sundanese people knows this character. Not like the other character in Sundanese wayang story, he was famous by it's hilarious comedy in every golek show. And sometimes the dalang put some pangeling (nasihat) and spiritual story.

In the past, when the Islamic culture is growing up around the Nusantara (present day: Republic of Indonesia). The golek show is used by ulama (penyebar agama) to teach the Islam in Tatar Sunda (Land of Sunda / Western Java).

Gubrakk (the sound is coming from the coconut tree)

“Lah?” Semar, father of Cepot got up from the chair.

“Ari silaing dititah ngala dua kalah ngala tilu?! (I said just two not three. Are you daft?!)”. Semar ask the Cepot about the coconut fruit

“Dua kulan ieu ge (It's two , dad)”. Answer Cepot in pain

“Naha sada muragna tilu atuh? (Why the “dropped thing” sounds three?)”. Semar ask again.

“Sanes, sarung etamah (No,no. That was my sarung)”. Dengan polosnya Cepot menjawab

“Maenya sarung disada pak gembut? (That wasn't sound of sarung)”. Semar ask again and again

“Apanan jeung dewek (That was me, inside)”. Answer Cepot while cleaning his outfit.

“Oh, paingan atuh (Oh)”.

From Cepot Saparakanca by Demi Dasmana in youtube.

Cepot is the second most popular icon of Sundanese culture, the first is Angklung . Cepot is a creature with “nyunda” (Sundanese) style. With iketan batik as it's hat, black pangsi (Pencak Silat oufit), and the red-blue sarung. It was Sundanese outfit that Sundanese ancestor wear in the past.

But, there is a few place in Western Java that still using it for everyday. Just like the Banten's Baduy at Banten Province, Halimun people of Cikaniki village at the National Park of Halimun-Salak, and so many other place.

His real name was Astrajingga. Astra or Sastra in sanskerta language means tulisan (things that have been writen), and Jingga means red (color).

He was temperamental, easy to angry and impatient. But big smile in his face means he was cheerful, active and happy.

He was born from the shadow of Semar, he wanted a friend when he were going down to the Earth from Kahyangan. That is why, if there's Semar there must be Cepot with him.

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