The Kingdom of Mandura

The kings of Mandura Kingdom were descendants of the king of Ayodya. Prabu Basuketi was the son of Prabu Rama Batlawa, a king of Ayodya, the son of Rama and Sinta.

Basuketi had a son Prabu Kuntiboja who had five children: Dewi Sruta, Prabu Basudewa, Dewi Kuntitalibrata, Raden Harya Rukma and Raden Harya Ugrasena.

Dewi Sruta married to Prabu Damagosa the King of Magada. They had a son, Prabu Sisupala who was extremely arrogant, since his childhood Sisupala always boasted himself as a very rich knight and had a big power.

 He had a habit to insult others including Kresna, who was his cousin. Kresna respecting his aunt Dewi Sruta, had always restrained toward Sisupala’s arrogancy. Once he told Dewi Sruta that he should give a lesson to Sisupala if he insulted Kresna in front of 100 persons.

 It was happened during RajaSuya ceremony, the inauguration of Yudistira as a great king (Ratu Gung Binatara) of Amarta Empire, attended by more than 100 kings (see Mahabarata-Rajasuya Ceremony)

Prabu Basudewa was entrusted by Kuntiboja to take the throne of Mandura. The choice was correct, under the leadership of Basudewa the kingdom was peaceful and prosperous.

Basudewa married Dewi Maerah. It was a happy marriage but ended in trouble. Maerah gave birth of a giant son-Raden Kangsa. How it could happened?

One night, a giant-king, Prabu Gorawangsa using his magical spell became "Basudewa". Dewi Maerah was not aware when she made love with the Basudewa. Wiping out the shame, the giant baby was sent to live in the jungle accompanied by his giant uncle – Suratrimantra. In the wayang performance this story is called "Kangsa Adu Jago" (Kangsa organizes a cock fight)

Kangsa was drilled several years by his uncle to master martial art. Then he took over by force the throne of Mandura. The other children of Basudewa were evacuated to the village of Widara Kandang under supervision of Antagopa. Kakrasana (the name of Baladewa as a boy) and Narayana (Kresna) they carried on an ascetic life while learning art of self-defense.

Kangsa always wanted to eliminate Kakrasana and Narayana, the legitimate heirs of Mandura. In order to easily capture both princes, Kangsa organized a "cock fight". Suratrimantra was his cock/fighter. He was sure, Kakrasana and Narayana should appear to see the fight. Then they would be killed. But in the thrilling fight the robust giant Suratrimantra was killed by Bratasena (young Bima). Kangsa was caught and assassinated by Permadi (Arjuna). Kakrasana was assigned as a new king of Mandura, his official name was Prabu Baladewa.

Prabu Baladewa

The kingdom of Mandura under Prabu Baladewa, the eldest son of Basudewa returned to normal. The country was peaceful and prosperous. He married Dewi Erawati, the daughter of Prabu Salya of Mandaraka.

Arjuna had helped him to get Erawati. It was one of the reasons why he loved Arjuna very much, the other reason: Arjuna had killed the giant Kangsa. He was a kind-hearted man, but he was too temperamental. When he got angry, only Arjuna could easily cool him down.

He loved also very much Kresna and Sembadra. When he got married, many gods (dewa) had escorted him friendly (Bala). That was the origin of the name Baladewa. His name as a boy was Raden Kakrasana, his mother was Dewi Rohini. He was tall with athletically body, his skin was light yellow. He had another names:

Wasi Jaladara, as a youth in the village of Widarakandang, lived with strong self-denial.

Basukiyana, incarnation of god Basuki, the god of snake.

Kusumawalikita, name given by gods

Balarama, name given by gods

Alayuda, a name given by god Narada.

In reigning Mandura, Baladewa were assisted by two loyal persons:

Patih Pragota, his father was also a Patih (first minister of king Basudewa) he was big, tall, talked rudely but he was nice and loyal.

Prabawa, Pragota’s younger brother, he was assigned to handle the safety and security of the country.

He had two powerful heirlooms:

Nenggala, received during his meditation as a young hermit.

Alugara, from Batara Guru as a wedding present.

From his marriage with Erawati, he had two adopted sons: Wisata and Wimuka. Baladewa did not involved in Baratayuda, before the big war started, diplomatically Kresna asked him to meditate in the cave of Grojogan Sewu (one thousand waterfalls).

Kresna presumed that Baladewa who likely should join Korawa was too strong for Pendawa. When Baladawa ceased his meditation, Baratayuda was over. Until the end of his long life on earth, he became a protector of Parikesit, the new king of Hastinapura.

Prabu Kresna

His name as a boy was Raden Narayana, the son of Basudewa with Dewi Badraini. He was the twin brother of Sembadra, both of them had smooth black/dark color of skin. He was tall with slender body and a good-looking face, brilliant and wise. No wonder many ladies fell in love with him.

He loved very much Sembadra and Arjuna. He always patiently took care of his temperamental elder brother Kakrasana/Baladewa. He was the incarnation of Betara Wisnu, the protector of life. After defeating King Yudakala Kresna of Dwarawati, Narayana became the king of the kingdom of Dwarawati and his official name was Prabu Kresna. (see: The Kingdom of Dwarawati and Baratayuda)

Dewi Wara Sembadra

The twin sister of Narajana/Kresna was a charming, ‘black-sweet’ lady Dewi Roro Ireng. She was also very wise as an incarnation of Wisnu. She married her own cousin, Arjuna, as wished by their parents, Basudewa and Pandu.

Their wedding ceremony illustrated as the most sacred and extravagant court party on earth. The decoration, food and gamelan and dance entertaiment were supplied by gods from heaven. It was attended by courtiers from many kingdoms, blessed and attended by gods and goddesses. A handsome and sakti son, Abimanyu was born, who was the father of Parikesit, the new Emperor of Hastinapura after Baratayuda. Her other name was Dewi Bratajaya.

Dewi Kuntitalibrata

The daughter of King Kuntiboja, the sister of king Basudewa, the loyal wife of Prabu Pandu Dewanata, the king of Hastinapura. Since her young age, she was sakti (having supernatural power). She could call gods by her mantra.

One night, attracted by Kunti’s mantra, Betara Surya, god of the sun arrived. The young Kunti was trapped by god Surya and became pregnant. His father was very angry. Betara Surya admitted his responsibility. With his magical strenght, Kunti delivered a son through her ear, so she remained a virgin. The name of her son was Karna (means ear) or Suryaputra or Suryaatmaja (the son of Surya).

The baby was put in a small boat in the river and found by a chariot driver, Radeya, who raised him as his own son. Betara Surya was always supervising his son from faraway. (see Mahabarata and Baratayuda). In Javanese traditional teachings, ears are the gate of amorous desire.

In her marriage with Pandu, the son of Kresna Dwipayana or Abiyasa, they got three sons, Puntadewo (Yudistira), Bratasena (Bima) and Permadi (Arjuna). But she got to take care also of Nakula and Sadewa, the sons of Pandu with Madrim. Pandu and Madrim died at young ages.

After Pandu’s death, she was patiently protecting the five sons – Pendawa, from the humiliation of Korawa and their parents (Destarata, the elder blind brother of Pandu and Gendari, his tricky wife) and their loyal cronies such as Sengkuni and Durna. After the Baratayuda where all Korawa were dead, she apologized wisely Destarata and Gendari and they lived together peacefully in the palace and then as ascetics in a remote place for purification.

Kuntilalibrata was a model woman, the symbol of a high valued woman, a loyal wife, a good mother, a fighter of justice, spiritually and physically, a wise person who could apoligize other people’s mistakes.

Raden Harya Rukma/Prabu Bismaka

After the death of his father Basudewa, he became the king of Kumbina, his royal name was Prabu Bismaka. He had two children:

Dewi Rukmini, married with Kresna

Raden Rukmana

Raden Harya Ugrasena/Prabu Setyajid

He was the youngest son of Prabu Kuntiboja. The young powerful Ugrasena had succesfully beaten king Kala Wredati and his army who attacked Suralaya (the domain of gods).

As a gratitude, he married a goddess, Dewi Wresni and became the king of Lesanpura. From this marriage, a son – Setyaki was born. Later-on Setyaki became the chief warrior of Dwarawati kingdom under Prabu Kresna. A daughter was also born, Dewi Setyaboma, became Kresna’s wife.

Suryo S. Negoro