I am being so random and suddenly this Hanacaraka is bothering me a lot.
So what is it?
Hanacaraka is a Java letter which was made known by the ancient Javanese society. Some people said that Hanacarake was originated from Northern India, which is why a lot of people think that it looking really similar to those Indian writing. Hanacaraka letter consists of 20 letters, and often referred as "script legana" or in Indonesian called naked letters (alphabet = letters, legana = naked).
HaNaCaRaKa Script
Interestingly this letter in its standard order if spoken actually means, this pronunciation
hana, caraka
data, sawala
padha jayanya maga bathanga.
which literally in Java means:
"There's followers (soldiers) whom are contradictory (different opinions), with equal power they die".
A more complete version of the legend said:
In ancient times there was a king who has devoted 2 people, they are both very powerful bodyguard. Due to turmoil in his kingdom, one day the king called one of his bodyguards and left a “Keris (ancient magically powerful weapon)” at him and told "Go take this, and do not give it to anyone other than me".
After few years, the king has summoned his other faithful bodyguard to take the Keris back to him. So the guards had departed and met with his friend, when he asked his friend, he was reminded of the king's message, that anyone other than the King should not be having that Keris ever. So both bodyguards fight defending their loyalty to the King. For their equal power the fight has ended with both guards died.
Knowing this, the King regretted his act and said "hana (ana) caraka, data sawala padha jayanya maga bathanga "
Back to Java script, there are also some legana characters other than letters called "sandangan". In Indonesian “sandangan” means clothing. The letter was to made “sandangan” basic letters more varied, which in Indonesian can be equated with a consonant.
Sandangan
Example (see above)
given “wulu” it will turn into: hi ni ci ri ki
In addition there are also many other kinds of characters (like numbers, punctuation, etc.) that make Hanacaraka letters can be used as a means of writing. In Indonesia, some cities like Jogjakarta and Surakarta used it in the street’s name writing.
I know this is not a very complete article but hopefully it can add some benefit to the knowledge of Indonesian’s culture.
happy lalalala~
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