Christology in Javanese mind [part II]

I wrote in the previous posting about a Javanese traditional song, Ilir-ilir, which would always remind me to the writing of St. Nektarios entitled "Christology" whenever I listen to and sing it. Let me to give a little explanations of this song, because I think it is a good reminder of Christology; (while using it as a kind of review of this book). This [song] is very down to the earth to the Javanese framework (so, for me personally, this is very helpful to be reminded of Christology simply by singing this song; I hope my friends or even you will, as well).

***
(First Stanza)

Lir-ilir, Lir-ilir, tandure wis sumilir, [the wind blows, Lir ilir [wake up!], the new Shoot has [had] springs up]

Lir-ilir can be associated with the sound of the wind or the flow of water. Javanese use this word also to describe the meaning of stream or liquid flow and thus when it is adopted in Bahasa, it becomes alir, the basic form of verb: to flow; to blow which symbolize the source of Life. It is also often that this word also means: to spring up, to wake up or to rise up! A sound of proclamation, just like the proclamation of the coming of king or good news.

tandure wis sumilir [the new Shoot has [had] sprung up]. This is the good news brought after the calling of Lir-ilir (wake up, wake up)! because the awaited Shoot has sprung up, the Awaited One has [had] come!

***

tak ijo royo royo, tak sengguh penganten anyar. [This seems very fresh and green, I supposed this is a new bridegroom]

In the agricultural context, green(tak ijo royo royo) may means something that is very blissful or comely. This is also one part of St. Nektarios' exposition: the comeliness, greatness and majesty of The Messiah, Lord Jesus Christ. It is interesting that the symbol of penganten anyar [new(anyar) Bridegroom] reminds me to Song of Salomon and also the parable of Our Lord who came with the divine Love, with strength and yet meekness, arduous Love and humility.

***
(Second Stanza)

Bocah angon, bocah angon, penekna blimbing kuwi, [son the shepherd, would you please climb that starfruit tree],

Bocah (son-- a little children) in Javanese symbolism depicts the humanity. Angon means to shepherd the sheep/ cows or even the farmer' son who come and see the field. It is interesting that the term 'little children(can be also: beloved son)' gives the impression that there must be the father or parents, and in this song, he came or gathered the sheep according to his father's will, but I also understand that this son (since I experienced this) would go obediently and with full of joy gathering and bringing the ship to home.

The narration of this song goes on with penekna blimbing kuwi [would you please climb that starfruit tree]. Starfruit symbolize the Divinity, and the tree means the way (of union with that Divinity), means the son (bocah) is being asked to ascended to the tree (this reminds me to the Only Way) and this is talking about obedience and love of this son. This is correlated with the life of The Awaited one in the world (which also discussed by St. Nektarios), in his obedience and love toward His Father, he ascended into the tree.

***

lunyu-lunyu peneken, kanggo m[b]asuh dodotira. [although that tree is very slippery, but to get the royal garment washed, please]. The tree is slippery, lunyu, means it is very difficult and dangerous. The will to penekna (climb, please) are preserved to be peneken (keep climbing), to declare the perfect will (out of son's love and obedience) , his whole-heartedness regardless of the difficulty and even agony.

kanggo m[b]asuh dodotira[but to get the royal garment washed, please].
m[b]asuh means to cleanse ; to purify. The starfruit was used by Javanese ladies to wash clothes before the detergent was introduced, and dodot means the royal garment to be used in a festival or to attend the king's invitation, symbolize a great privilege or invitation from a king and symbol of glory. If we relate this to bocah (beloved son), means that this son was also from the pallace, He has Divinity (the Original one), but later the dodot becomes dodotira (-ira, just like you in English, may mean plural). Thus this word means to cleanse or to purify that garment, so that that corrupted glory may be purified, restore to its origin; and only the starfruit, initiative of The Divine would do that

***

What a strong reminder of the Gospel so far, I will continue the third stanza in the next posting.