Book Review: “Edited Text of Kakawin Lambang Pralambang” by Naufal Anggito Yudhistira, Published by the National Library of Indonesia
JAKARTA-JAYA NEWS.COM – The book “Edited Text of Kakawin Lambang Pralambang” is written by Naufal Anggito Yudhistira and published by Perpusnas Press in 2023.
This book is a philological research publication as part of a grant for publishing ancient manuscripts organized by the National Library of Indonesia.
This book is also part of Naufal Anggito Yudhistira’s final project (TA) research in the Regional Literature Study Program for Javanese Literature at the University of Indonesia, with several adjustments. He has also written books entitled “Serat Panji Pudhak Lelana” (first edition 2021) and “Behind the Meaning of 99 Batik Designs.”
“This book can be a reference in studying Old Javanese-Balinese literature.” “In terms of its philological approach, the text of the Kakawin Lambang Palambang is presented using a single manuscript method and in the form of a critical edition,” explained Naufal Anggito Yudhistira in a press release in Jakarta, Wednesday (December 3, 2025).
“In addition, a free translation based on the text’s meaning is also included in this book. “This aims to make it easier for readers to understand the content of Kakawin Lambang Palambang,” said Naufal Anggito Yudhistira, born in Jakarta on September 9, 1999, who has been interested in Javanese culture, particularly the arts, since childhood.
He completed his undergraduate studies in Javanese literature at the University of Indonesia (UI) in 2021 and completed his master’s degree in Literature with a major in Philology at the University of Indonesia (UI).
Paper-Paper Manuscript
He further stated that the “Kakawin Lambang Palambang” manuscript, coded LT 223 in the collection of the University of Indonesia Central Library, is the only known manuscript containing the text of Kakawin Lambang Palambang.
This manuscript itself contains the text of Kakawin Indrawijaya, Kakawin Lambang Palambang, and mantras.
“This manuscript is also a palm leaf manuscript measuring 3.5 x 49.3 cm. “The palm leaf in this manuscript is already gripis and has a brownish surface,” said Naufal, who has created several dance works such as “Sedulur Papat” (2018), “Fragmen Rara Mendut – Pranacitra” (2019), and “Srimpi Girisa Laras (2021).
Finally, on Sunday, October 26, 2025, in the multipurpose room on the 4th floor of the National Library of Indonesia, an experimental performance of the dance reactualization “Langen Mataya Bedhayan Gandrungmanis” by Pakubuana VIII was performed as part of Naufal Anggito Yudhistira’s dissertation research for the Doctoral Program in Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), University of Indonesia.
This manuscript is uniquely written in upright yet curving Balinese script. It was written on the island of Lombok.
“It is interesting that this manuscript is one of many manuscripts that demonstrate the continuity of the Old Javanese-Balinese literary tradition on the island of Lombok,” he said.
Bhāṣa Genre
The Kakawin Lambang Pralambang text is a text belonging to the bhāṣa genre.
Bhāṣa is a genre within the Old Javanese-Balinese literary tradition, a form of lyric poetry.
This genre takes the form of kakawin literary works, characterized by the presence of chapters.
Bhāṣa is characterized by its lyrical poetic expression, with content that is generally romantic-erotic.
The bhāṣa genre is often called palambang or wilapa. In the past, this genre was only known during the late Majapahit era. However, it is suspected that the roots of bhāṣa date back much further, as evidenced by numerous references to this genre in older, major kakawin texts.
Bhāṣa developed rapidly in Bali and spread as far as Lombok. The beauty of the bhāṣa lies not only in the exquisite language, but also in the rich detail captured within it about the natural charm of Java and Bali.
The Kakawin Lambang Pralambang text consists of several chapters: Bhāṣa Rudita, Bhāṣa Durawākya Cacangkriman, Bhāṣa Wiwaha Cacangkriman, Bhāṣa Ratnāwukiran Cacangkriman, Palambang Pamaṇḍana, Palambaang Jagadami Guhya Jātyakon, and Palambang Dharmma Kusala Mahātma Cinaṇḍya.
Each of these texts contains distinctive romantic-erotic lyrics rich in symbolism.
The uniqueness of Kakawin Lambang Palambang compared to other bhāṣa texts lies in the presence of cacangkriman.
The Cacangkriman can be interpreted as a riddle, hidden symbols, and mysterious expressions.
“In this text, the Cacangkriman contains not only a moral message, but also a rich religious nuance,” he concluded. (***)
Contributor: Lasman Simanjuntak
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