KAJIAN ELEMEN ESTETIS DAN SIMBOLIS CANDRASENGAKALA PADA TAMANSARI GUA SUNYARAGI DI CIREBON
Abstract
Candrasengkala atau kronogram sudah dikenal oleh masyarakat di Jawa sejak zaman Hindu di Nusantara. Candrasengkala merupakan tetenger atau pengingat suatu peristiwa penting, seperti kelahiran, kematian, dan sebagainya. Dalam candrasengkala digunakan bentuk visual figur binatang yang diambil dari cerita pewayangan atau mitologi India. Binatang-binatang ditampilkan dengan pengolahan visual berupa gambar, relief, dan patung. Masing-masing figur binatang tersebut mengandung watak angka tahun dan makna simbolis. Hingga sekarang masih sedikit penelitian yang mengkaji candrasengkala di Tamansari Gua Sunyaragi di Cirebon. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui elemen estetis dan simbolis figur binatang pada candrasengkala yang terdapat di Tamansari Gua Sunyaragi, di Cirebon, Jawa Barat. Penelitian ini merupakan kajian deskriptif terhadap aspek tangible Tamansari Gua Sunyaragi berupa figur-figur binatang yang dilandasi mitologi India. Hasil penelitian memperlihatkan bahwa material batu dan batu karang diolah menjadi karakter-karakter figur gajah, burung garuda, dan ular, sehingga tampilan visualnya membentuk “candrasengkala”, sekaligus sebagai cuplikan kisah dari cerita pewayangan. Dengan demikian, dapat dipahami bahwa candrasengkala merupakan salah satu bentuk seni rupa Nusantara dan kreativitas kearifan lokal. Keberadaanya dapat menjadi sumber inspirasi dalam pengembangan karya seni rupa, desain, dan kriya Nusantara ke depan. Penelitian ini diharapkan dapat menjadi referensi tentang kajian binatang-binatang mitologis dalam candrasengkala di Tamansari Gua Sunyaragi.
The Javanese are familiar with “candrasengkala” or chronogram which developed in Nusantara since the Hindu era. The “candrasengkala” is a “tetenger” or a reminder of important occurrences, such as birth, death, etc. “Candrasengkala” often uses visual forms of animal figures drawn from “wayang” stories or Indian mythology. Animals are featured with visual processing into depictions of figures, reliefs, and sculptures. Each animal figure contains disposition number of years and bears symbolic meanings. Until today there is little research that focuses on “candrasengkala” in Tamansari Gua Sunyaragi in Cirebon. This study aims to determine the aesthetic and symbolic elements of animal figures in “candrasengkala” at Tamansari Gua Sunyaragi, in Cirebon, West Java. This research is a descriptive study of the tangible aspects of Tamansari Gua Sunyaragi in the form of animal figures based on Indian mythology. The study resulted that stone and coral materials are processed into figures of elephants, eagles, and snakes, thus the visual appearance forms a "candrasengkala", as well as snippets of “wayang” stories. Therefore, it is understood that “candrasengkala” is a form of Nusantara art and creativity of local wisdom. Its existence can be a source of inspiration in the future development of Nusantara fine arts, designs and crafts. This research may be used as a reference for further studies of mythological animals in “candrasengkala” at Tamansari Gua Sunyaragi.
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