PART 3: THE SYMBOLIC MEANINGS OF KRATON

Krapyak symbolizes a place where souls originate. On the north of it, there is a kampong called Mijen, coming from the word Wiji (benih/seed). The straight street heading north, with Asem and Tanjung trees on its right and left sides, symbolizes the straight path of life a child takes. He/she would be free of sadness and anxiety; his/her look is beautiful and is always praised, especially by his/her parents.

Then we get to Plengkung Gading or Plengkung Nirbaya. This Plengkung symbolizes a period of “border” when a child is growing up through a pre-teen age. His/her look and attitude are still adorable (symbolized by the Asem tree) and then he/she likes to touch up (nata Sinom). Sinom means young Asem leaves, color light green and is very interesting. But it also means short hair on a girl’s forehead. The Sinom is always carefully kept by boys/girls, because it can make them more beautiful.

Heading north, we get to Alun-Alun Kidul. There we will see two banyan trees called Wok. Wok comes from the word Bewok (beard). The two trees symbolize our private area of body, thus they are surrounded by a brick fence each. The number, which is two, symbolizes a man called supit (chopsticks) and a woman called urang (a shrimp). The five accesses that meet in the Alun-Alun symbolize our senses. The sand on the Alun-Alun means not in order, untied one another. It means that what we catch with our senses are scattered, not in order. When we put more attention to them, then they become in order. The Kweni and Pakel (mangoes) trees mean that a kid has become wani (courageous) because he is already akil baligh (teenaged).

After this we are heading north, to the Sitihinggil. There is a tratag, a place to take shelter that is plaited-bamboo-roofed. On its left and right, leafy Gayam trees grow with their beautiful flowers that smell good. Whoever takes shelter in the tratag will feel comfortable and happy. It depicts boys and girls who are in love each other.

Then we get to Sitihinggil. There used to be a selogilang in the middle of it, the Sri Sultan’s throne. On its left and right, there are chairs for His relatives and abdi dalem, where they, men and women, gather and salute Him. It also depicts a boy and a girl who are sitting on a dais. Plants grown in this place are Palem Cempora and Soka. These plants have soft flowers in bunches, color red or white, and symbolizes the unity of sperm and ovum.

On the right and left of Sitihinggil, on the east and west, there are some restrooms. This Sitihinggil is surrounded by a pathway called Pamengkang. Mekangkang depicts the condition of our feet, when they are separated each other.

Heading north, we will get in the Kemandungan yard. Kepel, Pelem (mango), Cengkir Gading (Yellow Coconut) and Jambu Dersono (Guava) are types of trees that grow in the yard and illustrate seeds in a mother’s womb. Pelem symbolizes gelem (willingness to stick together). Jambu Dersono depicts kedersan ing sesama. Kepel tree is taken from the word kempel or kempal which means gather/unite, depicting the unity of willingness, semen, feelings and dreams. Cengkir Gading is a kind of coconut tree that is smaller than the others. It is used in the mitoni procession, a sign when a baby is seven months old in the womb. Pathways to the left and to the right depict negative influences that obstruct the baby’s growth.

Then going through Regol Gadungmlati, we get to Kemagangan. The pathway is made narrow and then broader and lightened. It is definitely a true anatomical depiction. It depicts when the baby is born and becomes a magang (candidate) of a human. For him/her is provided with enough food, depicted by the presence of Kraton’s Gebulen and Sekullanggen kitchens. The two large pathways heading right and left depict the good and bad influences as a child is growing up. The child is expected to be guided in reaching his/her dream, which is heading north, to the Kraton, where Sri Sultan lives. There he/she can make his dreams come true, as long as he/she works well, obeys the rules, is faithful with and always remembers as well as devotes Allah The Most Gracious. All of this is depicted by the current condition of Kraton. For example, Kraton’s lamp called Kyai Wiji, depicts Eternal Flame or what Dr. F. Pigeand and Dr. L. Adam (ex governors of Yogyakarta) called: “Het eeuwige van onze geest”.