What is Aksara Jawa?

Aksara Jawa or Javanese Alphabet Javanese script is one of Java's cultural heritage. It is a derivative of the Brahmi and Pallawa alphabets widely used to read Sanskrit, which became an international language in Asia. This alphabet is syllabic. According to a legend, the Javanese alphabet was created by Ajisaka. It is said that Ajisaka has two loyal servants. They are Dora and Sembada. However, they are dead because they fought each other. The reason is that both try to maintain the orders that their master, Ajisaka, had mandated. Knowing his two servants had died, Ajisaka regretted what he had ordered for them. As a result, he recited the Aksara Jawa rhyme as follows:

Ha Na Ca Ra Ka, which means ono utusan (there are servants)

Da Ta Sa Wa La, which means padha kekerengan (fought each other)

Pa Dha Ja Ya Nya, which means padha digdayane (have the same power)

Ma Ga Ba Ta Nga, which means padha nyunggi bathange (died together)

The philosophy of Aksara Jawa

Ha-Na-Ca-Ra-Ka means “servants”. This shows the existence of a creator (God), creation (humans), and the tasks given by God to humans.

Da-Ta-Sa-Wa-La means that humans, after being created until they are called to do something (Da-Ta), can't dodge (Sa-Wa-La). So, humans must be willing to accept and do God's will.

Pa-Dha-Ja-Ya shows the union of the creator (God) and creation (humans). The philosophical meaning is that every human heart and mind must follow what it does.

Ma-Ga-Ba-Tha-Nga means accepting everything that is commanded and forbidden by God. This means that humans must surrender to the line of nature even though they are given the right to be independent and able to overcome what they get.