Tantra: A New Interpretation of Panji

Panji (translates as “flag or standard”) is a popular East Javanese love story from the 14th century. It tells the story of Prince Panji Inu Kertapati who goes in search of his beloved, Princess Candra Kirana, who he has lost. To this day, the story of Panji is still very much alive in the art of the masked dances of East Java.

German archeologist named Lydia Kieven became interested in studying the reliefs of Panji on the ancient temples of East Java. For years she climbed up and down the East Javanese mountains in order to be able to carry out her study in this iconography. Her dissertation on Panji which she finished last year in Australia has produced voices both against as well as in favor of her thesis.

According to Kieven, the story of Panji is merely a symbol of the Tantric religion which was developing in East Java at the time. Tantrism is a religious belief which stresses that in order to reach God, a person must practice a certain manner of physical love ritual. Kieven was present at the Panji Arts Festival held in the front compound of the Penataran Temple in Blitar, East Java, in mid-June. The following is Tempo’s report on this new interpretation of Panji which also includes a report on the condition of the temple sites of East Java where Panji reliefs are located.