The Forgotten Manuscripts

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

IN 1885, a Dutch expedition followed the western slope of Mount Merbabu until it reached the small village of Windusabrang. They found a private library belonging to a person by the name of Kyai Windusono, who lived during the 18th century. The manuscripts in the library were written in Buddhist script of pre-Islamic Java. The contents of the manuscripts included various spiritual narratives such as Arjunawiwaha, Kunjarakarna, references on the prophets narratives, forms of asceticism, and even the journey of the soul following the death of the body. The following story relates Tempos investigation along the slopes of Mounts Merapi-Merbabu, where the manuscripts still exist.

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ONCE we passed the quiet woods of casuarina trees, we entered the village of Kendasan, located at the foot of Mount Merbabu. A neat stoned road with grass filling the empty gaps to prevent it from being slippery when it rains led to the village. The air was fresh, and occasionally we could smell the smoke of a cigar.

That evening we looked for a dalang (wayang puppet master) by the name of Sumitro. As we inquired along the way, almost everyone kne

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