154

Paqgëlaran), rice myths are in evidence, and in the pre-Islamic period in the country side no doubt the rice goddess was wor shipped with some rites. In Javanese-Bali- nese literature some rice myths are men tioned. Universal Histories and Books of Tales of the sixteenth and seventeenth cen turies (see 22.900 and 23.100) contain rice myths, and the Watu Gunui3 myth, which probably refers to rice culture, was given a place in the beginning of the Major History of Central Javanese Kings, written in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In the Islamic period the rice goddess, or chthonic goddess, is known under the name Dèwi Sri, and her male companion is called Sëdana. The names, of Indian origin (Sri and Sadhana), are reminiscent of Wisnuism. That is a weak foundation, however, for the supposition of an Indian origin of the whole myth. The probability is for a theory sup posing a blending of an original native Java nese rice myth with an Indian Wisnuite concept, effectuated in an early pre-Islamic period. The Indian names Sri and Sadhana superseded ancient indigenous names, which in the course of time were forgotten. Under the present head texts of the early Islamic period, with reference to rice and agricultural myths, are listed. These texts are difficult to locate. Probably they belong to Central and East Java. In West Java, the Sunda districts, another rice myth, Sula- njana, is in evidence (see 23.720, and K. A. H. Hidding. “Nji Pohatji Sangjang Sri”, 1929). According to a Javanese tradition noted by C. F. Winter in Surakarta, the Manik Maya, the best known text of this group, was written by Karta Mursadah, who lived in the Kartasura period, at the end of

the seventeenth century or in the first dec ades of the eighteenth century. Poerbatja- raka’s supposition (“Kapustakan Djawi , 1952, p. 119), founded only on the form of the name Mursadah, that the author was a Sundanese gentleman, seems improbable. His opinion on the close relationship be tween the Manik Maya and the Tantu Patjgelaran is very much open to 1 question. Mythologie Sërat Kandas, including Aji Saka tales, have been registered separately under 23.100, on account of their relation ship with Royalty and the origin of Javanese kingdoms, The present rice myths, however, seem to belong in the sphere of common agriculturists. Manuscripts containing information on the subject are listed in the General Index under the catchwords rice, Sri, Sëdana, Manik, Watn Gunun,. In Part Four of the present Synopsis the probable connection of the Watu Gunui) myth, the wukus and rice culture will be discussed (see 41.750). One Manik Maya text was edited by de Hollander, 1852, and reprinted in 1865. In the nineteenth century a prose version was made by Karta Praja for teaching purposes in The Netherlands. 25.010 Manik Maya, in verse: cod, 1858, 2032, 2034, 2101, 8554, NBS 12, NBS 74, NBS 206. 25.020 Manik Maya, prose version by Karta Praja: cod. 2231, NBS 13, NBS 76, NBS 105, NBS 374. 25.030 Sri Sëdana rice myth: cod. 8915, 8934, Nst 12 (= BCB prtf 46). 25.040 Watu Gunui} myth: cod. 6466, 6528.