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60.090 Javanese-Balinese script, Bali and Lombok.

In Bali, as in Java, an Indian script was introduced early in history and Old Balinese charters were written in it approximately in the same period as Old Javanese literature began to flourish in East Java. Afterwards, as a result of Javanese aggression, the smaller island was conquered. Old Balinese culture was superseded by Old Javanese. In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries Bali un derwent a process of Javanization. It is prob able that the Balinese language reappeared in written texts not until the seventeenth or eighteenth century. Many Old Javanese texts which were lost in Java after the rise of Islam were preserved ln Bali. So Balinese script and Old Javanese literature became closely connected. The first editions of Old Javanese epic poems brought °ut in The Netherlands, about 1900, were printed with Balinese characters. Afterwards °nly romanized texts were published. Never theless a knowledge of the Balinese script is indispensable for students of Old Java nese literature. During a period of approximately three cen turies Balinese script seems to have changed v cry little. This is remarkable in view of the modifications which have been introduced into the Javanese script during that time. Probably the smallness of the island prevented the development of regional variations. In Lombok, Balinese script was used for Writing various kinds of texts: non-Islamic Javanese-Balinese, Islamic Javanese-Balinese a nd Islamic Sasak texts. Sasak is the name of the aboriginal population of the island, which in the eighteenth century was conquered and colo n i ze d by Balinese princes. Manuscripts

from Lombok are often characterized by scrawly, crabbed writing. Purely Sasak texts are not reproduced in the present book. In Sasak manuscripts the character indicating initial a is used in a peculiar way in connec tion with Sasak phonetics; this is a criterion of Sasak texts. 60.091, Plate no 27, Nïla Panjara mantra, LOr 5156, palmleaf manuscript, Javanese- Balinese mantras. Regular Javanese-Balinese script. The original leaves are 28 x 3 cm. Lombok collection. See Synopsis 12.010. Text: (p. 1, line 1) /Jo// awighnam astu //o// nihan sat} hyat} nila panjara, ha, kawruh- akna, haywa tan kinamulyakakën/, apan / wkasnit} pininit/, harat} (line 2) kaq wruh awasana nika, apan amülya, ndan méwëh kapangihanira, apan apahawak / mahawisésa, misra bhatara rit} sariranta, ya (line 3) n siranabhyasa mantra, haywa tan abrsih it} sariranta, tumandai} sira, rèh amusty anéka twas/, marp pürwa, haywana karasa [lyan] Translation: (p. 1, line 1) Let it be without obstacle. This is the holy Nila Panjara by name (ha is an abbreviation of naranya). It should be learned, do not be deficient in valueing it, for it is extremely secret, few (line 2) are those who know the conclusion thereof, for it is invaluable, and difficult to find, for it contains a manifestation of the Almighty, an incorporation of the Divine in your body. (line 3) When you are practising the